TC Daily Planet Covers ILCM’s Work Connecting DREAMers with Pro Bono Attorneys

The TC Daily Planet examined ILCM’s Pro Bono DREAMer Project, speaking to Pro Bono attorneys and the DREAMers they have represented in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) cases.

Attorneys cited the opportunity to help DREAMers receive a status that would allow them to work and attend college legally in the US as a primary motivation behind their involvement. Ed Wegerson, a volunteer attorney who has assisted two DREAMers apply for DACA, said he enjoyed the opportunity to “help someone in a way that’s personal and important to them.” DREAMers also spoke to the benefits of the new status. ILCM client Daniel Perez explained the importance of DACA in utilizing his Masters Degree in social work to find a job. “Without DACA this wouldn’t have been possible,” he said, “it was the first step in allowing me to pursue the American Dream — being able to work in the field I chose to go into.”  Currently, ILCM placed over 185 pro bono DACA cases with volunteer attorneys for full representation and approximately 70 have already been approved.

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MN Prosperity (Dream) Act Passes the State Senate as Hundreds Rally for Immigration Reform!

May 1st was a great day for immigration reform advocates as hundreds gathered in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul to rally for reform. At the same time the MN Prosperity (Dream) Act, which would qualify DREAMers that graduated from Minnesota high schools, passed the State Senate! Senator Pappas, who sponsored the MN Prosperity (Dream) Act, spoke in support of immigration reform to a crowd of close to 1,000 alongside a host local legislators and Governor Mark Dayton. Please click the links below to read press coverage of both events:

Star Tribune: Minnesota Senate boosts undocumented students' college dreams

MPR: Senate backs Minn. tuition for immigrants' kids

WCCO-TV: Senate Backs Minn. Tuition for Immigrants' Kids

Fox-9: May Day immigration reform rally held as Prosperity Act passes

KARE-11: Minn. Senate passes Dream Act for immigrant students

KSTP: Senate Backs Minn. Tuition for Immigrants' Kids

Pioneer Press: State Senate passes 'Minnesota Dream Act' for students here illegally

Worthington Daily Globe: Minnesota senators pass immigrant education bill

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Thanks to All Who Showed Support for Immigration Reform

Wednesday, April 10 was a fantastic day nation-wide for allies of comprehensive immigration reform! With crowds of thousands in Washington DC (including ILCM’s John Keller) rallying to support a pathway to citizenship, ILCM and leaders of Minnesota’s faith, business, and labor communities joined together at the Hennepin County Government Plaza yesterday to push for immigration reform.

Check out more pictures of the event here

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Join ILCM Executive Director John Keller for a discussion on proposed changes to US immigration laws

Join ILCM Executive Director John Keller this Saturday, March 23rd, from 1PM to 3PM for an update and discussion on the latest developments in the new immigration laws being proposed by President Obama and Congress. The event takes place at Sacred Heart Church, 840 6th St E, St Paul, MN 55106.

Download fliers in English y en Español

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ILCM congratulates AILA Award winners Irma Márquez Trapero and Juventino Meza Rodriguez

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is proud to congratulate this year’s outstanding winners of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (ALIA) Immigrant of Distinction Award, Irma Márquez Trapero and Juventino Meza Rodriguez. ILCM is honored to have worked closely with both recipients whose courage and community impact are truly inspirational. Ms. Márquez shared her story alongside undocumented activist Jose Antonio Vargas at an ILCM fundraiser last December and Mr. Meza, the former Executive Director of NAVIGATE MN, continues to advocate for the DREAM act and comprehensive immigration reform. For more information on the award and it’s recipients, please click here

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Inclusive version Violence Against Women Act passed!

On Thursday, February 28th, the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed the House, ensuring protections for immigrant and other victims of sexual abuse. The House Republican leadership had attempted to strip the bill of its protections for immigrant, LGBT, Native American and other victims but their measure was rebutted, reauthorizing VAWA and assisting victims of domestic violence regardless of ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Before the vote, Rep. Keith Ellison relayed the powerful story of an ILCM client who was able to escape domestic abuse through VAWA. You can watch the video below by clicking here.

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Immigration reform could change the lives of up to 95,000 in Minnesota

ILCM Executive Director was called upon by MinnPost to speak about the local and national momentum behind comprehensive immigration reform. Citing how both Obama’s and the Senate’s immigration reform proposals include a pathway to citizenship Keller said, “the planets are aligning,” for Minnesota’s estimated 95,000 undocumented immigrants. Grassroots movements, like the one on display at the capitol earlier this week, are changing minds across state, earning praise from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Business Immigration Coalition. For the full story click here.

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ILCM’s John Keller speaks about the benefits of immigration reform on KSTP

ILCM Executive Director John Keller was featured on KSTP last night where he spoke about the potential benefits that comprehensive immigration reform could bring to Minnesota. Keller joined Governor Dayton, Minnesota business owners and farmers in expressing the positive effects that immigration reform could have on the local economy. Citing President Obama’s push for federal immigration reform, Keller was optimistic that a law which could help lift 85,000 undocumented Minnesotans out of the shadows is within reach. “Hopefully, now is the time,” said Keller. For the full story click here.

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Number of deportations drops in Minnesota region

MPR reports that in 2012, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa and Nebraska deported nearly 4,800 undocumented immigrants, about a thousand fewer than in 2011.

Despite the drop in deportations from last year, ILCM Executive Director John Keller stated to MPR that the decrease is not felt locally as the quantity of deported immigrants in 2012 was almost double the number from 2001. "Part of why it might be hard for us to see any perceived difference is simply because the volume of people going through the deportation system," Keller said.

Read the full report here

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Deferred Action recipient Irma Marquez featured in MPR

Since President Obama announced the Deferred Action (DACA) program last June, more than 300,000 young people who were brought to the US under the age of 15 applied for the temporary status—one that would allow them to work and attend college legally. MPR choose to highlight one of the 53,000 approved DACA applicants, Irma Marquez, whose story of traveling from Mexico to St. James, MN, highlights the opportunities this new status will offer.

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