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HB 4083 & HB 4090 (2019)
UPDATE 4/10/19: Despite overwhelming opposition in yesterday's hearing from groups as diverse as the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Sheriffs Association, Michigan League for Public Policy, Michigan Office for New Americans, and many more, these bills passed out of the Military, Veterans, and Homeland Security committee with all Republicans voting for them and all Democrats voting against. We were grateful for testimony from great partners including Kim Buddin of the ACLU of Michigan and Akash Patel, a law student and friend of our office.
We believe it would be harmful to immigrant communities for these bills to proceed further. Please take a moment to contact your elected officials and express your opposition to them by clicking on the links:
Seeking Dignity and Opportunity in Washtenaw County
I am a Washtenaw County-focused staff attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. I have held that position for about a year and a half.
Statement on Ongoing Family Separation Crisis
Today, the Texas Civil Rights Project released a new report, The Real National Emergency: Zero Tolerance & the Continuing Horrors of Family Separation at the Border, showing how family separations have continued at the Southwest border.
Defensores de Derechos Migratorios: Caminando en Encrucijadas
Representantes del Michigan Immigrant Rights Center encuestaron a sus colegas sobre sus propias experiences navegando raza y otras posicionalidades en medio del panorama político actual.
* Originalmente publicado por Race Forward en su página web ColorLines aquí.
Voces de Detroit: Conductores Negros, Pasajeros Morenos
Cómo el Michigan Immigrant Rights Center esta navegando el sistema migratorio estatal opresivo.
*Originalmente publicado por Race Forward en su página web ColorLines aquí.
Increasing Access: Integrating Holistic Well-Being
I am an intake coordinator with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center since March this year. My position is to support all our staff in the Washtenaw county office with the management of our robust intake system and with capacity building in the Detroit Metro area. This year alone, we have had an increase in detained intakes of 500% and our overall intakes have doubled. This only means that human rights of immigrants are being violated more and in various new ways. Through December 3, we have opened 2,678 cases this year.
Warning for non-U.S. citizens about medical and recreational marijuana
As of December 6, 2018, 32 states plus the District of Colombia and Puerto Rico, have legalized medical marijuana. Ten states, including Michigan, have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes, too.
People who are not U.S. citizens may believe that using marijuana in Michigan—whether for recreational or medical use—is permissible and will not affect their immigration status. Unfortunately, that is wrong!! It is still a federal offense to possess marijuana even if, under state law, it is legal for medical or recreational purposes.
Call to Action: Support Saving the Flores Settlement Agreement
I’m an attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC). I represent children and youth who are in deportation proceedings and metro Detroit area residents on a variety of immigration matters. Over the past year alone, MIRC has represented approximately 280 children in immigration matters as a part of the Unaccompanied Minors program.
Front Door Project Releases Needs Assessment for SE Michigan
The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) is pleased to release its report on immigration legal needs in Southeast Michigan. The report was compiled using data from interviews and evaluations with frontline legal service providers across Southeast Michigan between May and June 2018. Funding for this report, along with an array of comprehensive legal services focused on Southeast Michigan, comes from The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and The Kresge Foundation.
Fighting for Francis Anwana
I joined the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center in March of this year as part of their newest program to expand legal services to the Detroit Metro area. The past six months have been filled with challenges and lessons learned. However, the past few weeks alone have been especially challenging with the case of Francis Anwana.