Plus, Congress debates $200 BILLION for mass detention and deportation.
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| Nonprofits sue to defend legal representation for people with mental illness in ICE detention NIJC and other nonprofit legal services organizations are suing the Trump administration to restore the National Qualified Representative Program (NQRP), a vital program that funds legal representation for 200 people with severe mental illness who are detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
IN THE NEWS: In an interview with NBC News, NIJC Supervising Attorney David Faherty spoke on the added risk that people with mental health conditions have of being deported. “People who suffer from mental illness in a lot of countries around the world are at grave risk of torture and death, and without counsel, deportation could subject them to those conditions," said Faherty. Read the article and NIJC's statement here. |
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| | We condemn the latest attack on welcoming cities The Trump administration issued an Executive Order in another attack on jurisdictions that protect the rights of all residents regardless of immigration status. “We all deserve better from our president and federal agencies," said NIJC Executive Director Mary Meg McCarthy. "Continuing to spend taxpayer funds to violate the Constitution undermines our collective right to a functioning and lawful federal government. Jurisdictions with welcoming policies, including Illinois, Cook County, and the City of Chicago, are safer and more prosperous." We call on the Trump administration to respect and uphold the rule of law and let state and local jurisdictions exercise their legal authority to direct local resources to programs that protect all residents. Read the full statement here. |
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| | Wife and son of detained Illinois resident speak out ABC 7 Chicago spoke with the wife and son of our client Abel Orozco and Abel's attorney, NIJC's Diana Rashid, for an exclusive interview about how the Trump administration's cruel policies are hurting hardworking families and violating people's civil rights, as they aim to fill impossible detention and deportation quotas. "He was essentially a collateral arrest," explained Rashid. "They were not looking for him...but they encountered him during the enforcement operation." Watch the full interview and read the article here. TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition to give Abel a fair day in court! |
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| | House considers $200 billion for mass deportation at expense of vital community programs The House of Representatives is considering a mega-spending bill of up to $200 billion that proposes cutting Medicaid, Social Security, and other vital programs to fund more mass detention and deportation efforts. This bill provides a windfall to private prison CEO’s while assaulting Constitutionally protected rights and cruelly attacking children. Read our statement breaking down the bill and the immense harm it would cause for communities. |
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| | Government begins discriminatory forced biometrics registration for immigrants The Trump administration must rescind its discriminatory new rule forcing millions of people to register with the U.S. government and submit fingerprints and other biometric data. "By requiring millions of adults and children to provide potentially incriminating information and voluntarily register and submit fingerprints, we expect to see a dramatic spike in detention, deportation, and criminal prosecutions in our communities," said NIJC Policy Director Azadeh Erfani. "This also will open the door for rampant racial profiling of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people this administration will choose to target and require to show proof of registration, regardless of their status.” NIJC strongly recommends that people and families impacted by this rule seek legal counsel from an authorized practitioner quickly. Read the comment NIJC submitted to the Federal Register and share our Know Your Rights resource on how to avoid immigration fraud so community members can avoid scams, fees, and false information. The National Immigration Law Center, a trusted partner to NIJC, has published a useful guidance for communities. See NIJC’s frequently asked questions on this new registration rule. |
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| | ICE disappears Detroit resident A wrong turn in a confusing area should not jeopardize your entire life. For Ricardo Prada Vásquez, a Venezuelan immigrant who had a food delivery job in Detroit, this is exactly what happened. The New York Times investigated how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) disappeared Ricardo, after a wrong turn onto the Ambassador Bridge into Canada triggered a detention and deportation order. Right now, his loved ones don't know where he is and cannot contact him after he was thrown into the black hole of the U.S. immigration detention and deportation system. And worse, ICE will not share any details. “'Ricardo’s story by itself is incredibly tragic — and we don’t know how many Ricardos there are,' said Ben Levey, a staff attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center who tried to locate Mr. Prada." Read more here. |
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| | Ten people renew DACA at legal clinic Last month, pro bono attorneys helped 10 people renew their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status at a free legal clinic! Our community members can have a sense of safety and protection. |
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| | SAVE YOUR SEAT: One month until the 26th Annual NIJC Human Rights Awards
Event Information
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
12:00 - 1:30 p.m. CT
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
540 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 The 26th Annual NIJC Human Rights Awards will be held in Chicago on Tuesday, June 3, at 12 p.m. Join NIJC and thousands of new and long-time supporters in honoring the accomplishments of human rights leaders and corporate, civic and community leaders. Human rights activist and renowned author Jewher Ilham will receive the Jeanne M. and Joseph P. Sullivan Award and deliver the keynote. This event will sell out – get your tickets now! |
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| | | NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER
111 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 800 | Chicago, Illinois 60604
immigrantjustice.org |
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