Undocumented Communities Need Permanent Protections, ‘Parole’ Falls Short 

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Undocumented Communities Need Permanent Protections, ‘Parole’ Falls Short 

It is without exaggeration that we say that the future of many people in this country depends on what will be included in the Build Back Better Plan.

Undocumented immigrants have fought for decades for legislative relief, and this past election cycle Democrats campaigned heavily on immigration reform. Now that they are in power, these elected leaders are caving to interparty pressure and robbing American’s of a once in a lifetime opportunity to rectify a key part of our broken and disastrous immigration system.

The ‘parole’ option that is now being offered to the undocumented community as ‘relief’ is restrictive, inaccessible, and costly to immigrant communities already being impacted by economic exploitation during a global pandemic. Additionally, temporary solutions like parole are a tried-and-failed tactic. DACA, for example, is a temporary policy solution with an uncertain future that has faced legal battles since its inception.

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Dignity Not Detention Coalition: Biden admin kills popular CA law to end private detention

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Dignity Not Detention Coalition: Biden admin kills popular CA law to end private detention

Today, a panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals directed the District court to block California’s AB 32, a state law signed in 2019 which banned private prisons and private immigration detention centers in the state. This same federal district court judge, Janis Sammartino, had largely upheld the law last year, but a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit - including two Trump appointees - reversed that decision today. The State of California now has the option of either appealing the decision to a larger “en banc” panel of judges on the Ninth Circuit or asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case.

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SIREN Statement: Updated Deportation Memo Rebrands Terror, Allows Enforcement Agents Broad Power

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SIREN Statement: Updated Deportation Memo Rebrands Terror, Allows Enforcement Agents Broad Power

The Sept. 30 Mayorkas memo is an underwhelming reiteration of the interim guidelines set into place by the Biden administration back in January. The resulting memo relies on the same tired, criminalizing language that enabled the Trump administration to reign terror on immigrant communities for four years. Unfortunately for the communities we serve, the result of Mayorkas efforts to reset immigration enforcement away from Trumpian levels of targeted, racist persecution did not match the bold proclamations of Democrat leaders on the campaign trail, who, under Biden’s leadership, promised more than they have delivered.

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SIREN Statement on Parliamentary Ruling Excluding Citizenship from Budget Reconciliation Process

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SIREN Statement on Parliamentary Ruling Excluding Citizenship from Budget Reconciliation Process

Today, Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled against Democrat efforts to create a path to citizenship through the budget reconciliation process, citing that the measures effect to the budget would be “merely incidental,” in a three-page memo sent to the Associated Press.

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SIREN Statement on Draft Language for Pathway to Citizenship Released by House Democrats

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SIREN Statement on Draft Language for Pathway to Citizenship Released by House Democrats

This past Friday, Democrats in the House of Representatives released draft language for a much-needed immigration proposal to be included in the budget reconciliation process. The draft bill includes language that would put millions on the pathway to citizenship, including DACA Recipients, TPS Holders, Farmworkers and Essential Workers. Now, we await a complicated political showdown where the Senate Parliamentarian must approve this bill for the budget reconciliation process. This process is intended to get around the obstructionist filibuster, used by Republicans for years to block progressive legislation.

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SIREN Apodera Nuevos Votantes

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Edwin y Lezba son residentes permanentes legales desde hace mucho tiempo que acudieron a la Clínica Legal de Ciudadanía gratuita y mensual de SIREN para recibir servicios de naturalización. Habían pospuesto la solicitud de naturalización porque estaban nerviosos por la administración y las posibles consecuencias de no aprobar el examen. Después de acudir a la Clínica Legal de SIREN, hablaron con uno de los Abogados de SIREN que les calmo sus temores sobre la solicitud y les ayudó a completar las solicitudes.

En abril de este año, Edwin y Lezba regresaron a SIREN con sus certificados de naturalización en la mano. Edwin, especialmente orgulloso, indicó que había respondido correctamente a todas las preguntas en su examen de ciudadanía. Ambos planean votar en las próximas elecciones y están muy contentos de ser ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos.

¡Estamos muy orgullosos de Edwin y Lezba por superar sus miedos y convertirse en ciudadanos estadounidenses! Para obtener más información sobre nuestros programas y servicios de ciudadanía, visítenos aquí.



SIREN Empowers New Voters

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Edwin and Lezba are long time legal permanent residents who came to SIREN's free, monthly Citizenship Legal Clinic for naturalization services. They had put off applying for naturalization because they were nervous about the administration and possible consequences of failing the examination. After coming to SIREN’s Legal Clinic, they spoke with one of SIREN's Attorneys who eased their fears about applying and helped them to fill out the applications.

In April of this year, Edwin and Lezba returned to SIREN with their naturalization certificates in hand. Edwin, especially proud, indicated that he had answered all of the questions on his citizenship exam correctly. They both plan on voting in the upcoming elections and are very happy to be newly minted US citizens.

We are so proud of Edwin and Lezba for overcoming their fears and becoming empowered US citizens! For more information about our citizenship programs and services, visit us here.



Apply for Citizenship Now! Visit Our FREE Weekly Clinic

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Apply for Citizenship Now! Visit Our FREE Weekly Clinic

Are you ready to become an American Citizen? Come to our office on any Thursday for a free legal consultation. We also offer legal services in the following areas: Citizenship, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Family Immigration, Green Card Renewals, Work Permits, Citizenship for Minors, FBI Background Checks… and MORE! No appointment necessary, our immigration specialists will see clients on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

 

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