Catholic Community Services’ Post

This guide explores various pathways to achieve U.S. passport, including naturalization and citizenship through family ties. #naturalization #lawyer #immigration #greencard

https://lnkd.in/eQWr5Ayz Ask a #Feminist: Deborah Anker Discusses #Gender and US #Asylum #Law with Aziza Ahmed "AA: Your work has been so instrumental in helping advocates and lawyers acknowledge the complexity that gender brings to immigration and asylum law. Could you tell us a little bit about what drew you to this work? DA: Sure. I started work after law school. We started a law collective in Dorchester [Boston], a group of us. It was during the time of school busing, and there was tremendous violence against African American people. There was an African American family that moved into Dorchester and was attacked every single night—an organized group of kids in the neighborhood throwing stones at their house. It’s quite amazing to think about that having happened quite so recently here. I was a ground level civil rights lawyer at that point. And our collective broke up, people went their separate ways. There was a job opening in immigration and it sounded very appealing to me, although I knew nothing about it.  ... That we had to say that gender itself defined the particular social group because the refugee definition has different elements in it, and it has an element that looks at targeting. That’s the “well-founded fear” element. There’s the element that looks at harm, at state responsibly—that’s the persecution element. And then there’s the grounds. And we said, the particularization of a claim will take place at the beginning—about what constitutes a well-founded fear, or is the harm severe enough. But having a big group like gender was not a problem, in fact that was what the refugee definition was all about. Our Board of Immigration Appeals had held that the particular-social-group grounds should be defined in terms of an immutable characteristic or a characteristic that a person cannot change or shouldn’t be asked to change. “Unable to leave a relationship” is not a characteristic, it’s an event.  ..." Deborah Anker is Clinical Professor of Law and Founder and Director of the Harvard Law School Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program (HIRC). She has taught law students at Harvard for over 30 years. Author of a leading treatise, Law of Asylum in the United States, Anker has co-drafted ground-breaking gender asylum guidelines and amicus curiae briefs. Professor Anker is one of the most widely known asylum scholars and practitioners in the United States; she is cited frequently by international and domestic courts and tribunals, including the United States Supreme Court. Anker is a pioneer in the development of clinical legal education in the immigration field, training students in direct representation of refugees and creating a foundation for clinics at law schools around the country.

Becoming U.S. citizens is a dream for many immigrants in the United States. It is a pivotal moment where individuals not only secure the same rights and responsibilities as U.S.-born citizens but also contribute to the vibrancy and strength of the nation. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) estimates 9.5 million lawful permanent residents (LPRs), also known as “green card” holders, are eligible to naturalize. However, only a small percentage of LPRs naturalize annually. The New Americans Campaign (NAC) stands at the forefront of increasing the number of eligible LPRs that apply for citizenship through a network of local partners. UnidosUS is proud a national partner of the NAC and recently joined over 200 organizations from across the country at the NAC National Naturalization Practitioners’ Conference. Learn more about our latest blog post about the New Americans Campaign here⬇️ #UnidosUS #NewAmericansCampaign #Citizenship #Naturalization

"This legislation would automatically confer Canadian citizenship to persons born abroad to a Canadian parent who is also born abroad prior to the coming into force of this legislation. It would also extend access to a direct grant of citizenship to children born abroad and adopted by a Canadian parent beyond the first generation. Following the coming into force of the legislation, parents born abroad who have or adopt children also born outside Canada will need to have spent at least 1,095 cumulative days of physical presence in Canada prior to the birth or adoption of their child to pass on citizenship." #Canada #immigration #citizenship #law

There is a lot of misleading information on the internet about who can qualify for citizenship. Although important, the duration of your stay in South Africa does not matter as much as HOW you have been residing in South Africa. To qualify for citizenship, you need to have at least five years of permanent residency in the country and not be out of the country for more than 90 days in any of the five years preceding your application. As immigration lawyers, we can assist you with the process of obtaining temporary residency, permanent residency and ultimately citizenship. It is important that your pathway is planned out so that you face as few hurdles as possible in the process. #immigrationlawyer #immigrationlaw #SAcitizenship #permanentresidency #temporaryresidency #homeaffairs #DHA #naturalisation https://lnkd.in/eeTYERFF

In a landmark move, the Federal Government of Canada is drafting legislation to restore citizenship rights for ‘lost Canadians.’ This follows a pivotal ruling by Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice that deemed it unconstitutional to deny citizenship to children born overseas to Canadians who were also born abroad. To know more, visit the link: https://zurl.co/Pq60 Canada Immigration Made Fast & Easy: https://zcu.io/Alnp #immigcanada #movetocanada #canadaimmigration #canadapr #canada #immigrationnews #immigratetocanada #citizenship #ircc #ontario

In December, a federal court approved a class action settlement agreement for immigrant families torn apart under Trump’s Zero Tolerance policy. The agreement gives nearly 5,000 parents and children a new opportunity to seek asylum in the U.S. if they file by December 2025. However, the government won’t provide families a lawyer to help them seek asylum. Immigrant families supported by an attorney are 5x more likely to win their asylum cases than those without. For these families, the stakes couldn't be higher. Failure to win asylum not only means potential deportation but also the very real possibility of re-separation and traumatization. National Immigration Project has therefore joined forces with five other organizations that have accompanied separated families since the beginning--indeed, our Executive Director Sirine Shebaya was part of the Dora v. Sessions counsel team--in an effort to help these families secure legal representation to successfully file their asylum claims. Join @NIPNLG @AlOtroLadoOrg @supportkind @JusticeInMotion @TogetherandFree @theyoungcenter in raising $3 Million to support#JusticeforSeparatedFamilies. Michelle Méndez, Director of Legal Resources and Training at the National Immigration Project, said: “The thousands of families who were callously torn apart by Trump's zero-tolerance policy deserve healing and stability, and securing long-term immigration status for them is a critical step towards making this happen. The burden of finding and paying for legal representation should not fall on these families who have already endured so much at the hands of our government. That is why the National Immigration Project is committed to ensuring that attorneys ready to take on representation are fully trained, prepared, and mentored so they can provide these families with the legal representation they need and deserve. We are proud to work with this coalition of partners to give impacted families what they need and deserve.” Donate here: https://lnkd.in/gYdxSgWY

How can we as a community come together to support Proyecto Faro, a vital immigrant-led initiative in Rockland County, NY, that’s making a real difference for those vulnerable due to their immigration status? Let’s discuss how we can contribute and why this cause is crucial for building a united and supportive community! Empowering Immigrant Communities: Proyecto Faro is dedicated to empowering immigrants in Rockland County. This initiative fills a crucial gap by offering immigrant-led community organizing efforts. It engages members of impacted communities in finding solutions, fostering an environment where every individual has the opportunity to contribute to and shape the community they live in. History – Proyecto Faro: https://lnkd.in/eMupsVxB. Expanding Legal Services: The organization has recently been awarded a re-grant from the NY Immigration Coalition. This funding is set to expand their legal services program significantly. With plans to hire an attorney, a paralegal, and a coordinator, Proyecto Faro is enhancing its capacity to hold legal services office hours and clinics. This expansion means more robust support for the immigrant community in navigating legal challenges. Proyecto Faro – Immigrant-led organizing & solidarity for immigrants in Rockland County, NY: https://lnkd.in/e5uNqEiD. Creating Solidarity Across Diverse Groups: Proyecto Faro's mission is to foster solidarity across various divides - be it legal status, country of origin, or religious affiliation. This approach is vital in building a community where everyone, irrespective of their background, can live without fear or anxiety. Such solidarity is crucial in today's world, where divisive narratives often take center stage. Mission – Proyecto Faro: https://lnkd.in/eApmJD8q. Acting as a Beacon of Hope: The organization symbolizes a lighthouse amidst the storm for refugees and undocumented neighbors. By walking hand in hand with those navigating the challenges of immigration, Proyecto Faro is not just a support mechanism but a beacon of hope and guidance. Result of Community Collaboration: The inception of Proyecto Faro was a response to the palpable need in Rockland County for an immigrant-led organizing effort. It showcases the power of community collaboration, stemming from discussions among members of the Community of Living Traditions at Stony Point Center and driven by visionary leadership. History – Proyecto Faro: https://lnkd.in/eMupsVxB. Supporting Proyecto Faro means investing in a future where every member of the community, regardless of their immigration status, is valued and empowered. It's a commitment to solidarity, legal support, and community building. By backing this organization, the community can take a firm stand for inclusivity, justice, and mutual support in these challenging times.

Thanks to #Germany for reforming the citizenship law. The new citizenship plans boil down to these changes: 1. Immigrants are allowed to apply for citizenship after five years. 2. Children born in Germany automatically get German citizenship if their parents have lived there for at least 5 years. 3. Multiple citizenships will be allowed. #germany #thankful #citizenship

**Canadian Citizenship Law Changes Ahead** What is Changing? Ottawa is drafting a bill to reinstate citizenship rights for children of Canadian citizens born outside Canada. The Globe and Mail reports that the bill is expected to introduce a substantial ties test. First-generation Canadian citizens who obtained citizenship by descent (as children born abroad to Canadian parents) will be required to demonstrate a strong connection to Canada to pass on citizenship to their children who are also born outside Canada. Current Rules Limit Citizenship by Descent Currently, the law is straightforward for the first-generation born abroad but becomes murkier for the second-generation born abroad. April 2009 amendments to Canada's Citizenship Act limited automatic citizenship rights to the first-generation children of Canadian parents born abroad in most cases. The Harper government introduced the amendments to curtail "Canadians of convenience" by disallowing automatic citizenship rights for most children born abroad to Canadian parents (who were also born outside Canada). Why is the Law Changing? The 2009 amendments had unintended consequences. For example, the amendments impacted Canadians working or travelling abroad for short periods, who were unable to pass on their citizenship. This resulted in families being divided and individuals left stateless. Recently, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled in September that denying citizenship to Canadians born abroad who wished to pass on their citizenship to their foreign-born offspring violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Federal Government has until June 19 to introduce new legislation. Stay tuned for updates on this significant development as the government works towards a more inclusive citizenship framework. #CanadiansBornAbroad #Canada #immigration #CitizenshipRights https://lnkd.in/gs6igcxz