Dear Friends and Allies,
The news from Ukraine is excruciating. More than four million Ukrainians have fled the country. More than six million more are displaced from their homes but remain within the country. Neighboring countries, distant countries, and the United States are opening arms wide to Ukrainian refugees.
Since last August, U.S. communities have opened their arms to welcome Afghans fleeing the Taliban takeover of their country. Understanding the horrors that refugees are fleeing, our communities responded with humanity and compassion. |
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But these displacements are just the most visible and recent instances of people fleeing unspeakable violence and danger. Thousands of others have been barred from applying for asylum, forced back across our border to danger and violence in Mexico, or flown back to the dangers they fled in Haiti or Colombia or Cameroon. The stories of rape and murder and kidnapping now coming from Ukraine echo the painful realities of the asylum seekers waiting at our border.
Hearing of the horrors of the Russian war on Ukraine, people in the United States agree on the need to support and welcome Ukrainian refugees. At the same time, the desperate stories of immigrants and asylum seekers from other parts of the world are often overlooked. We need to uplift the stories of immigration and of asylum seekers from many countries. We can do this—together.
These immigration stories can open hearts wide to offer the asylum-seekers waiting on our border the same safety and assistance that we promise to those fleeing violence in Ukraine. Whether they flee political persecution, attacks on ethnic minorities, or criminal violence intertwined with police and government corruption, they need a safe haven and support. Like hundreds of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers before them, they will contribute their passion for justice, their commitment to freedom, their skills and labor to this, our country.
With gratitude, |
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Veena A. Iyer ILCM Executive Director |
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Resources Pages for Afghans and Ukrainians
ILCM has created two new resources pages. One for Afghans seeking assistance, and one for Ukrainians seeking assistance. There are resources in Pashto and Dari for Afghans, and resources in Ukrainian for Ukrainians. |
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| Save the Date! Join us on July 21 at 5:30pm for ILCM’s Summer Celebration at La Doña Cervecería! Tell your friends and save the date! |
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TPS Fact Sheets
On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, announced a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Sudan for 18 months. On March 2, 2022, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced an extension and redesignation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). On Thursday, March 3, 2022, Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, announced a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Ukraine for 18 months.
Also, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, announced a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Afghanistan for 18 months. ILCM is currently working on a fact sheet. We are waiting for the Federal Notices for Ukraine and Afghanistan. |
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| Welcome New ILCM Board Members!
ILCM welcomes three new board members – Riham Feshir, Maria Kannankutty, and Lupita Herrera! Learn more about our new board members in the article linked below. ILCM is also happy to announce our new board officers – Gregory Schultz as Board President, Sarah Radosevich as Vice President, Katheryn Wasylik as Secretary, and Glenn Leitch as Treasurer. |
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Title 42 Updates
On April 1, the CDC announced that the Title 42 "public health" bar to asylum and immigration will end on May 23. That means a resumption of "normal" processing at the southern border, including asylum applications. The May 23 end date could be pushed back if Republican attorneys general who filed suit on April 3 are successful in getting a court to issue an injunction. |
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Get Involved and Support ILCM |
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Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
450 North Syndicate Street, Suite 200 St. Paul, MN 55104 (651) 641-1011 www.ilcm.org |
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