Court strikes down Trump policy barring refugees from asylum

In a big win, a federal court rules the Trump administration cannot block refugees from seeking asylum when they cross the border between ports of entry. NIJC brought this suit together with our partners. This is a great victory for refugees who would have been denied the right to seek asylum and safety because of this illegal rule, and gives us hope that other attacks on asylum seekers will also fail.

Trump moves to deport more people without a day in court

Trump's expansion of the expedited removal program, which allows the government to deport people without the opportunity to appear before an immigration judge, is the latest installment in the reign of terror targeting immigrants and sowing fear in our communities. We stand with local partners to affirm that everyone in our community has a right to due process.

Crain's profiles the National Immigrant Justice Center

Check out this Crain's Chicago Business article highlighting NIJC’s rapid growth over the past three years in response to the surging demand for immigrant legal representation under the Trump administration. We are proud of our efforts to date and will continue to fiercely safeguard the rights of and ensure access to justice for all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Why the U.S. must decriminalize migration

Two of the most harmful and unnecessary provisions in federal immigration law make it a federal crime for someone to enter the United States somewhere other than an official port of entry. These provisions have roots in white supremacist ideology and politics, and repeal is a necessary step toward a humane and just approach to migration policy. As long as they remain, these provisions will fuel the unjust incarceration of immigrants and leave children permanently scarred by the trauma of separation.

Transgender asylum seeker files legal action for her release

Alejandra Barrera, a transgender woman and Salvadoran asylum seeker who has been locked up in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) jail for 19 months, took legal action in federal court to demand her release. NIJC is representing Alejandra in this action and is fighting for justice for the other transgender women in the jail who have condemned the inhumane conditions they've been held in.

We're hiring! Lots of open positions at NIJC

The National Immigrant Justice Center has open jobs in various departments and projects, including several attorney and paralegal positions to expand our legal services under the City of Chicago’s Legal Protection Fund! The Fund provides free immigration legal consultations, representation, and know your rights sessions for Chicago residents to keep families together and strengthen our Chicago communities.