NIJC condemns reinstatement of Remain in Mexico

This week, the Biden administration announced its intention to begin returning asylum seekers to Mexico through the Remain in Mexico (also known as Migrant Protection Protocols or MPP) program. NIJC condemns the administration for reinstating this program and for failing to protect migrants and their legal right to seek asylum. Read our statement.

Class action settlement limits ICE enforcement

A federal court settlement that just received preliminarily approval would significantly limit U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement's (ICE) ability to detain immigrants in raids and traffic stops. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of individuals who were racially profiled during raids in Chicago and northern Illinois. We're grateful to our co-counsel ACLU of Illinois and Winston & Strawn LLP, as well as to co-plaintiffs Organized Communities Against Deportations and Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Read more on the settlement.

Border policies block Black & Brown migrants, while welcoming tourists

The U.S. has opened its borders to vaccinated tourists, but Black, Brown and Indigenous asylum seekers at the southern border - including those who are vaccinated - continue to be expelled. Read this new blog post from NIJC’s Azadeh Erfani about the racial injustice of the U.S. government’s continued anti-asylum policies. Read more on our blog.

Check out our Instagram slideshow about how U.S. border policies explicitly target Black, Brown, and Indigenous migrants.

Civil & human rights leaders decry expulsions of Black asylum seekers

More than 40 leaders of civil and human rights organizations, including NIJC Executive Director Mary Meg McCarthy, are once again calling on the Biden administration to end the violent expulsions of Haitian and other Black asylum seekers at the U.S-Mexico border and to restore access to asylum.
See their letter.

A formerly detained transgender asylum seeker's vision for a humane immigration system

When President Biden came to office almost a year ago, Gretta, a trans woman who experienced the worst of our immigration system, sat down to write him a letter. Read Gretta's ideas for a better immigration system.
 

TAKE ACTION: Support a pathway to citizenship!

Right now, Congress is negotiating the final details of the Build Back Better Act and there's still time for them to include a pathway to citizenship! Tell your senators to use this historic opportunity to finally provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of neighbors, loved ones, and colleagues. TAKE ACTION NOW.

WATCH: Strength in the Face of Struggle — Stories from Our Community

During NIJC's last Justice & Java presentation of the year, pro bono attorneys, clients, and community partners shared their stories to celebrate how we continue to show strength if the face of struggle. If you missed it, you can watch the recording on our website.

You protected people seeking safety on Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday was a success thanks to supporters like you! We're so grateful to the more than 150 people who donated to NIJC on Giving Tuesday and funded more than $40,000 in life-changing legal services for people seeking safety! See more about how generosity on Giving Tuesday helped people seeking safety.