Contact:
John Keller, Executive Director, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
(651) 641-1011 x203, john.keller@ilcm.org

Friday, February 3 press release is also available in PDF format: For one girl, Minneapolis beats Trump ban – For Immediate Release –

FOUR-YEAR-OLD REFUGEE REUNITES WITH HER MOTHER IN MINNEAPOLIS:

Minneapolis community successfully stands up against un-American ban, bringing justice to one family out of countless victims of Trump policy.

A four-year-old Somali girl waited years before receiving approval to join her mother and two older sisters in Minnesota, only to be stopped at an airport in Africa last week. Her story is one illustration of how President Trump’s unprecedented and possibly unconstitutional executive order on immigration is affecting thousands of Minnesotans.

The family has asked for privacy, but will be available to speak to the press on Friday, February 3 at 1:30 pm at The Center for Changing Lives, 2400 Park Ave. S., Minneapolis. Media interested in attending should contact Jackie Nelson with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota at (651) 969-2286 or cell (651) 324-5350.

Separated from her mother months after birth, Mushkaad underwent years of refugee processing in Africa before she finally received approval to travel to the United States and reunite with her mother, Samira Dahir, a Somali refugee who came to Minneapolis in 2013. But at the eleventh hour, President Trump’s executive order stopped Mushkaad at the very last step of the process, as she arrived at the airport in Kampala, Uganda last week.

“This four-year-old child poses no threat to anyone in the United States,” said John Keller, Executive Director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. Refugee vetting requires security checks against over a dozen different databases, and in Mushkaad’s case, the process also included DNA testing. “She is one of thousands of refugees and immigrants who have gone through extensive vetting only to have their lives upended by this unconstitutional executive order.”

Wearing a new dress, hair braided and hands decorated in henna, Mushkaad was left sobbing in the airport last week as her mother, half a world away, explained over the phone that Mushkaad could not board the plane to join her family. An empty room and welcome gifts at the family’s apartment in Minneapolis remained untouched.

After hearing the family’s story, the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota joined forces with some of the most experienced immigration experts and litigators in the state, marshalling legal resources to reunite Mushkaad with her mother and sisters. Their efforts paid off Thursday afternoon when Mushkaad, who was finally cleared for travel, arrived at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

“We’re deeply relieved that Mushkaad is able to reunite with her family, but her story illustrates the deep flaws and fundamental unlawfulness of President Trump’s executive order,” said Keller. “It should not have taken dozens of experts and thousands of hours of emergency, high-level advocacy to reunite this innocent child with her family.”

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota teamed up with the University of Minnesota Law School’s Center for New Americans, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, University of St. Thomas School of Law, pro bono lawyers at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, Advocates for Human Rights, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota offices on two continents, and Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to find a pathway to humanitarian consideration. Al Franken’s office has been working to bring Mushkaad to Minnesota since June. Finally, after countless dead-ends, nothing short of intervention by the highest-level immigration officials in the Trump administration were able to reunite Mushkaad and her mother.

“If this is what it took to get clearance for a 4-year-old refugee girl, we are horrified to consider what awaits thousands of other children and families,” said Keller. President Trump’s executive order temporarily bans all arrivals from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including four-year-olds and those admitted after years of vetting. These provisions disregard U.S. immigration law, and potentially the guarantees of the Constitution.

In less than a week, President Trump’s executive order has already been enjoined or held to be likely unlawful by all of the several courts to consider it on an emergency basis. The U.S. Attorney General refused to defend the order before her employment was terminated, and now a rapidly growing number of state Attorney Generals have joined together in a lawsuit. They hope to block the order’s unlawful injury of U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and many others with lawful refugee status and visas, who are admissible under current U.S. law.

The manner of the executive order’s creation and implementation are a departure from past Presidents’ and officials’ use of discretion in immigration law. “The hasty, secretive way the executive order was drafted—without consultation of key officials—and with its chaotic and arbitrary implementation, reflect an intent to create confusion and fear rather than establish rules,” said Keller. “The story of Mushkaad’s family proves the absence of any fair, legitimate legal process or security interest.”

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The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) is a nonprofit agency that provides immigration legal assistance to low-income immigrants and refugees in Minnesota. ILCM also works to educate Minnesota communities and professionals about immigration matters, and advocates for state and federal policies which respect the universal human rights of immigrants.

Learn more about President’s Trump’s devastating and harmful executive actions here.

Tell your representatives to oppose Trump’s anti-immigrant and anti-refugee agenda.

Friends, we need your help. Through a series of executive orders, President Trump has made his anti-immigrant and anti-refugee agenda clear to everyone. In his first week in office, Trump has paved the way for a massive, expensive construction of a border wall, expanded the reach and capabilities of ICE, and threatened the safety of cities that protect their residents as equals, regardless of citizenship status. He has slammed the door on families seeking refuge from violence and persecution and ignited fears and misconceptions surrounding our Muslim neighbors.

Tell your representatives in Washington, DC that you oppose Trump’s executive orders and that you stand in solidarity with immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Click here to send this Action Letter to Congress & Senate:

I am writing to express concern over President Trump’s anti-immigrant and anti-refugee executive orders. These orders undermine Minnesota’s history of resettling immigrants and refugees from all over the world, and Trump’s actions threaten the economic future of Minnesota.

Through the orders, the U.S. government will pressure local police officers to carry out deportation duties. Deputizing local police officers as ICE agents will make all of us less safe, and will undermine the past work of law enforcement to reach out to immigrant communities and establish mutual trust. When all individuals in our communities trust that it is safe to report crime and seek protection from violence without the fear of being separated from their families, safety increases for everyone. In expanding ICE and attacking sanctuary cities, Trump is charging taxpayers billions of dollars and failing to live up to our moral and legal obligations to protect communities from violence and crime.

President Trump has also slammed the door on refugees–leaving families split and fearful despite already having waited many years and undergoing extensive background checks. Trump has used religion in an unprecedented way as a basis for exclusion, dividing neighbors and stoking anti-Muslim fear. Minnesota has a long history of welcoming immigrants and refugees. These orders will hurt our families and communities and needlessly expose vulnerable individuals to months or years of additional delay in unsafe situations.

I take pride in Minnesota’s tradition of welcoming everyone. I take pride in our diversity. I take pride in our history of helping those in need. I ask you to oppose President Trump’s anti-immigrant and anti-refugee executive orders.

Tell your representatives to oppose Trump’s anti-immigrant and anti-refugee agenda.

Friends, we need your help. Through a series of executive orders, President Trump has made his anti-immigrant and anti-refugee agenda clear to everyone. In his first week in office, Trump has paved the way for a massive, expensive construction of a border wall, expanded the reach and capabilities of ICE, and threatened the safety of cities that protect their residents as equals, regardless of citizenship status. He has slammed the door on families seeking refuge from violence and persecution and ignited fears and misconceptions surrounding our Muslim neighbors.

Tell your representatives in Washington, DC that you oppose Trump’s executive orders and that you stand in solidarity with immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Click here to send this Action Letter to Congress & Senate:

I am writing to express concern over President Trump’s anti-immigrant and anti-refugee executive orders. These orders undermine Minnesota’s history of resettling immigrants and refugees from all over the world, and Trump’s actions threaten the economic future of Minnesota.

Through the orders, the U.S. government will pressure local police officers to carry out deportation duties. Deputizing local police officers as ICE agents will make all of us less safe, and will undermine the past work of law enforcement to reach out to immigrant communities and establish mutual trust. When all individuals in our communities trust that it is safe to report crime and seek protection from violence without the fear of being separated from their families, safety increases for everyone. In expanding ICE and attacking sanctuary cities, Trump is charging taxpayers billions of dollars and failing to live up to our moral and legal obligations to protect communities from violence and crime.

President Trump has also slammed the door on refugees–leaving families split and fearful despite already having waited many years and undergoing extensive background checks. Trump has used religion in an unprecedented way as a basis for exclusion, dividing neighbors and stoking anti-Muslim fear. Minnesota has a long history of welcoming immigrants and refugees. These orders will hurt our families and communities and needlessly expose vulnerable individuals to months or years of additional delay in unsafe situations.

I take pride in Minnesota’s tradition of welcoming everyone. I take pride in our diversity. I take pride in our history of helping those in need. I ask you to oppose President Trump’s anti-immigrant and anti-refugee executive orders.

Persons who currently have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) can now receive MinnesotaCare health insurance if they are income-eligible. The webinar above was conducted on December 29, 2016, and all information is accurate as of that date.

ILCM and partners have worked with the MN Department of Human Services to clarify that DACA status is an eligible status to qualify for MinnesotaCare. Beginning January 1, 2017, if you have DACA and meet the other MNCare criteria – you can enroll! Follow ILCM’s Facebook page for updates and additional information.

Deferred Action immigration status has existed for over 40 years as a federal immigration status. And Deferred Action status has existed for many years as a status that qualifies an individual for MinnesotaCare under state law. Beginning in 2012, DACA confers the same deferred action immigration status to a new group of long-term, young immigrants between the age of 15-30, who came to the U.S. as children and who affirmatively apply for and receive approval by USCIS. Including DACA-approved Minnesotans as eligible for MNCare with other deferred action Minnesotans is consistent with current Minnesota law.

 

Please watch this video for post-election immigration legal advice. Special thanks to De León & Nestor, LLC and New Publica Media for collaborating to create this video.

Please see our Resources page for more information.

Follow our Facebook page for news on upcoming events and trainings.

Subscribe for Action Alerts to receive updates on local, state, and federal issues.

ILCM also has the following print resources for individuals who are seeking information on their rights and how to stay safe:

• Post Election Talking Points

Gives a general overview of what you can do now to prepare for Trump’s presidency. Briefly mentions DACA and “Know Your Rights” which is addressed below.

• Derechos de Inmigrantes Bajo la Presidencia de Trump – Immigrants’ Rights under a Trump Presidency

Outlines common questions about what is known at this point about what a Trump presidency might mean for immigrants. Addresses DACA concerns as well as other immigration relief concerns.

• Información sobre DACA – Post-election DACA Q&A

Outlines common questions from those with DACA concerns and how to best address them.

• Información general sobre la ley immigración
• General Information about Immigration Law

Outlines current forms of immigration relief that you can turn to.

• Entérate tus derechos
• Know Your Rights

Gives advice on how to navigate interactions with ICE.

 

The stories of the individuals and families that come through our doors each and every day inspire our work here at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota—stories of perseverance, hope, and a shared desire to create a better future for themselves, their family, and their communities. Today you can be a part of that story: Give to the Max Day is getting ready to kick off! On November 17th, you’ll have the opportunity to help ILCM raise funds to keep families together, strengthen communities, and create a more welcoming state for Minnesota’s immigrants and refugees. You can schedule your donation today.

Your donation may also help us to receive an additional donation of $10,000! Two donations made on GiveMN.org during the Give to the Max Day campaign will be randomly selected to receive a $10,000 Super-Sized GiveMN Golden Ticket! The more people who show their support, the better chances we have of receiving an additional $10,000 donation.

To top things off, every gift made on GiveMN.org will be entered into an hourly drawing for a $1,000 GiveMN Golden Ticket to be awarded to a nonprofit organization. Your gift of $10 or more could instantly turn into an extra $1,000!

Thank you for your generosity, which allows us to continue our important work with immigrants and refugees in our Minnesota communities!

 

 

This fall, ILCM received an Equal Justice Works Fellow to better provide holistic services in outstate Minnesota through close collaboration with rural hospitals and clinics. Kerry McGuire is proud to join ILCM and to build legal/medical partnerships in outstate Minnesota.

The Equal Justice Works (EJW) Fellowship empowers recent law school graduates to pursue worthy social justice projects across the country. Kerry’s fellowship is generously sponsored by 3M and Fish & Richardson. She chose to team up with ILCM because of her interest in immigration as a law student and her previous case management work with Latino immigrants in Chicago.

For her two-year fellowship, Kerry gives immigration legal advice in English or Spanish to patients at outstate clinics and hospitals. Few nonprofit service providers exist in greater Minnesota, and even fewer that speak Spanish or have expertise in the legal field. Kerry’s project fills that significant gap in services.

Meeting with a lawyer can be intimidating for new members of the community. Hospitals and clinics are good outreach locations where trust is already established and periodic visits do happen. Medical staff can refer clients directly to Kerry, who will consult with them one-on-one to help them with their immigration legal need.

Kerry is excited to establish regular weekly visits in rural medical facilities. Her hope is to solicit pro bono volunteers to provide legal advice either in person or through video calls to help additional clients.

In the future, Kerry hopes to become an advocate for immigration reform. We are happy to provide her with this experience as she works to achieve her goal.

In the year preceding the presidential election, Pro Bono Project Director Anne Applebaum has matched many volunteer attorneys with clients that are seeking to naturalize as citizens in time to vote in November’s election.

Sofia is one of those clients. She was thrilled to attend her swearing-in ceremony on Monday, October 26^th, and will vote in the 2016 American presidential election for the first time in her life.

When Sofia was young, she left her home in Uruguay to make a new one in Miami, Florida. She eventually settled in Minnesota. While the north was considerably colder, it offered a better education for her children. In Minnesota, Sofia found “the opportunity to live and thrive, which inspires [her] to give back to [her] community.”

Naturalization was an obvious next step for Sofia because Minnesota is her home now. Yet the path to citizenship can be confusing. Luckily, a friend directed her to ILCM where she received help immediately. From there on out, she felt secure in her choice to trust ILCM. The Pro Bono Project paired Sofia with a volunteer attorney, who made sure her application for citizenship was strong, and helped her prepare for the citizenship test.

Now that Sofia is a citizen, she knows her future is before her. She is taking classes at Century College, attends the First Unitarian Church in Minneapolis, and also takes time to meditate and relax. With ILCM’s help, Sofia feels inspired to help those around her and contribute to society. And on Tuesday, November 8^th Sofia will cast her vote!

In October, Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota awarded ILCM staff Martha Castañon their Partner in Justice Award to recognize her incredible career of public service.

The Partner in Justice Award celebrates Martha as a “skilled, dedicated advocate who, through extraordinary service and achievement, has made a major impact on the lives of many.”

One year ago, ILCM hired Martha Castañon to open a new ILCM office in Moorhead. She has lived and worked in Moorhead for most of her life, and brings a wealth of community connections to her position at ILCM. She spends much of her time conducting outreach across the northwest region, and has connected with clients in Bemidji, Thief River Falls, and East Grand Forks. She also makes biweekly visits to Crookston, Minnesota.

Martha currently serves on the Board of Directors of Community Health Services, Inc. in Moorhead, volunteers with the local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and is a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court Committee for Equality and Justice. Congratulations on your most recent award, Martha!