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May newsletter



Dear Friends,

We find ourselves in exceedingly challenging times. In the past three months, we’ve experienced a flood of aggressive federal immigration policies that have imbued immigrants with fear and anxiety. From a general increase in ICE activity to funding cuts to a halt on refugee admissions, it can be difficult to keep up with the most recent happenings. Minnesotans have watched county law enforcement sign on to ICE cooperation agreements, have seen international students be targeted and detained, and have felt firsthand the effects of the abrupt cancellation of certain Temporary Protected Status and parole programs.

We acknowledge the potential for overwhelm and despair, especially with the news cycle moving at breakneck speeds. In light of that reality, we encourage you to take a break from the news as needed, to work on fostering community and meaningful relationships with those around you, and to care for each other, especially when the lack of empathy in elected leadership is so apparent.

At the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM), we are adding staff to our deportation defense team to assist those in detention and removal proceedings. We are working with the New Americans Immigration Hub, a coalition of immigration legal services organizations, to create and implement collaborative rapid response plans for ICE enforcement across the state. We’ve also been planning more legal clinics with partners along with translating and disseminating more “know your rights” materials to improve awareness about interacting with law enforcement.

Thank you for standing steadfastly with ILCM and, more importantly, with immigrant communities. We know that the interconnectedness of our lives assures that we are all affected by attacks on immigrants, but for some, the realities hit much closer to home. Those of us who are positioned to give, protect, and defend must do so with fierce compassion and a dedication to collaborating with, not speaking for, marginalized people.

In community,

Jennifer Stohl Powell

Executive Director




ILCM Statement on DHS Targeting of Immigration Attorneys

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) vehemently rejects the Trump Administration’s assertion of “rampant fraud” and misconduct within the legal profession and the direction for DHS to investigate immigration lawyers. The accusations are a clear attempt to intimidate attorneys and harm immigrants.

The claim that immigration attorneys are acting improperly is alarming and threatens any semblance of fairness that the legal system can offer. Immigration lawyers are ethically bound to advocate for their clients within the bounds of the law, and denigrating those who seek to fulfill that duty is an ill-disguised attack on due process and equal protection for all.

ILCM is committed to providing legal representation to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. We will not be intimidated by the targeted attacks of a federal administration that has shown a disregard for judicial processes. We stand with immigration attorneys and legal staff at ILCM, and nation-wide, in rejecting this assault on the legal profession and principles of justice.




Save the Date!
ILCM is hosting our annual Summer Celebration at Wandering Leaf Brewing Co. in St. Paul on July 24 from 5-8pm. The event will include a program, immigrant-owned food trucks, music, drinks, and community. We hope you'll join us in celebrating the incredible work that we’ve done in a very challenging past year!



Upcoming Presentations/Trainings

The New Americans Immigration Hub, of which ILCM is a partner, is hosting monthly “Immigration Basics” trainings for targeted audiences. The following trainings are upcoming and can be found here (link: [link removed]) under “Partner Trainings”:

May 27 for Social Workers

June 10 for Community Advocates

Weekly Thursdays at 6PM, Unidos MN is hosting a live information session where attorney Susana De Len will discuss immigration legal information and answer questions via Facebook (link: [link removed]) and Instagram (link: [link removed]) Live.

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