Traumatic family separations continue under Biden administration

A mother and father who were separated from their 11-year-old son, Felipe, six months ago and detained separately after the family came to the United States to seek asylum are asking the Biden administration to reunite them in time for the holiday season. NIJC is representing the family, who is just one of hundreds of families who have been separated during the Biden administration. Read more in NIJC's blog post.

IN THE NEWS: The Texas Observer detailed Felipe's family story as part of its investigation into continued family separations.

TAKE ACTION: Sign NIJC's petition asking the Biden administration to reunite Felipe with his parents for the holidays.

Advocates demand an end to detention

In just two years, the Biden administration has doubled the number of people in detention to nearly 30,000 and quadrupled the number of people surveilled by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) monitoring programs. NIJC joined 114 immigrant and human rights groups demanding that the administration end detention and cut funding to detain and surveil people. Read our letter.

Immigrants should be included in marijuana pardon process

NIJC and more than 130 civil rights groups called on President Biden to include immigrants in his recently announced marijuana convictions pardon process. Black and brown immigrants are disproportionately targeted and face double punishment, first by the criminal legal system and then by the immigration system. Read more.

IN THE NEWS: The New York Times spoke to NIJC's Nayna Gupta for its article about people who are excluded from the pardon policy, including immigrants like Kenault Lawrence, who recently was able to return home to the U.S. through intense advocacy from NIJC and partner organizations but faces deportation again because of a marijuana charge from more than a decade ago.

As Title 42 ends, cruel deterrence policies must not replace it

After a federal court ruled the Title 42 asylum ban border policy unlawful, the Biden administration is reportedly planning to implement a new asylum ban and increase criminal prosecutions of migration. Policies designed to harm asylum seekers and immigrants only cause unimaginable suffering to migrants who have already endured too much. Read our statement condemning these plans and urging the administration to rest.

Legal Protection Fund makes Chicago a welcoming city amidst global crisis

For six years, the City of Chicago Legal Protection Fund has helped thousands of Chicagoans defend their rights and access new legal protections. Our 2022 annual report shares details and remarkable stories about the Fund’s impact. Together, participating organizations provided representation in 1,570 cases, Know Your Rights and education sessions to 25,319 people, and legal orientations to 2,681 recent arrivals from Texas. Check out the Chicago Legal Protection Fund report.

5K for Immigrant Justice supports immigrants in our communities

Nearly 500 people participated in the 5K for Immigrant Justice in person and virtually, contributing more than $40,000 to fund life-changing legal services for immigrants in our communities! What an impressive show of support for immigrant rights! Check out photos from the in-person race and winners of our team competition and photo contest.

You showed your generosity on Giving Tuesday!

Last week, 176 immigrant rights supporters like you came together to give more than $38,000 on Giving Tuesday to respond to urgent needs in our communities and ensure that immigrants and people seeking asylum get legal help when they need it most! See more about the campaign and the impact of your support.

If you missed Giving Tuesday, you can still support immigrants and asylum seekers by donating to NIJC before the end of the year!