Temporary Protected Status Extended for Salvadorans

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of El Salvador for an additional 18 months, beginning Sept. 10, 2013, and ending March 9, 2015.Current Salvadoran beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from May 30, 2013, through July 29, 2013. The 18-month extension also allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new employment authorization document (EAD) with an expiration date of March 9, 2015.

To re-register, current TPS beneficiaries must submit Form I-821 and an Application for Temporary Protected Status. All TPS re-registrants must also submit Form I-765, and an Application for Employment Authorization. Additional information on TPS for El Salvador, including guidance on the application process and eligibility, is available online at www.uscis.gov/tps

Read more...

Guidelines for the Minnesota DREAM Act

 

The MN Dream Act passed by the 2013 Minnesota Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Dayton on May 23, 2013. It will take effect on July 1, 2013. The MN Dream Act will provide certain benefits to undocumented students who meet the following criteria:

1. Attended a Minnesota high school for at least 3 years; and

2. Graduated from a Minnesota high school or earned a GED in Minnesota; and

3. Registered with the U.S. Selective Service (applies only to males 18 to 25 years old); and

4. Provide documentation to show they have applied for lawful immigration status but only if a federal process exists for a student to do so (does not include applying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). There is currently not a federal process in place, so this documentation is not currently required.

To be eligible for these benefits, students must complete a state financial aid application (which is currently being drafted) and provide documentation to show that they meet the criteria in the MN Dream Act. DACA students who don't meet the MN Dream Act criteria may still be eligible for state financial aid if they meet at least one of the state residency requirements.

For more information click here.

Read more...

Gov. Mark Dayton Signs the Prosperity Act!

Gov. Mark Dayton signed the Higher Education Omnibus bill that included the MN Prosperity (DREAM) Act on May 20, 2013. This is a historic moment for Minnesota which became the 15th state to allow DREAMers that graduated from local high schools to qualify for in-state tuition and only the 4th one to provide state financial aid. All of this would not be possible without your active voices and ILCM thanks you for your calls and emails that made all of this possible. ILCM also extends our gratitude to bill sponsors Senator Sandy Pappas and Representative Carlos Mariani, Governor Mark Dayton, all Senators and Representatives who voted for it, everyone who spent time at the capitol, and all other public supporters.

The MN Dream Act will:

• Allow students to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities if they meet certain requirements, regardless of their immigration status.
• Make state higher education aid available to all students who meet residency requirements, regardless of immigration status.
• Allow public institutions (MnSCU and the University of Minnesota) to use private funding as financial aid for all students, regardless of immigration status.
• Create a MN financial aid application specifically for these Minnesota students that delinks the Federal and state financial aids.

Find more information about the process from our partners NAVIGATE MN who have a Q&A about the bill available in English and Spanish: English / Espanol.

Read more...

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.

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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

Read more...

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.

Read more...

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.

Read more...