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Fall Staff Changes

This fall ILCM welcomes four new individuals to our team and celebrates three current staff members in their new positions at ILCM. We also welcome two new volunteers to our pro bono team and welcome back four volunteers to our Community Defense team, two to our communications team, and one to our Austin office.

LVC volunteer Johan Cavert headshot
Johan Cavert

Johan Cavert joined ILCM as a Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC) volunteer for this upcoming year in August, 2020. Johan spent this past summer as an intern with our community defense project, and over the next year, he will continue working with our community defense team and will also work with our pro bono team and provide some back up on intake. He is a 2020 graduate of Oberlin College, where he studied public policy, economics, and Spanish.

 

Andrea Duarte-Alonso

Andrea Duarte-Alonso is a Lead for America fellow with the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWI). Because of Andrea’s interest in working on immigration issues, SWI has allowed Andrea to work at ILCM part-time and fully funded for the second year of her fellowship. Andrea lives in Worthington and will be working outreach and case support in Southwest Minnesota. Andrea earned bachelor’s degree in 2019 from from St. Catherine University in political science, women’s studies, and English, and she is a Truman scholar.

Hannah Gross

Hannah Gross also joined ILCM as an LVC volunteer in August, 2020. Hannah will be working with our development team and providing much needed administrative, research, and other support for our development work. Hannah is a 2020 graduate of Luther College, where she majored in Social Work and Nordic Studies.

Mackenzie Heinrichs

Mackenzie Heinrichs is an Equal Justice Works fellow who will be working with ILCM for the next two years to respond to the needs of DACA recipients and DREAMers in the wake of the Supreme Court decision on the program and any subsequent action by USCIS and Congress. Mackenzie is a 2018 graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and has spent the last two years working as an Attorney Advisor for the Executive Office of Immigration Review in Southern California.

Kathy Klos continues her work with ILCM as the Supervisor for our Pro Bono Project and Intake process. She began working with ILCM in May 2009 as a project attorney and then moved to Worthington, Minnesota in December 2009 to open and staff the ILCM satellite office there. Since August 2013, Kathy has worked in the St. Paul office, providing legal representation, outreach, and supervision of the Worthington office. 

Sara Karki continues her work with ILCM in Greater Minnesota as the Supervisor of our Greater Minnesota offices in Austin, Moorhead, and Worthington. Sara Karki joined ILCM five years ago as a staff attorney in our Austin office. She will also continue to lead the Austin Area Minority Business Project (AAMBP). In 2019, Sara was named a 2019 Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer.

Tim Sanders Szabo continues his work with ILCM as our new Pro Bono Manager. He joined ILCM fall of 2018 as the recipient of an Equal Justice Works Fellowship sponsored by 3M and Faegre Baker Daniels. Tim’s project focused on establishing medical-legal partnerships with clinics in North and South Dakota, through which he worked alongside ILCM attorneys, staff, and pro bono counsel to increase access to legal assistance for underserved non-citizens in those areas. 

This summer, we said goodbye to Simeon Huff, last year’s LVC volunteer, and Sonja Dangler, one of our pro bono project interns who came on part-time to support us when Anne Applebaum left her role as Pro Bono Director. We wish Simeon the best of luck as he works in social service back home in North Carolina/Tennessee and to Sonja as she starts social work graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin.

2020 Young Leader Award: Oballa Oballa

Congratulations to Oballa Oballa on receiving this year’s Young Leader Award from the Resettlement Programs Office of the Minnesota Department of Human Services! The Resettlement Programs Office “recognize[s] that there are many Minnesotans with a refugee experience who are making a positive contribution in Minnesota. Every year [they] honor local leaders and citizens with Outstanding Refugee Awards to recognize former refugees who are making Minnesota a better place for all of us.”

Oballa and his family arrived in the United States in December 2013. Initially, they lived together in Maryland before Oballa moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for Job Corps training. His mother moved to Austin, Minnesota, and Oballa joined her there after completing his Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate. Oballa worked with ILCM staff attorney Sara Karki and in December 2019 became a United States citizen. Oballa has long been a public voice and leader, even before becoming a citizen.

“Oballa was appointed by Mayor Tom Stiehm to Austin’s Human Rights Commission, and elected by his fellow students as president of the student senate at Riverland College. [He] is passionate about eliminating food insecurity, and he founded his school’s first ever food pantry. Oballa is also president of LeadMN, which represents 180,000 community and technical college students across the state of Minnesota. He’s garnered statewide, bipartisan support for ending food insecurity on college campuses, resulting in the Minnesota Legislature passing the Hunger Free Campus Act in May 2019.” (Minnesota Department of Human Services)

(To read more about Oballa’s immigration story, click here.)

Tell Congress: Urge the Trump administration to restore the U.S. refugee program

Only 10,200 refugees were admitted to the United States during the fiscal year ending September 30, by far the lowest number in the history of refugee admissions. The year ahead may be even worse.

Call your Senators. Call your Congressional Representative: Tell them to urge the Trump administration to restore the U.S. refugee program.

Each year before September 30, the president is required to consult with Congress about the number of refugees the Administration plans to admit in the upcoming year. Over the past four years the Trump administration has greatly shrunk the U.S. refugee program, decreasing planned annual refugee admissions from 110,000 in 2016, under the previous Administration, to just 18,000 this year.

The U.S. has historically resettled more refugees annually than all the other countries in the world combined, welcoming an average of 95,000 refugees per year. Last year, for the first time, the United States was no longer the leader in refugee admissions. When the U.S. closes its doors, other wealthy nations follow its example, and refugees remain stuck in camps and dangerous situations around the world.

Call your Senators. Call your Congressional Representative: Tell them to ensure that the Administration revitalizes the life-saving U.S. refugee program. 

Refugees are our neighbors, colleagues, and community members. In this time of crisis, over 300,000 of them have been working in front-line industries. Refugee admissions can be done safely and are a vital component of helping the world recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

 

 

Oppose New Rules for Immigration Courts!

The government has proposed a new rule that would strip many due process protections in deportation proceedings. The government claims the new rule would increase “efficiency.” In fact, that means speeding up deportations, and limiting the power of immigration courts. You can file a comment opposing this rule.

The government is required to allow the public to read and comment on proposed rules. Comments are public records that anyone can read. The agency proposing a new rule must read all the comments and consider. The agency may make changes to the rule after considering comments. If a large number of comments are submitted, it will take longer to publish the final rule.

The comment period for this rule ends on Friday, September 25. You can make a comment by clicking here and entering your comment. Just click on the “Comment Now” button on the right side of the page.

Here are some details about the proposed rule:

Administrative Closure: Immigration courts use administrative closure to stop a deportation case from moving forward. They can use this tool when an immigrant has an application for a visa pending. That stops the deportation case, and allows time for processing the application.

For example, an immigrant may have an application for a visa as a crime victim. These visas are called U-visas. Only a small number of U-visas are allowed each year. So someone may be approved for a U-visa, but may have to wait for years to receive it. Administrative closure puts the deportation case on hold. This allows the U-visa applicant to wait in the United States until a visa is issued. The proposed regulation would eliminate administrative closure and allow the deportation of immigrants, including crime victims, who have been approved for visas but are simply waiting for them to become available.

Reduced Fact-Finding: Right now, the Bureau of Immigration Appeals (BIA) can send a case back to the judge for more fact-finding. For example, an immigrant might not have a lawyer at first. That might mean that important facts are not presented to the court. So the BIA can send the case back for more fact-finding. The regulation would prevent the BIA from making most fact-finding orders.

This new rule is very long and very complicated. These are just two of many changes that the new rule would make. Overall, the rule changes immigration court procedures to favor deportation and handicap defense against deportation. It reduces the authority of immigration judges and the BIA to make fair decisions.

The comment period for this rule ends on Friday, September 25. You can make a comment by clicking here and entering your comment. Just click on the “Comment Now” button on the right side of the page.

If you do not want your name to appear on the public comment document, just enter your name as “anonymous anonymous.”

Here is a very short sample comment. The best comments use your own words and experiences.

SAMPLE COMMENT:

I oppose the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) rule, EOIR Docket No. 19-0022, (the “Proposed Rule”).

This proposed rule would reshape the entire immigration court system. It would restrict immigrants’ abilities to appeal decisions. It would take away second chances.

This proposed rule would eliminate many protections. It would stop immigration judges from exercising their good judgment in administrative closure. It would prevent the BIA from ordering more fact-finding in most cases.

The appeal process takes time. There is a good reason for that. Immigrants and attorneys need time to prepare evidence.

This proposed rule says it is about efficiency. Due process is a higher value than efficiency.

Do NOT remove Immigration Court due process protections. Please withdraw this proposed rule.

 

Hoja informativa sobre el estado de protección temporal (Actual a partir del 9.16.2020)

Photo by Fibonacci Blu, published under Creative Commons license.

(Actual a partir del 16 de septiembre de 2020)

Esta información no es un consejo legal. Consulte a un abogado calificado de inmigración para obtener asesoramiento sobre su situación.

For this Fact Sheet in English, click here.

La presentación PPT

El 14 de septiembre de 2020, el Noveno Circuito anuló la orden judicial de distrito que había impedido que el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional pusiera fin al Estatus de Protección Temporal para los residentes de El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haití y Sudán. Esa decisión NO inmediatamente termina el TPS.

¿Qué es el estado de protección temporal?

El Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) es un estatus migratorio que brinda a los beneficiarios una autorización de 18 meses para vivir en los Estados Unidos y también ofrece un permiso de trabajo para personas de países extranjeros designados que se han visto afectados por un desastre natural, conflicto armado o otras circunstancias extraordinarias. El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) tiene la autoridad exclusiva para designar y luego renovar o volver a designar un país para TPS.

El TPS es un estatus temporal, otorgado porque las condiciones en el país de origen impiden el regreso seguro de los ciudadanos de ese país que viven en los Estados Unidos, o porque el país de origen temporalmente no puede aceptar su regreso. Para algunos de los países designados, el TPS se ha extendido año tras año cuando las condiciones del país no han mejorado, por lo que muchos titulares de TPS han vivido en los Estados Unidos durante décadas, con fuertes vínculos con el trabajo, las familias y las comunidades.

¿Qué es una orden judicial?

Una orden judicial es una orden judicial que requiere que una persona realice o deje de realizar una acción específica. El juez puede emitirlo al principio de una demanda para evitar que el gobierno continúe con sus acciones dañinas hasta que se resuelva el caso.

¿Por qué hay casos judiciales que involucran a TPS?

En el transcurso de 2017 y 2018, DHS anunció que pondría fin a la designación de TPS de El Salvador, Honduras, Haití, Nepal, Nicaragua y Sudán. Estas decisiones afectaron a cientos de miles de personas en Estados Unidos. Se presentaron tres demandas en diferentes tribunales de los Estados Unidos para proteger los derechos de los beneficiarios de TPS. Esas demandas son Ramos v. Wolf que afecta a personas de El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haití y Sudán, Bhattarai v. Wolf que cubre a personas de Nepal y Honduras, y Saget v. Trump para haitianos que tienen TPS.

¿Qué hace la decisión del 14 de septiembre?

La decisión del 14 de septiembre es solo una decisión en una demanda: Ramos v. Wolf. Esa decisión no pone fin a la demanda. Simplemente dice que el tribunal inferior se equivocó al emitir la orden judicial, la orden que detuvo temporalmente al DHS de terminar con el TPS. La decisión NO pone fin al TPS en sí misma ni le da al DHS el derecho de terminar el TPS en ninguno de los países mencionados. El DHS no puede finalizar el TPS hasta que los casos se resuelvan finalmente. (vea el Aviso del Registro Federal del 4 de noviembre de 2019) Los abogados del caso Wolf ya están planeando apelar la decisión del 14 de septiembre. La lucha

¿Qué sucede si se termina el TPS para mi país?

Los beneficiarios de TPS NO pueden ser deportados de inmediato si finaliza el TPS. Si finalmente se permite al DHS terminar con el TPS, a todos se les dará un período de “descanso” con un permiso de trabajo y permiso para estar en los Estados Unidos durante 12 meses para los salvadoreños y cuatro meses para los ciudadanos de los otros países.

Por ahora, nada cambia. Las personas de los países afectados tienen TPS hasta el 4 de enero de 2021. Algunas semanas antes de esa fecha, el DHS hará un anuncio. Consulte el sitio web de ILCM para obtener actualizaciones.

Si tiene TPS y es de uno de los países para los que el DHS ha anunciado la intención de poner fin al TPS, es extremadamente importante que consulte con un abogado de inmigración para ver si tiene otras opciones bajo la ley de inmigración y también para mantenerse informado sobre estos juicios interconectados.

Contacta el Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota

Para recibir asistencia legal de inmigración, llame a nuestra oficina al 651-641-1011 o al 1-800-223-1368 durante las siguientes horas de admisión:

  • Lunes, martes y miércoles: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Jueves: 1-7:30 p.m.

Visite la página de nuestro sitio web de admisión para obtener más información.

 

CASPER: COVID-19 Public Health Survey

Note: As of Sept. 28, 2020 CASPER, the COVID-19 Community Survey Study, has been cancelled, and the household surveys have been discontinued.

Printable PDF of COVID-19 CASPER Survey: Frequently Asked Questions

Printable COVID-19 CASPER Survey Flyer – English

የማህበረሰብ COVID-19 የዳሰሳ ጥናት – Amharic

Kev Ntsuam Xyuas COVID-19 Hauv Zej Tsoom – Hmong

Qu’annoo COVID-19 Hawaasaa – Oromo

Sahanka COVID-19 ee Bulshada – Somali

Encuesta comunitaria sobre COVID-19 – Spanish

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is conducting a modified Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Minnesota communities. A CASPER survey is a quick way for public health workers and emergency managers to understand the needs of a community.

The information collected from a community helps:

  • Make informed decisions.
  • Initiate public health action and identify information gaps.
  • Facilitate disaster planning, response, and recovery activities.
  • Allocate resources, and assess new or changing needs.

What are the goals of the COVID-19 Public Health Survey?

Through this modified CASPER (Public Health Survey), MDH hopes to:

  • Understand how COVID-19 has spread in Minnesota communities.
  • Understand what factors influence COVID-19 infection in areas with community transmission.
  • Explore how COVID-19 transmission and infection rates differ among regions in Minnesota.
  • Identify what percent of the population is infected with COVID-19, but do not have symptoms.
  • Improve health messaging and prevent COVID-19 spread.

Why should you participate?

  • Free COVID-19 Tests: You and your household members can have free COVID-19 tests to know if you have had or currently have COVID-19.
  • Learn more about COVID-19: Your participation helps us better understand how COVID-19 is spreading across Minnesota. Thank you for participating! We could not do it without you. You are contributing to stopping the pandemic.
  • Let us know your concerns: You can speak to a public health worker about your COVID-19 concerns and its impact on your household.

What to expect during MDH’s CASPER survey:

The MDH CASPER teams plan to sample six regions. Within each selected census block, teams will systematically survey selected households. Team members will be wearing vests with nametags identifying them as part of the MDH CASPER teams. Their vehicles will also have magnets that say “COVID-19 Survey Team” on the side.

Teams will be comprised of public health workers who will conduct a survey on COVID-19 and a healthcare professional who will complete two tests:

  • A nasal swab test: a healthcare professional will swab the inside of your nose to see if you currently have COVID-19.
  • A serology test (blood test): a healthcare professional will collect a few drops of blood from your finger to see if you have previously been infected with COVID-19. This is done through a finger prick with minimal pain.

Each household will be asked to complete one survey. All household members will be asked for permission to conduct a blood and nasal swab test, and have the right to refuse both tests. Tests will be sent back to the MDH lab for analysis and individuals will be notified of their results if they choose to participate. If your test results are negative, a health care professional will send you a text message with your results. If either of your test results are positive, a health care professional will call you with your results and provide further information.

Why a COVID-19 Public Health Survey is important:

Information is key for decision-making. Information sent to the right people, at the right place, at the right time, is optimal for any successful response. A modified CASPER addresses this by providing valid information rapidly about the health needs of a community to decision-makers.

The survey results will provide information for:

  • Study participants on their COVID-19 infection status
  • MDH and local public health leadership to understand the spread and inform prevention efforts
  • Governor’s office to provide context for decision-making
  • MDH-University of Minnesota modeling team to inform COVID-19 modeling efforts
  • Media to educate the public

Privacy

All health information collected during the survey will remain confidential. Positive test results will be shared with the health department case investigation team to follow up.    

MDH Contact Information

Please contact health.serosurvey.c19@state.mn.us if you have any questions.

 

Ninth Circuit Upholds End to Temporary Protected Status, But the Struggle is Not Over

September 15, 2020—The futures of more than 300,000 long-term U.S. residents and more than 200,000 U.S. citizen children are jeopardized by the latest court decision on Temporary Protected Status (TPS). That decision does not immediately end TPS, since further court proceedings remain. The decision does signal backing for the Trump administration’s racist moves to end TPS for Salvadorans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and South Sudanese migrants in the United States.

Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian protection established by Congress in 1990. The Department of Homeland Security designates TPS for people who cannot return to their home countries due to ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war), an environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane), an epidemic, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. People with TPS are not subject to deportation and can get work permits, but TPS does not give them a path to permanent residence or citizenship.

More than 400,000 people from 10 countries live in the United States with Temporary Protected Status. The average TPS holder has lived here for 22 years. More than 130,000 TPS holders work in essential services. More than 11,000 work directly in health care.

“The Trump administration’s decisions on terminating TPS have been based on racism and anti-immigrant policies, not on factual consideration of the circumstances in the countries in question,” said Veena Iyer, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. “TPS holders are part of our community. They are parents, neighbors, nurses, truck drivers, construction workers, and more. We need them as much as they need to remain here.

“The Ninth Circuit decision is a setback, but it will be appealed. Moreover, legal challenges to TPS continue to make their way through courts in other jurisdictions across the country. TPS holders should know that they do NOT face immediate deportation. The battle is far from over.”

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota will be hosting a Facebook Live information session on TPS. Watch our Facebook page for the time and date.

Nuevos requisitos de I-9 durante COVID: Avisos de aprobación para documentos de autorización de empleo (EAD) aceptables hasta el 30 de noviembre de 2020

(Actual a partir del 26 de agosto de 2020)

Esta información no es un consejo legal. Consulte a un abogado calificado de inmigración para obtener asesoramiento sobre su situación.

¿Cuáles son los cambios en el proceso de verificación de elegibilidad de empleo (proceso I-9) hasta el 30 de noviembre de 2020?

Entre ahora y el 30 de noviembre de 2020, los inmigrantes y refugiados que han sido aprobados para un Documento de Autorización de Empleo (EAD) también conocido como un permiso de trabajo pueden usar el aviso de aprobación de USCIS I-765 (Formulario I-797 Aviso de Acción) para demostrar que son elegibles para trabajar si la fecha del aviso es entre el 1 de diciembre de 2019 y el 20 de agosto de 2020.

Es importante destacar que el aviso de aprobación de USCIS I-765 solo prueba la elegibilidad para trabajar. No prueba la identidad, que también es parte del proceso I-9. Por lo tanto:

  • Si un empleado es nuevo y está completando el proceso I-9 por primera vez, el empleado también debe presentar un documento de la Lista B que demuestre su identidad (consulte la página 3 del formulario I-9).
  • Si un empleado ya está trabajando para un empleador y su EAD simplemente ha expirado, el empleado solo necesita presentar el aviso de aprobación de USCIS I-765 para demostrar que todavía se le permite trabajar. No se puede pedir al empleado que presente un documento que acredite su identidad una vez más.

Para el 1 de diciembre de 2020, los empleadores deben obtener un documento de los empleados que produjeron un aviso de aprobación de USCIS I-765 para demostrar la elegibilidad para trabajar. Cuando un empleador pasa por este proceso, debe aceptar cualquier documento de la Lista A o la Lista C del empleado para probar la elegibilidad para trabajar. Un empleador no puede exigir a un empleado que presente un tipo específico de documento de la Lista A o C.

¿Qué deben saber los empleados acerca de pasar por el Proceso I-9 con empleadores en este momento?

Es posible que muchos empleadores no estén al tanto de este cambio. Entonces, si está presentando un aviso de aprobación de USCIS I-765 para el proceso I-9, imprima una copia de este anuncio de USCIS y entréguesela a su empleador junto con la copia de su aviso de aprobación de USCIS I-765.

Si su empleador se niega a aceptar el aviso de aprobación de USCIS I-765 como prueba de su elegibilidad para trabajar, puede comunicarse con:

  • Oficina de Prácticas de Inmigración Relacionadas con el Empleo Desleal al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2525, TTY para personas con problemas de audición).
  • Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (Servicios legales regionales del sur de Minnesota) al 1-888-575-2954
  • Volunteer Lawyers Network (Red de abogados voluntarios) al 612-752-6677
  • Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota – Oficina Legal, si es un cliente actual, al 651-641-1011

 

Antecedentes Útiles

¿Qué es el proceso I-9?

Los empleados deben completar el Formulario I-9 de verificación de elegibilidad de empleo para mostrar su identidad y su elegibilidad para trabajar en los Estados Unidos. Para hacer esto, los empleados tienen una de dos opciones de acuerdo con las instrucciones del formulario:

  • Opción uno: producir un documento que demuestre la identidad Y la elegibilidad para trabajar (documentos de la “Lista A“)
  • Opción dos: producir dos documentos, uno que acredite la identidad (documentos de la “Lista B“) y otro documento que acredite la elegibilidad para trabajar (documentos de la “Lista C“)

Un empleador debe aceptar cualquier documento de la Lista A O un documento de la Lista B y de la Lista C. Un empleador no puede exigir a un empleado que presente un tipo específico de documento de la Lista A, B o C.

¿Cuáles son los requisitos habituales para un inmigrante o refugiado al que se le permite trabajar y tiene un documento de autorización de empleo (EAD)?

Un EAD demuestra identidad Y elegibilidad laboral. La mayoría de los inmigrantes y refugiados que tienen un EAD presentan su EAD durante el Proceso I-9 para probar su identidad Y su elegibilidad para trabajar.

Un EAD se otorga por un período de tiempo específico y debe renovarse antes de que expire. Cuando un EAD vence, un empleador debe pedirle a un empleado que presente un documento que demuestre que el empleado todavía puede trabajar en los Estados Unidos.

Por lo general, un aviso de aprobación de USCIS I-765 no es aceptable para demostrar que el empleado todavía puede trabajar en los Estados Unidos. De hecho, el aviso dice que no es evidencia de autorización de empleo. En su lugar, debe producirse el EAD real. Sin embargo, como se discutió anteriormente, se ha hecho una excepción temporal a esta regla desde ahora hasta el 30 de noviembre de 2020.

For the same information in English, click here. 

New I-9 requirements during COVID: Approval Notices for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) acceptable through November 30, 2020

(Current as of August 26, 2020)

This information is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice about your situation.

What are the changes to the Employment Eligibility Verification Process (I-9 Process) through November 30, 2020?

Between now and November 30, 2020, immigrants and refugees who have been approved for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) also known as a work permit can use the USCIS  I-765 approval notice (Form I-797 Notice of Action) to prove they are eligible to work if the date on the notice is between December 1, 2019 and August 20, 2020.

Importantly, the USCIS I-765 approval notice only proves work eligibility. It does not prove identity, which is also part of the I-9 process. Therefore:

  • If an employee is new and is completing the I-9 process for the first time, the employee must also produce a List B document proving identity (See page 3 of the I-9 form).
  • If an employee is already working for an employer and their EAD has simply expired, the employee need only produce the USCIS I-765 approval notice to show they are still permitted to work. The employee cannot be asked to produce a document proving their identity once again.

By December 1, 2020, employers must obtain a document from employees who produced a USCIS I-765 approval notice to prove work eligibility. When an employer goes through this process, it must accept any List A or List C document from the employee to prove work eligibility. An employer cannot require an employee to produce a specific kind of List A or C document.

What should employees know about going through the I-9 Process with employers at this time?

Many employers may not be aware of this change. So, if you are producing a USCIS I-765 approval notice for the I-9 process, print out a copy of this announcement from USCIS and provide it to your employer along with the copy of your USCIS I-765 approval notice.

If your employer refuses to accept the USCIS I-765 approval notice as proof of your work eligibility, you can contact:

  • Office of Unfair Employment Related Immigration Practices at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2525, TTY for the hearing impaired).
  • Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services at 1-888-575-2954
  • Volunteer Lawyers Network at 612-752-6677
  • Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota if you are a current client at 651-641-1011

 

Useful Background

What is the I-9 Process?

Employees are required to complete Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification to show their identity and their eligibility to work in the United States. To do this, employees have one of two options according to the form instructions:

  • Option One: Produce one document that proves identity AND work eligibility (“List A” documents)
  • Option Two: Produce two documents, one document that proves identity (“List B” documents) and another document that proves work eligibility (“List C” documents)

An employer must accept any List A document OR a List B and a List C document. An employer cannot require an employee to produce a specific kind of List A, B, or C document.

What are the usual requirements for an immigrant or refugee who is permitted to work and has an employment authorization document (EAD)

An EAD proves identity AND work eligibility. Most immigrants and refugees who have an EAD produce their EAD during the I-9 Process to prove their identity AND their eligibility to work.

An EAD is granted for a specific period of time and must be renewed before it expires. When an EAD expires, an employer is required to ask an employee to produce a document that shows that the employee is still permitted to work in the United States.

Usually, a USCIS I-765 approval notice is not acceptable to show the employee is still permitted to work in the United States. In fact, the notice says it is not evidence of employment authorization.  Instead, the actual EAD must be produced.  However, as discussed above, a temporary exception has been made to this rule between now and November 30, 2020.

Haga click aquí para encontrar la hoja en Español.