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Navigate conference encourages undocumented students to succeed
December 05, 2011This weekend, Navigate MN held a conference for undocumented students in Minnesota, encouraging them to seek academic success despite the lack of policy progress on immigration reform. Read the article here, and watch the broadcast on Univision here.
Read more...Categories Immigration in Minnesota -
Hibbing man dies waiting for immigration visa
December 01, 2011A Hibbing man, born in El Salvador and trying to right his immigration status, left his new wife and infant son in 2010 when his application for Temporary Protected Status was denied. Charlie Garcia later became victim to gang violence at a gas station in El Salvador, and was killed. ILCM Board member Karen Ellingson, who was Mr. Garcia's representative, says that the act of deporting individuals back to countries wracked with violence is overly punitive. ILCM director John Keller notes that the legal process of acquiring citizenship after marrying a U.S. citizen, as Mr. Garcia intended, is risky, and the consequences severe. Read the story here.
Read more...Categories ILCM in the News | Immigration in Minnesota -
Minnesota man - a U.S. citizen - held for deportation
December 01, 2011A Minnesota man - born in Jamaica, naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1975 - was held in a South Dakota detention facility for 43 days in 2008 and slated for deportation. Mr. Clark, who lives in Minneapolis, was unable to prove his citizenship at the time of his arrest in 2004 for a traffic violation. Though now cleared of charges, Mr. Clark is seeking $1 million in damages for false arrest and malicious prosecution. Read the story here.
Read more...Categories Immigration in Minnesota -
Video: Panel discussion on the political strength of MN's new citizens
November 22, 2011In October, ECHO Minnesota hosted its third annual panel discussion. This year's topic was the current and future political strength of Minnesota's new citizens. ILCM director John Keller was among others on the panel, including Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie; Hussein Samatar, the first Somali-American ever elected to office; and Ron Lezema, Co-Founder of the Hispanic/Latino Caucus of MN. Click here to watch streaming video of the panel.
Read more...Categories ILCM in the News | Immigration in Minnesota -
ILCM director John Keller on KFAI discussing immigration in MN and federal reform
November 22, 2011On Monday, November 21, ILCM director John Keller was interviewed by Andy Driscoll of KFAI's Truth to Tell news program. Other local advocates spoke during the program. Listen to the show here - the discussion on immigration begins at 07:20, and the guests are introduced at 12:00.
Read more...Categories ILCM in the News | Immigration in Minnesota -
Immigrant contributions to MN economy $12 Billion
November 21, 2011The non-partisan think tank Minnesota 2020 released a report last week stating that the economic contribution of immigrants to Minnesota's economy tops $12 billion, according to KSTP news. The report says that this growing population, and its purchasing power, has contributed to the creation of entrepreneurial jobs beyond traditional immigrant-held jobs in food processing and agriculture.
Read more...Categories Immigration in Minnesota -
Prosecutorial discretion would aid 1,700
November 21, 2011Months after ICE Director John Morton initially released a memorandum instating that immigration judges shall utilize "prosecutorial discretion" in the removal proceedings of unauthorized immigrants, federal officials are beginning the implementation of this program.
Under the prosecutorial discretion protocols, judges would take into account factors including an individual's length of authorized stay, community participation, military service, and any experience they may have had as victim of a crime. Immigration judges are then instructed to prioritize the proceedings of convicted criminals, and de-prioritize cases of non-criminals.
ILCM's director John Keller was interviewed in this Star Tribune article which describes the impact this legislation will have on immigrants in Minnesota. Read Morton's original memo here.
Read more...Categories ILCM in the News | Immigration in Minnesota -
Prosecutorial discretion in crime cases
October 26, 2011A woman in Austin, MN nearly became a martyr for the U-Visa cause. Ms. Sanchez reached out to the local police department after becoming the victim of domestic abuse, and was nearly deported when her undocumented status was uncovered.
This article from Sunday's Star Tribune highlights the importance of prosecutorial discretion when dealing with victims of violence and domestic abuse. This issue isn't specific to Austin, Minn. Many of ILCM's clients are victims of crimes, but have been afraid to seek help for fear of deportation.
Read more...Categories Immigration in Minnesota -
Minnesota's restricted medical assistance law will affect legal immigrants
September 01, 2011On January 1, 2012, a new medical assistance law will go into effect in Minnesota as the result of significant budget cuts. These cuts will dramatically restrict access to state-funded medical services for Legal Permanent Residents - or immigrants awaiting their green card.
The Twin Cities Daily Planet interviewed ILCM Director John Keller for this story. Read it in its entirety here.
Read more...Categories ILCM in the News | Immigration in Minnesota -
Immigration audits drive the undocumented underground
August 22, 2011A recent article in the Wall Street Journal illustrates the effect that immigration audits in Minnesota have had on undocumented immigrants. ILCM executive director John Keller is among the local experts interviewed.
Read more...Categories Immigration in Minnesota | ILCM in the News
