U.S. Citizenship Act offers path toward more humane immigration system

NIJC welcomes today’s introduction of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, which creates a path to citizenship for millions of people in the United States. It also abandons the failed framework of past immigration reform efforts which only offered access to legalization for some people as a tradeoff for ramping up detention and deportations against others. Unfortunately, this bill continues to place outsized reliance on the criminal legal system to steer decision making in our immigration system, which undermines efforts toward racial justice. Read more.

Bill makes Chicago a more welcoming city

After years of organizing by communities and advocates, the Chicago City Council passed amendments to the Chicago Welcoming City Ordinance that make Chicago a more welcoming and safer place for all residents. This is a huge victory for our communities. As we celebrate that victory, we look to the New Way Forward Act to make these same changes at the federal level. Read more.

We must end private immigration detention

Detention has no place in a just and fair immigration system. People in immigration proceedings should be able to pursue their immigration court cases in community, not behind bars. A recent executive order phases out private prison contracts, but that does not extend to the immigration detention system. See more on our blog.

IN THE NEWS: NIJC, our client Johannes Favi, and our partner Detention Watch Network talk about ending private immigration jails on Public Radio International's The World. 

ICE must release people from jails as COVID outbreaks continue

Just before many people in detention became eligible for the vaccine, an outbreak of COVID-19 at Jerome Combs Detention Center in Illinois infected 22 men, including our client, Irbin. Read Irbin's story in the Chicago Sun-Times, and how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been failing to handle the pandemic.

NIJC recently joined 120+ coalition partners in calling on DHS to review the case of every person in immigrant detention and release people who do not fall within its enforcement priorities.

Strong support for DACA

On his first day in office, President Biden issued an executive order about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. While DACA continues to be litigated in the federal courts, this executive order signals the administration’s commitment to the program. Visit NIJC's DACA Information Center to stay updated on DACA developments. Check out our updated frequently asked questions about DACA: English FAQs and Spanish FAQs.

Important steps towards protection for asylum seekers and family unification

In response to recently issued executive orders, we urge the administration to go beyond “review” of the unlawful and harmful policies of the past administration and act quickly to ensure meaningful protection for people at our borders. The administration's decision to allow a path to admission for those trapped in the harmful and unlawful Remain in Mexico program is a good first step. It is past time for a full end to the misuse of the Title 42 public health authority that inhumanely expels asylum seekers and migrants at the border and a commitment to work toward reunification of all families who have been separated. Read more.

Policy Corner recording: Rapid Changes to Immigration Policy in First Weeks of Transition 

In just the first few weeks of the Biden-Harris administration, we've seen a flurry of actions on immigration. Watch NIJC's latest Policy Corner to get a rundown of changes to immigration policies in the initial weeks of the Biden-Harris administration and how you can join us in transforming our immigration system to a humane one. Watch now.