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Dear friends and allies,

We ended our 2020 filled with gratitude. Gratitude for our staff, who served thousands of clients last year against all odds. Gratitude for our volunteers, who multiply our capacity to serve the community. Gratitude for all of you who generously gave to ILCM to support our work to inform and advocate for our immigrant and refugee communities. Thank you.

And while we at ILCM and the communities we serve were shocked and frightened by a new year that began with the invasion of the Capitol, we are now cautiously hopeful. Within hours of his inauguration, President Joe Biden issued six executive orders reversing anti-immigrant policies and an executive order on racial equity. The Citizenship Act of 2021 is set to be introduced and would create a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants if enacted. And the New Way Forward Act would reverse draconian anti-immigrant laws enacted during the mid-1990s. Much remains to be done, and ILCM is determined to continue our advocacy for an immigration system that is fair, humane, respectful, and centered in racial justice.

We also begin this year celebrating victories. Two of our pro bono attorneys--Peter Gorman and Mary Rice--were recognized as Minnesota Lawyer Attorneys of the Year for their outstanding work representing over one hundred DREAMERs to renew their DACA status and continue working and thriving. We are grateful to Pete, Mary, and all of the pro bono attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants who are ensuring equal access to justice and opportunity. [LINK: [link removed]]

Please join our pro bono team, and if you're not a legal professional, encourage those in your life to do so. We're hosting a virtual training on preparing DACA renewal applications on February 16 from 1-3:30. The average case takes 5-7 hours to complete and makes a huge difference in the lives of young immigrants and their families. [LINK: [link removed]]

Thank you again for all of your support. We look forward to working with you in 2021.

In partnership,

Veena A. Iyer
ILCM Executive Director


Compassion, Commitment, and the Extra Mile: Isbely McKeen's Work with Immigrant Women Survivors of Crime

Congratulations to Isbely McKeen, winner of the Minnesota Alliance on Crime's 2020 Spotlight Award for outstanding service to low-income clients!
"To give them hope that there is something for them here in the future, whereas now they are in limbo; they are afraid; they don't know if they can get legal status any time soon. So making them know that they can have a life here and aspire to legal status, that's my main goal. When I see them before me empty-handed, and when we could give them a little bit of hope, I'm like, yeah, I can do this; I can go the extra mile for this person." [LINK: [link removed] ]


Looking forward to March at Seward Community Co-Op

Thank you to everyone who voted for ILCM last fall to be chosen as a 2021 Community Choice SEED recipient! We're happy to announce that when you round up your groceries this March, you'll be supporting ILCM's crucial work like helping folks get out of detention and back home with their families, renewing and completing initial DACA applications so that Dreamers can build their careers, and assisting immigrants with completing their citizenship applications! Join us in shopping at Seward Community Co-Op this March and rounding up to support ILCM and our work!


Spring 2021 Staff Updates

ILCM is excited to welcome 19 new interns, volunteers, and team members! The ILCM Board also elected two new board members. [LINK: [link removed] ]
We also continue our search for a receptionist, a finance and development manager, and a development associate to join our team. For more information or to apply, please visit our Careers page. [LINK: [link removed]]


Let America become America for all -- including immigrants

"The beginning of a new administration marks the beginning of a new chapter and the beginning of some very heavy lifting: the work that must be done to combat what one commentator today called the three pandemics of COVID-19, of racism, and of misinformation.
"I believe that we can move forward together with this difficult but essential work. Facing our flaws and shortcomings does not mean giving up." [LINK: [link removed]]


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