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Dear friends and allies,

The new year opened with another reminder of the urgency of immigration reform: the deaths of a family of four on the Minnesota-Canadian border. Although we do not know their whole story, we know that immigrants from India face impossibly long waiting periods for family reunification and employment visas. Tragically, their hopes for the future ended with death for the parents and their 11-year-old and 4-year-old children.

While immigration reform remains stalled in Congress, we in Minnesota can still act to make our state more welcoming and inclusive. A two-year state budget surplus forecast at $7.7 billion gives this year's legislative session opportunities to do right by ALL Minnesotans, including our state's immigrant and BIPOC communities. Supporting these communities today will have generational impacts that will make Minnesota better for all Minnesotans far into the future.

Besides the budget surplus, federal American Rescue Plan funds for COVID relief will also be allocated during this legislative session. New Minnesotans and Minnesota's BIPOC communities make up a substantial portion of the essential workers who sacrificed during the pandemic, particularly in food production and processing, construction, health care, and other essential work. They have also been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

Since 2010, more than half of Minnesota's labor force growth has been driven by immigrants. In many ways, our state has recognized the key role of new Minnesotans to the economy and community and welcomed immigrants as part of our community. But we still have work to do.

Governor Walz proposes using the surplus to ensure that Minnesota will be "the best state in the country for families to raise their children." Funding for childcare, preschool education, free meals for students, and reduced tuition for post-secondary education must include all Minnesotans, including immigrants and refugees.

We strongly support proposed legislation to expand MinnesotaCare to cover undocumented children. Legislation that would increase legal aid funding will help to protect the rights of low-income immigrants and also help immigrants applying for citizenship.

Minnesota's growth and stability depend on our commitment to all Minnesotans, including BIPOC, refugee, and new immigrant communities.

With gratitude,

Veena A. Iyer
ILCM Executive Director


ILCM is Mississippi Market's Positive Change Recipient!

ILCM is proud to announce that we are Mississippi Market's February Positive Change recipient! Support ILCM and immigrants and refugees in Minnesota by rounding up at the register or by bringing reusable bags and donating the 10-cent credit at Mississippi Market this month! Keep an eye out for ILCM staff recipe ideas - all ingredients can be found at Mississippi Market!


Black History Month

This #BlackHistoryMonth, we celebrate our Black communities and their contributions to our society today and every day and we work for an end to our racist immigration system. Black lives are often overlooked in immigration spaces due to the anti-Blackness and racism embedded in every system in society. Tell Biden to restore asylum! End Title 42 and Remain in Mexico!
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Happy Lunar New Year!

The New Year of the Tiger has begun-Happy New Year to those who celebrate!
Chinese New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival, celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that typically appears between January 21st and February 20th (which is why Chinese New Year is also called Lunar New Year) and celebrations continue over the next 15 days. It's a major holiday in mainland China and just one of several Lunar New Years across Asia, including the Seollal in South Korea, the Losar of Tibet and Imlek in Indonesia. It is also celebrated worldwide in Asian diaspora--more than 20% of the world's population, or almost 2 billion people, celebrate Lunar New Year.
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Join our Team!

ILCM is hiring! We are looking for a Development Associate, a Development Director, and a Spanish-speaking Staff Attorney. Visit our website for more information and to apply!
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What You Can Do to Support Afghan Refugees in Minnesota

More than 700 Afghan evacuees have arrived in Minnesota for resettlement here. Want to help? Sahan Journal has a list of ways you can get involved.
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Giving Hearts

We are excited to announce that ILCM will be participating in our first-ever Giving Hearts Day on February 10! Giving Hearts Day is a day of giving in support of nonprofits operating in North Dakota and Western Minnesota. Please let your friends and family in the area know that ILCM is raising funds for the great work happening in our Moorhead office!
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