This grant to the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) will support a coordinated effort to address the growing number of unaccompanied immigrant children seeking legal protection in the United States each year. CLINIC, in coordination with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) and the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies at UC Hastings School of Law, will expand training programs for pro bono lawyers, provide technical assistance in individual cases, and prosecute cases nationwide. This joint effort will identify trends and inform policymakers who want to improve the protection system for unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States. Please note that we can only provide legal immigration services to people living in Washington State. If you live outside of Washington State, click here to search for an immigration legal service provider in your area. CLINIC`s legal training and support program „aims to increase the availability of professional and cost-effective immigration services by providing legal expertise and training to CLINIC member organizations and voters.“ [10] CarA Family Detention Pro Bono Representation and Advocacy Project represents families of illegal immigrants in federal custody. [11] The Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) is a center-left organization that provides legal services to legal and illegal immigrants and advocates for more liberal immigration laws. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops founded the organization in 1988. To effectively meet the needs of immigrants and empower them throughout the process, CLINIC implements various key initiatives.
These range from providing knowledge of your rights and support to immigrants to training non-lawyers, especially former immigrants, as accredited representatives and thus providing tools to strengthen immigrant communities. CLINIC also hosts online forums (two Facebook groups) where immigrants and employees connect and learn from each other how to manage the immigration process and provide emotional solidarity and support. As part of its efforts to promote immigrants` due process rights, CLINIC is involved in the Dilley Pro Bono project (formerly carA Family Detention Pro Bono Project). To reform the current immigration law, CLINIC is also involved in advocacy and litigation, promoting media coverage of the struggles immigrants face as they navigate the current system. In 1988, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops established CLINIC to provide legal support and education to a network of immigration organizations to obtain competent representation from immigrants in need. CLINIC offers limited direct representation through the Vulnerable Populations Advocacy Project and a Religious Worker Visa Program. Today, the network operates in 47 states and the District of Columbia, employs approximately 2,300 accredited representatives, and trains approximately 10,000 people each year who touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of immigrants.
The Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) operates a network of 250 non-profit legal immigration programs in the United States and supports thousands of immigrants each year. This grant to CLINIC supports the Committee for the Implementation of Immigration Reform (CIRI), a coalition of 20 organizations that facilitate the implementation of President Obama`s recently launched legalization program. The program, which provides up to 5.2 million undocumented immigrants with respite from deportation and the opportunity to work legally, adds a significant workload to already overburdened social and legal service providers. CIRI leverages provider efforts by creating timely and accurate information about the legalization program (including screening forms, community education materials, legal advice and training materials) and disseminating it nationally. Suppliers work more efficiently by drawing on CIRI`s expertise, receiving training and advice on complex legal issues, and avoiding duplication. According to CLINIC`s 2015 IRS filing (Form 990), CLINIC generated total revenues of $8.9 million and spent $7.3 million. It has raised nearly $6.6 million in contributions and grants, and its programs have generated $2.3 million. [22] CLINIC spent more than $4.5 million on training and networking with other non-profit groups. He spent $907,069 to represent immigrants in court. It spent $855,928 on advocacy and community engagement. Catholic Immigration Legal Services is a program recognized by the Department of Justice (MJ) that helps ensure quality legal representation. The Office of Catholic Immigration Legal Services includes an immigration lawyer and representatives accredited by the Department of Justice.
Employees of an organization recognized by doJ must have a certain level of experience and knowledge in immigration law to be accredited by the Department of Justice to provide immigration legal services. DoJ accreditation also ensures that clerks are not involved in the unauthorized exercise of law. The Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) operates a network of 250 non-profit legal immigration programs in the United States and supports thousands of immigrants each year. CLINIC coordinates a group of three dozen immigrant organizations working to preserve the federal Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which allows undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States when a natural disaster or protracted conflict in their home country has made their return dangerous. The tps program is currently under review by the executive branch, with the possibility that the current TPS designations will be completed. With this award, CLINIC convenes the working group to develop advocacy and public education strategies that call for the continuation of the program. In January 2019, CLINIC joined the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center and Legal Aid Justice Center to sue the Trump administration for detaining illegal immigrant children. The organizations claimed that the Trump administration was detaining the children to prevent Central Americans from crossing the border illegally. [21] To learn more about the latest immigration news, please visit the following websites: Anna Marie Gallagher is the current Executive Director of CLINIC.
She joined CLINIC in February 2019 and practiced immigration law for three decades. [14] A letter of filing from more than 215 national, state, and local organizations in the areas of immigration, civil rights, human rights, labor, faith, and education, calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately designate Venezuela for the TPS. The Center for Citizenship and Immigrant Communities advocates for liberal and comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for the population of about 12 million illegal immigrants. It also supports other non-profit organizations to support immigrants and represent the interests of immigrants. [9] The organization says it is based on „the value of the gospel in welcoming the stranger.“ [5] The Church supports a very liberal immigration policy on the grounds that „all the goods of the earth belong to all peoples. If people cannot find jobs in their home countries to feed themselves and their families, they have the right to find work elsewhere to survive. Sovereign nations should show ways to respect this right.
[6] The Bishop of Orange, California, Kevin W. Vann, is Chairman of the Board of Directors of CLINIC. In his blog, he compared opposition to illegal immigration to the anti-Irish nativists of the 19th century. [18] CLINIC offers many services to help immigrants, both legal and illegal. CLINIC is present in 47 states and has more than 270 branches. [4] If you would like to speak to someone about your Immigration case in Seattle, please contact our office at (206) 328-6314. In the Mount Vernon area, please call (360) 416-7095. Click here to contact us by email. Catholic Immigration Legal Services (CILS) provides high-quality immigration assistance to low-income residents of Washington.
Currently, CILS offers free citizenship/N-400 application support for people who are currently receiving public benefits or who live in the city of Seattle. All other legal services for immigrants are provided for a small fee. Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc cliniclegal.org/resources/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals CLINIC conducts advocacy activities through its „advocacy“ project. CLINIC opposes legislation to restrict immigration at the national and local levels and runs the Immigration Appeals Board`s (BIA) pro bono project. [7] The BIA Pro Bono project connects immigrants with cases before BIA with lawyers who represent them. [8] Masa Group LLC is co-head of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) administrative advocacy portfolio for CLINIC, the country`s largest nonprofit legal immigration network with more than 300 state and local subsidiaries. Examples of our work include: This grant will help the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) coordinate immigrant-serving organizations to strengthen a national, non-governmental infrastructure to implement future immigration legislation.