At Supreme Court, DACA recipients say "Our #HomeIsHere"

Today, thousands are rallying at the Supreme Court and around the country as the Court hears the case challenging President Trump's unlawful attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) joined other legal service providers in filing an amicus brief with the Court in support of DACA. DACA protects hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation and has provided stability for their families. Our message: DACA recipients and immigrant families are part of our communities and their #HomeIsHere.

Watch the rally at the Supreme Court on Facebook and hear the powerful stories of many DACAmented folks fighting for their future.

Find a rally near you today and show up in support of DACA recipients and all immigrants. 

Lawsuits reveal unlawful collaboration between Illinois police & ICE

Three Illinois residents filed lawsuits (represented by NIJC, the ACLU, and Schiff Hardin, and supported by a coalition of community groups) after police unlawfully arrested them after minor traffic stops and detained them until ICE picked them up. These incidents violate the Illinois TRUST Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from detaining a person for ICE based on an administrative hold or “detainer.”

TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition to #FreeKelly!

Thousands have signed petitions calling on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to #FreeKelly. Kelly is a young transgender asylum seeker who has been locked up in immigration jail for more than two years, where she has suffered medical neglect, mistreatment, and solitary confinement for four straight months because of her gender identity. All Kelly wants is to live without fear as her true self. ICE could grant Kelly's parole request now, but it refuses to release her. Sign the petition to #FreeKelly now!

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ON THE BLOG: Getting Out - Stories from inside immigration jail

Being locked up in immigration detention is miserable, and getting out can be just as hard. Read all four parts of our new blog series, Getting Out, highlighting the experiences of the National Immigrant Justice Center's (NIJC) detention team and clients trapped in the system.

In Part One, 18-year-old Margaret successfully petitions for her own asylum, all while battling against the injustices of immigration detention. Read Margaret's story.

In Part Two, Sebastian fled his country to save his life, but when he got to the U.S. to seek asylum he was imprisoned with an unnecessarily high bond set at $5,000. Read Sebastian's story.

In Part Three, Pani is a father of three who survived horrific conditions in detention and lost custody of his daughters, all because he couldn't afford a high bond. Read Pani's story.

In Part Four, Pani faces a long journey home after finally being released but only with the clothes he was detained in, a bus token, and a dead cell phone. Read more of Pani's story.

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IN THE NEWS: Seeking asylum in Chicago

Asylum seekers who recently settled in Chicago shared first-hand with The Chicago Reader and Borderless Magazine their powerful stories, including Gabriela, an NIJC client and mother who was separated from her son at the border and was reunited with the help of her NIJC lawyers. The piece also features NIJC's Hannah Cartwright, who represents detained individuals including asylum seekers.

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Join our team at NIJC!

NIJC is hiring...a lot! While the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers are under attack, now is a critical time to join the National Immigrant Justice Center team. We're hiring staff of all experience levels in many departments including legal staff, operations, policy, and communications. Positions open in NIJC's offices in Chicago, Indianapolis, and San Diego.

SAVE THE DATE: Protect asylum seekers on #GivingTuesday on 12/3

#GivingTuesday is three weeks from today! What better way to participate in this global movement than by donating to protect those seeking safety in the United States. Save the date to protect asylum seekers on Giving Tuesday, December 3!