Press Releases
Immigrant ARC Condemns the Biden Administration's Continued Use of Title 42
New York, NY; January 9, 2023 - Immigrant ARC condemns the Biden administration’s decision last week to expand the use of expedited removal under Title 42 and Title 8 and limit the number of admitted parolees from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua to 30,000 people, regardless if more individuals meet the eligibility requirements.
We also stand against the Biden administration’s announcement of a forthcoming proposed rule that would establish a “rebuttable presumption of asylum ineligibility” for those who have traveled through a third country or were not admitted to the United States. Asylum is a right established by both U.S. federal law and international law, yet in this country, we do not guarantee a right to counsel in immigration proceedings. To expect asylum seekers to be able to overcome a presumption of ineligibility is to create a cruel, and for many, insurmountable barrier to asylum that has nothing to do with the merits of any individual asylum seekers case.
Last week’s announcement offers a policy solution that can only make sense in political offices. It does nothing to address the human suffering being caused by our long-broken immigration system, and effectively prevents people from exercising their legal right to apply for asylum.
Immigrant ARC Executive Director Camille Mackler says, “We strongly condemn the decision to create more barriers to asylum through the regulatory process. Throughout the world over, we see global leaders shirk their responsibility while developing economies absorb the vast majority of displaced persons. The United States must show leadership and do better. Our country’s founding principles are based on hundreds of years of welcoming not the rich and the educated, but those coming here seeking freedom and opportunity. Now is not the time to turn our back on these bedrock values.”
We at I-ARC believe a meaningful response would involve a whole of government approach that is informed by local communities, including those at the border who have been bearing the brunt of these broken policies as well as those in cities in the interior.
New York has shown that it wants to help welcome, but we need more resources. Providers are at capacity and cannot continue to absorb new needs without additional support. The Federal Government must stop avoiding playing a leadership role and work with local governments and local stakeholders to help us meet these needs.
“We urge our leaders to show political courage and re-think what an appropriate border response should be,” says Mackler. “This includes re-structuring the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that the response at the border is led by an agency trained to response to humanitarian needs, and we call on Congress to invest resources not in deterrence-first policies, the trademark of the last few decades that have led us to the moment we are in, but to welcome and help individuals coming to the United States avail themselves of existing processes meant to comply with international and domestic law, while re-thinking what a better immigration system could look like.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
CONTACT: press@immigrantarc.org.
Immigrant ARC’S Statement on Title 42
New York, NY; December 21, 2022 - Immigrant ARC is disappointed at the decision by the Supreme Court to prolong Title 42 border closures, a holdover from the Trump Administration’s efforts to expel asylum seekers from the United States by exploiting public health rules during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The ruling applied to both families and single adults.
The Biden administration has continued its use, in the process evading the due process and refugee protection provisions of U.S. immigration and international law. In November, however, a federal court vacated Title 42 for violating U.S. law and scheduled it to end on December 21, 2022.
In a new development in recent days, the U.S. Supreme Court paused the end of Title 42. Immigrant ARC and our fellow advocates and member organizations denounce this injunction from the Supreme Court, while demanding that Congress and President Biden expand additional protections for asylum seekers.
New York has always been a primary destination for those coming to the United States (we saw this firsthand this past summer) and we know that the ultimate ruling will affect how our City and State must respond. In recent days, New York City Mayor Adams has said that the city is considering reopening Randall's Island tent city for migrants given Title 42’s uncertain future.
Immigrant ARC Executive Director Camille Mackler says, “Title 42 was never anything more than a pretext, using a public health situation to further an anti-immigrant agenda by the previous Administration. It is unconscionable that it has been allowed to continue on for so long , and we condemn its use. Seeking asylum is a legal right that the United States is obligated to uphold, and we know, from our own experiences and from reports from advocates at the border, that New York remains a top destination. We also know, from this past summer and all the other times that the border was brought to New York, that New Yorkers are ready to welcome and to show that it is possible to treat those who come here asking for help with dignity and humanity. We, along with our member organizations, stand ready to show that spirit yet again.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
CONTACT: press@immigrantarc.org.
IMMIGRANT ARC ANNOUNCES ITS HONOREES FOR ITS FALL FUNDRAISER: A NIGHT OF JUSTICE
Brooklyn, NY; October 6, 2022 - Immigrant ARC is proud to announce its three awardees, to be honored at Jane’s Carousel in downtown Brooklyn at the organization’s annual “Night of Justice” fundraiser on Thursday, October 6, 2022.
This year shines the spotlight on Emerson G. Argueta, winner of the Community Champion Award; Catholic Charities' Immigration Legal Services & Unaccompanied Minors Program Team, winner of the Immigrant Champion Award; and Desireé C. Hernández Sánchez, winner of the Immigrant Justice Award.
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In addition to being an integral member of the I-ARC steering committee, I-ARC’s COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD winner Emerson G. Argueta is the Supervising Attorney for the Removal Defense Team at CARECEN, where he has led a team of young attorneys and paralegals to provide high quality legal representation to a historically underserved region.
“Winning the Community Champion Award is a huge honor,” explains Argueta, “because it is recognition from my peers, many of whom are mentors. I draw inspiration from the tenacity of this community of immigration advocates, and winning this award is affirmation that I am exactly where I should be: doing this work alongside this amazing community.”
He adds, “I fight for immigrant justice because I am an immigrant who’s life was changed thanks to quality legal representation. I see myself in our clients, all of whom deserve the dignity of having access to counsel in our byzantine immigration system.”
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From working on the Dedicated Docket to responding to the influx of migrants being bussed to NYC from the Southern Border, Catholic Charities of New York’s Immigration Legal Services & Unaccompanied Minors Program Team has been at the forefront of many emerging immigration legal issues arising recently in New York City and I-ARC is excited to honor them with our IMMIGRANT CHAMPION AWARD.
Maryann Tharappel, who will accept this award on behalf of Catholic Charities says, “My family left central Africa fleeing the Hutu/Tutsi conflict and I will never forget those first years in America, facing language and cultural hurdles, watching my parents face discrimination, experiencing it myself firsthand, and the challenges we faced in our journey to lawful permanent status. I will also always remember those who helped us, who stood up for us, and those who encouraged me to never stop raising my voice. As an immigrant and a woman of color, the fight for justice is in my heart, and it is my privilege to lead this team of exemplary warriors.”
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Desireé C. Hernández Sanchez is an experienced immigration attorney and Deputy Executive Director at Safe Passage Project. This past year, she became the key leader navigating internal shifts and tackling the many challenges facing migrant youth, and has showed enormous grace under pressure while enabling the organization and its pro bono network to deepen its support for vulnerable youth and expand access to justice, making her the perfect recipient of Immigrant ARC’s IMMIGRANT JUSTICE AWARD.
“I am extremely honored to win this award,” says Desireé. “I really appreciate the platform to raise awareness to immigrant children issues and the importance of high quality legal representation in our immigration courts. I feel privileged to work every day to seek protection for immigrant children with a fantastic team at Safe Passage Project. This award is a community coming together to encourage others to stand with immigrant children.
Hernandez Sanchez goes on to say, “I fight for immigrant justice because it should be a right for children to receive free legal services. Immigration law is complicated and unaccompanied immigrant children should not pay the price of our broken system. I work towards a future where we recognize immigrant children as children that deserve a fair and just legal process, as well as safety and compassion in the U.S.”
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“It’s always an honor to be able to recognize the incredible work our members do day in and day out on behalf of New York’s immigrant communities,” says I-ARC’s Executive Director Camille Mackler. “This year’s awardees are true leaders in our community, and we can’t wait to celebrate them and their accomplishments and lift up our entire community of tireless advocates.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
CONTACT: press@immigrantarc.org
I-ARC stands in support of the Afghan Adjustment Act, newly introduced to Congress
New York, NY; August 9, 2022 - Immigrant ARC members stand in vocal support of the Afghan Adjustment Act, introduced into Congress today by a bi-partisan group of Senators. The bill provides a pathway to lawful permanent residence and eventual citizenship for Afghan nationals who have already been allowed to enter the U.S. Unlike the regular U.S. asylum process, which requires applicants to speak about their credible fear of persecution, an often retraumatizing experience, this stand-alone bill would allow Afghans to enter a streamlined process to adjust their status after going through a vetting process. This bill helps ensure Afghans who are already here in the United States can integrate into their communities where they are already living.
In response to the introduction of this important bill, Immigrant ARC’s Executive Director Camille Mackler made the following statement:
“Almost a year ago, civilian-led groups launched an unprecedented evacuation of Afghan allies, who worked side by side with us to build an Afghanistan we promised, but were left behind when US troops were withdrawn. For the last year tens of thousands of individuals have lived in limbo, in temporary status hastily granted with no thought to their future stability or safety. This whole time, these individuals have sought to rebuild their lives in the United States, not knowing if they would eventually be returned to Afghanistan where their service to and affiliation with the U.S. government would endanger their lives. Today, we applaud the bipartisan group of legislators who have sponsored the Afghan Adjustment Act, honoring the United States commitment to supporting this population. We urge all members of Congress to follow their example and vote in favor of this bill.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
CONTACT: press@immigrantarc.org
Immigration Legal Advocates Call For Emergency Funding to Assist Increase in Asylum Seekers Being Bussed to New York City and State
Contact: Megan Eisspress@immigrantarc.org917-257-1058www.immigrantarc.orgImmigration Legal Advocates Call For Emergency Funding to Assist Increase in Asylum Seekers Being Bussed to New York City and State
Brooklyn, NY; August 3, 2022 - Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) and its members are calling on New York City and New York State to provide $10 million in emergency funding to address the legal needs of the thousands of asylum seekers being bussed here from Texas and Arizona.
On July 21st, New York City Mayor Eric Adams held a press conference noting that the Governors of Texas and Arizona were actively sending migrants via bus from the border to NYC. I-ARC has been monitoring this issue from the beginning, and it has been confirmed by a number of our member organizations who, over the last month, have reported an alarming increase in the number of individuals arriving at their offices from the border seeking services. The individuals and families are arriving, often with only the clothes on their backs, traumatized by their journey and without any connections in New York. They are being placed in deportation proceedings while struggling to find shelter, food, and to keep their families together. Legal service providers are rushing to help, but with caseloads already at capacity from years of increased immigration enforcement and pandemic delays, they are struggling to meet the need. Without proper legal representation, these individuals are at risk of being deported back to the very places they fled without having the opportunity to make their case for protection to US government agencies.
“The most immediate legal need is to increase the capacity of legal services to intake, screen, and give legal orientations to these individuals. Based on current estimates, we ask that $10 million be allocated by the City and State to immediately increase capacity at these organizations,” stated Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC. “Looking towards the future, additional funding will be required to provide long-term representation to these individuals, who, if given the chance to make an application, nonetheless face a years-long process through the immigration system. More broadly, we must move away from reactive funding to crises after the fact. It is imperative that we create and fund systems in a way that allows providers to pivot to the immediate needs at any given time and serve a maximum number of people in a holistic way. This includes passing the Access to Representation Act currently pending in the State legislature, increasing current funding streams in the meantime to meet current needs, and implementing contract reforms to allow providers to serve a maximum number of people.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
I-ARC responds to thousands of migrants arriving in New York City from border states
Brooklyn, NY; July 21, 2022 - Immigrant ARC members have been working for the last few weeks to respond to the needs of recent border arrivals in New York, a city which, as per Mayor Eric Adams’ recent statement, is experiencing overwhelm in its shelter system as a result.
In response to this developing situation, Immigrant ARC’s Executive Director Camille Mackler made the following statement:
“Over the next few days we will be meeting with members, partners, and government agencies to better understand the reasons for this movement Northward, and to help determine solutions that allow all those who come here dignity, safety, and shelter. We call on our government partners to ensure providers have the resources necessary to respond to this new need. We are also tracking the systemic breakdowns this has caused within federal agencies and hope to work with them to remedy concerning trends that affect these individuals' ability to ask for asylum. Finally, we will continue current efforts to build out a better border-to-New York pipeline so that future needs can be met more systematically and holistically.
New York has a proud history of welcoming immigrants from all over the world. I-ARC, and our members, stand ready to do again what we have done repeatedly over the last many years: come together to welcome and assist those who have arrived in New York seeking help. We did this at JFK Airport during the Muslim Ban, at the Albany County Jail when hundreds of asylum seekers were transferred from the border, and every day in between as our members strive to meet the needs of those who - by choice or by circumstance - now call New York home.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
CONTACT: press@immigrantarc.org
Immigrant ARC elects new Board officers and new Steering Committee
New York, NY (July 6th, 2022) – Immigrant ARC is pleased to announce the appointment of four new officers to its Board of Directors and an all new steering committee.
Stacy Caplow will serve as Secretary of the Board, and Elise de Castillo will serve as the Board’s Vice Chair. The I-ARC Board will be chaired by Priya Gandhi-Abriano and Omar Beer will serve as Board Treasurer.
“I-ARC is not your run of the mill not for profit,” says Chairwoman Gandhi-Abriano, adding, “On paper, the purpose of I-ARC is to bring together organizations to create a shared resource, but in reality, it's a safe place for organizations to bounce ideas off of one another and to gather together as a community, something that has never existed before but was desperately needed.”
Gandhi-Abriano goes on to say, “I-ARC will continue to be the first stop providers go to for resources and that we continue to make a difference in the lives of immigrants in NY. I would love to see more member organizations sign on to our initiatives and to see more funding come through.”
“We’ve established our concept over the last five years,” says I-ARC Executive Director Camille Mackler, adding, “The new Board officers will be instrumental in taking all of our hard work to the next level. I’m really excited for what’s coming next for us and our members.”
Immigrant ARC has also appointed a new steering committee for the first time in five years, which is, according to Mackler, “The most diverse, and the most reflective of the communities that we serve that it’s ever been.”
ABOUT IMMIGRANT ARC
Immigrant ARC is a community of legal advocates and an immigration law training and policy institute, whose mission and values entail fighting for and on behalf of New York State’s immigrant communities.
WEBSITE
http://www.immigrantarc.org
Immigrant-ARC Celebrates 10 Years of DACA, Urges Congress to Open Path to Citizenship
NEW YORK, NY (06/15/2022) (readMedia)-- Today marks the 10th year anniversary of the creation of DACA – Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals – which gave administrative relief from deportation to undocumented individuals who arrived as children. Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) issued the following statement:
"10 years ago today, President Obama brought hundreds of thousands of young people out of the shadows by creating DACA. It was a rare moment in recent memory when our immigration system has lived in sync with our values. But the dream of DACA is still unrealized, quite literally with the DREAM Act never becoming reality, other critical legislation stalled for the foreseeable future, and a system riddled with inefficiencies. DACA recipients, as well as their families and communities, deserve a path to citizenship, and Congress must act, so we can fulfill our promise as a nation where every person has the opportunity to thrive and build a better life," said Camille Mackler, founder and Executive Director of I-ARC.
About I-ARC
Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York's immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State's legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant-ARC Responds to White House Refugee Data Showing US Falling Short on Promises
NEW YORK, NY (06/07/2022) (readMedia)-- The White House released data yesterday showing that for the month of May only 1,898 refugees were resettled in total, falling far short of President Biden's promise earlier this year to welcome upwards of 125,000 refugees from Ukraine by October.
In response, Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) issued the following statement:
"The latest data on refugee resettlement from the White House is just one more piece of evidence that our immigration system is out of sync with our values. While President Biden made the welcome announcement earlier this year that the U.S. would resettle 125,000 Ukrainian refugees by October, millions of whom are fleeing their homes, our immigration system is so broken and convoluted that last month only 77 Ukrainian refugees were resettled. We've made similar commitments to Cameroonians, Haitians, Afghans and many others who were fleeing violence, and many are still waiting for a path to safety in this country. The crisis in Ukraine must lead to new, more responsive immigration systems in our country, so we can fulfill our promise to protect and welcome the world's most vulnerable," said Camille Mackler, founder and Executive Director of I-ARC.
About I-ARC
Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York's immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State's legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Responds to Biden Announcement to Welcome 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees
The Biden administration announced just this morning that the United States would welcome 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. In response, I-ARC – the Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative – issued the following statement:
“Both the Biden administration’s decision to offer protections for Ukrainian refugees as well as proposed changes to the asylum system are signals that the U.S. is returning to its role as a global leader and safe haven, while honoring our standing international obligations to protect persons displaced by war. However, there are still thousands of people around the world who we’ve made similar commitments to — and those to whom we should have — who are fleeing violence and waiting for a path to safety in this country, starting with Afghanistan. The crisis in Ukraine must lead to new immigration systems for how we protect and welcome the world’s most vulnerable and set a precedent for how our nation shows up in humanitarian crises,” said Camille Mackler, founder and Executive Director of I-ARC. “The Afghan crisis put pressure on an already overloaded and under-resourced refugee system and created new challenges that have left tens of thousands in legal limbo. I-ARC and its members and partners are ready to both help advise the administration on best pathways and procedures, as well as to organize services to help a maximum number of Ukrainians get to the U.S. safely”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Statement on the Designation of Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan
Immigrant ARC Statement on the Designation of Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan
Albany, NY; March 16th, 2022- With the Department of Homeland Security announcing the Designation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status, Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) issued the following statement.
Camille Mackler, Executive Director, Immigrant ARC:
We commend the Biden administration for designating Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which will provide temporary protection from deportation and work authorization for thousands of Afghans who have been living in the United States and can no longer return home. However, while TPS will provide some relief to Afghans who were in the United States before March 15, 2022, it does not confer a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship nor does it help the tens of thousands Afghans who remain abroad, or who will arrive in the United States starting today. This leaves too many who will continue to live under the constant threat of being returned to Afghanistan and facing persecution or death. We urge the Biden Administration to support the efforts of resettled Afghans and advocates by pushing Congress to pass a bi-partisan Afghan Adjustment Act. The administration must also continue to focus on the evacuation and resettlement of at-risk Afghans in Afghanistan and third-countries as well as the reunification of families.
We also encourage additional TPS designations for other nations such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mauritania and others, whose citizens have faced armed conflict and environmental disaster, and whose nationals and the crises that they face, are often overlooked by our immigration system perpetuating disparate outcomes for Black immigrants in the United States.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Statement on New York State Legislature One-House Budget Resolutions
Albany, NY; March 15, 2022 - With both the New York State Assembly and Senates having released their one-house budget resolutions for FY 2023, Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) issued the following statement on the proposals, which include modest increases for funding for immigrant legal services.
Camille Mackler, Executive Director, Immigrant ARC:
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Steward-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Hestie have released their one-house budget proposals. While we commend their decision to increase immigration legal services funding, which has remained stagnant since 2017, the proposed funding is still not sufficient to address the needs of immigrant New Yorkers. The backlog in immigration courts created by court closures during the pandemic, increased enforcement during the last administration, and the needs created by new migration crises around the world cannot be addressed without a significant increase for immigration legal services. We urge Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to increase funding for immigration legal services to $15.3 million to enable providers to meet critical, ongoing needs in their communities while allowing them to meaningfully grow capacity in underserved communities.
In addition to ensuring an increase in funding for immigration legal services, we continue to urge New York State to designate $3 million in economic development funding for legal services for resettle Afghans so that our new neighbors may both contribute to the cultural richness of New York State as well as its economic recovery as we move out of the pandemic.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Statement on the Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2022
Albany, NY; February 4, 2022 - Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) commends Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Hank Johnson (D-GA) for introducing the Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2022. This law would create an independent immigration court system under Article I of the Constitution, removing the influence of the Executive Branch. Currently, immigration courts are housed within the Executive Office of Immigration Review, under the Department of Justice. This structure leaves the immigration system vulnerable to partisan political calculations, undermining fairness and justice and causing process issues such as the years-long backlog in cases. With the introduction of this law, Congress has taken an important step towards addressing these systemic issues.
“Every four years immigrants are faced with the prospect of a drastically altered immigration system under a new President. They face partisan judges, a court system marred by process delays, and judgements that vary vastly between individual immigration courts. This law is an opportunity for the legislature to create an immigration system grounded in fundamental fairness by freeing immigration courts from political influence. We thank the legislature for taking up this issue and are ready to lend our support.”
Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Statement on New York Governor Hochul’s Proposed Budget
Albany, NY; January 21, 2022 - Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) commends Governor Hochul for recognizing the critical need for immigration legal services by increasing funding for the Liberty Defense Project,from $10 million to $12 million in her Executive Budget for FY2023. However, to meaningfully address the desperate shortage of affordable legal help faced by immigrant New Yorkers, we urge the Governor and the Legislature to increase the Liberty Defense Project funding to $15.3 million and provide an additional $3 million from economic development funds to provide legal services for recently resettled Afghans.
Statement by Immigrant ARC’s Executive Director, Camille Mackler:
“New York has been a national leader in funding immigration service providers thus promoting access to counsel and access to justice. Now is the time for New York to once again model the essentiality of robust funding for immigration services through an increase in Liberty Defense Project funding to $15.3 million. This is necessary to support communities still reeling from the punitive enforcement efforts of the last administration and struggling to navigate the backlog created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the wake of the sudden withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan and the subsequent resettlement of Afghans across the state, New York should also pass $3 million in economic development funding for resettle Afghans. Immigrant New Yorkers have always contributed to the vibrant culture, civic life, and economic prosperity of New York. Providing this funding through Empire State Development funds will continue the legacy embracing immigrants in New York and allow resettled Afghans to help drive the economic recovery efforts outlined by Governor Hochul in her State of the State address.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Releases Justice for All Report
Last week, we released our latest report: “Justice For All: Challenges and Opportunities in Ensuring Access to Counsel for Immigrant New Yorkers.”
The report, researched and written by Spencer Hayes and Lisbeth Valdez as part of their Capstone projects for the University at Albany, is based on dozens of quantitative and qualitative surveys and interviews of I-ARC’s members on their experiences providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the state. For the first time, it includes salary ranges and other data critical to understanding the current state of the immigration legal services field so that we can continue to strengthen and grow New York immigrants’ access to counsel. Importantly, it also reveals the devastating impact that anti-immigrant policies as well as the COVID Pandemic have had on the workforce’s morale and its high rate of burnout.
Key Findings:
Out of 27 organizations responding, 9 had a waitlist, an average of 34.6%. For those with a waitlist, cases often wait between 3 months and a year.
On average organizations conduct almost 79 consultations per month and have on average 852 cases per year.
Supervisors, on average, have 6 individuals reporting to them. Supervisors, also, personally handle an average of 21-30 cases per year.
We asked organizations’ legal representatives and Department of Justice Accredited Representatives to report their experience levels. On average 43.3% of attorneys/accredited representatives have 0-5 years of immigration law experience, 31.7% reported 5-10 years, and 23.5% have over 10 years. For attorneys within the organizations who do not have immigration experience and/or accredited DOJ representatives, on average, organizations recorded 39.2% have 0-5 years of experience, 33.5% have 5-10 years, and 21.1% have greater than 10 years.
When asked if their organization would like to receive greater support through workshops and other mechanisms to address vicarious trauma and resiliency, about 66% reported they would.
Recommendations:
Provide workshops and increase access to support meant to address vicarious trauma through building self-awareness of the impact of working with trauma, practicing vicarious resilience, developing a personalized plan, and discuss burnout and compassion fatigue. Change the practice of tying grant funding to the number of people served so that supervisors can oversee and train their staff without being required to carry their caseload.
Provide skills-based training and training designed to manage stress by teaching time management, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence, and learn how to spot the signs of compassion fatigue.
Call upon government officials to make providing and expanding access to counsel a policy priority
As we get ready for the start of the New York State legislative session next month, this report, and other work by I-ARC members, will be crucial in highlighting the impact access to counsel has on the well-being of New York’s immigrant communities, and the gaps we still need to fill to ensure justice for all.
Advocates File Requests for Records Regarding Gang Database Information Sharing Between the US and Foreign Governments
Albany, NY - Earlier this week, the Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative (I-ARC) and the National Immigration Litigation Assistance (NILA) filed a lawsuit in federal district court under the filed Freedom of Information Act to compel the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of State, and Federal Bureau of Investigation to produce records that will help advocates better understand how the government is sharing information about noncitizens –including information related to alleged criminal histories and gang affiliations—between domestic agencies and with foreign governments, including El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The records sought related to the Criminal History Information Program (CHIP), Criminal History Information Sharing (CHIS) program and the Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP).
Over the last four years, I-ARC and other immigrant advocates in New York State have noted with mounting concern an increase in targeting noncitizens based on alleged gang affiliations, particularly on Long Island. Last year, a reportreleased by the New York Immigration Coalition revealed documents showing ICE’s use of gang affiliations as a pretext for the Trump Administration to carry out its immigration enforcement priorities. As a result of these operations, hundreds of young Latin American immigrants from the New York area have been erroneously labeled as gang members in official government documents or databases.
CHIP, CHIS, and BITMAP operate to collect and share information related to the alleged criminal history of noncitizens or those perceived to be noncitizens. When shared with foreign governments and across agencies, the information has dramatic consequences for the individuals subject to the data-collection, both within the United States and, following deportation, in countries participating in those programs.
“The previous White House Administration’s focus on targeting noncitizens for alleged gang affiliations was a thinly-veiled excuse for heavy-handed immigration enforcement operations that terrorized our communities, decimated trust in law enforcement, and resulted in many unjust deportations” said Camille Mackler, Executive Director of I-ARC, a collaborative of over 80 non-profit organizations and professional associations serving immigrants throughout New York. “It is imperative that we understand how and what information is collected and how and with whom it is shared so we can take appropriate steps to ensure that noncitizens are not falsely accused or deported.”
“CHIP, CHIS, and BITMAP operate in the shadows of immigration enforcement,” said Trina Realmuto, NILA’s Executive Director. “Government agencies are accountable to the public and these programs warrant public scrutiny.”
The complaint can be viewed here.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State and working on increasing access to justice for all.
The National Immigration Litigation Alliance (NILA) is an immigrants’ rights nonprofit that strives to protect, enforce, and expand the rights of noncitizens and individuals perceived to be noncitizens by engaging in impact litigation and by building the capacity of immigration attorneys to litigate in federal court. Follow NILA at www.immigrationlitigation.org,on Twitter at @NILA_ImmLit, and on Facebook at NatImmLitAlliance.
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Media Contacts:
Alexandra Russo, Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative
(518) 813-1595; press@immigrantarc.org
Trina Realmuto, National Immigration Litigation Alliance
(617) 819-4447; trina@immigrationlitigation.org
Virtual Press Conference On New York’s Connections to the Afghanistan Evacuation, Local Impact, And Efforts To Welcome Afghans To New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2021
Contact: Alexandra Russo, 518-898-0456
arusso@immigrantarc.org
***MEDIA ADVISORY***
WEDNESDAY 9/8: Virtual Press Conference On New York’s Connections to the Afghanistan Evacuation, Local Impact, And Efforts To Welcome Afghans To New York
New York Immigration Advocates Highlight the Importance of Continued Evacuations from Afghanistan, Resources Available To Afghans Upon Arrival In New York
ALBANY, NY – On Wednesday September 8, 2021 at 1PM ET -- one week after the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan -- recently evacuated Afghans and New York immigration advocates will hold a virtual press conference to highlight the path Afghans and New Yorkers have shared for the last twenty years, to discuss how the Afghanistan evacuation has impacted New Yorkers, and to share how they are working to welcome Afghans coming to New York. This includes helping as many Afghans as possible file immigration petitions to travel to the U.S. in the short- and long-term; ensuring proper care for Afghans coming to the U.S.; and establishing a network of resources for refugees resettling in the U.S., among other resources and actions.
Join Immigrant ARC from 01 - 01:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday September 8 for an important press conference on the resources available to Afghan refugees coming to New York and continued plans to evacuate as many Afghans as possible.
What: Immigrant ARC Virtual Press Conference
Who:
Camille Mackler, Executive Director, Immigrant ARC (I-ARC)
Mahnaz Akbari - Afghan Female Tactical Platoon Commander (recently evacuated)
Arifa Naibi - Afghan Female Tactical Platoon Team Leader (recently evacuated)
Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz
Assemblyman Jacob Ashby (Post-9/11 Veteran)
Karen Andolina Scott, Executive Director, Journeys End Refugee Services
When: Wednesday, September 8, 2021, from 01:00 - 01:30 PM ET
Where: Via Zoom. To receive dial-in info, register HERE.
RSVP: This event is open to the press and we encourage the media to attend. Please register for the event HERE.
About Immigrant ARC: I-ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our goal is to increase access to justice for all immigrants in New York and beyond.
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Immigrant ARC Statement on Renewal of Title 42 Executive Order
Contact: Alexandra Russo
press@immigrantarc.org
518-898-0456
www.immigrantarc.org
Immigrant ARC Statement on Renewal of Title 42 Executive Order
Albany, NY; August 2, 2021 - On August 2, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention renewed indefinitely the former Administration’s Executive Order closing the US’ land borders and allowing the Government to expel asylum seekers and others without an opportunity to assert fear and seek protection in the United States.
Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) Executive Director Camille Mackler issued the following statement in response.
“We are disappointed by yesterday’s decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that denies vulnerable migrants protections they are entitled to under our laws, and that is contrary to our notions of justice and due process. The situations at our borders, and in particular the Southern Border, are difficult to say the least. But restrictionist policies embraced by multiple former administrations have only served to exacerbate the crisis. Only political courage and the willingness to cut through polarizing discourse with humane action will move us out of this stalemate. And while COVID-19 remains a top-level health and safety priority, we have come a long way in the last year and a half in learning how to manage its effects and responding to human needs despite the restrictions the pandemic imposes. Immigrant ARC, it’s member organizations, and hundreds of civil society groups stand ready to work with the Biden Administration to create, and implement, a better plan that gets us closer to the just and human immigration system this Administration promised when it was inaugurated. ”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State and working on increasing access to justice for all.
Immigrant ARC Statement on Decision in DACA Lawsuit
Albany, NY; July 17, 2021 - Late in the day yesterday, Judge Hanen of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued a decision in the State of Texas’ lawsuit challenging the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Court found that the DACA program in its entirety was unlawful, but allowed it to continue for current DACA recipients, pending further appeals. He halted DHS’ ability to accept and adjudicate new DACA applications.
This means that current DACA holders as well as those who’s DACA grant expired in the last year are currently still protected and can continue to submit applications to renew. Anyone who never applied for DACA before or who’s previous grant expired over a year ago cannot obtain DACA as long as this court decision remains in force.
Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) Executive Director Camille Mackler issued the following statement in response.
“We are disappointed by yesterday’s ruling, which once again throws the lives of hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients into uncertainty. But the takeaway is clear: it is long past the time for Congress to act to find permanent solutions for DACA recipients, their families, and millions of other immigrants whose contributions to the United States make our country immeasurably better and stronger.
Successive administrations have repeatedly pushed the limits of executive authority while deeply divided factions in our country have used the Courts as battlegrounds to exert pressure and attempt to shape policy. This must end. The lives of those caught in this cat-and-mouse policy making status quo deserve better. DACA recipients, as well as millions of other immigrants, contribute to our country, its successes, and its growth on a daily basis. Many have been on the frontlines of battling the COVID-19 pandemic, and many more will work to make us whole as we attempt to re-open and move forward from the last 17 months. We call on our Congressional representatives to put rhetoric aside and come together to find long-term, meaningful solutions that provide permanent protections for our immigrant communities, recognizing their deep and vast contributions to our economy, our culture, and our national identity. ”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State and working on increasing access to justice for all.
Immigrant ARC Statement on Passing of Hon. Robert Katzmann
Contact: Alexandra Russo
press@immigrantarc.org
518-898-0456
www.immigrantarc.org
Albany, NY; June 10, 2021 - Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) Executive Director Camille Mackler issued the following statement in response to the passing of Judge Robert Katzmann earlier this week.
“Our community, our country, and the world have lost a giant. Judge Katzmann’s legacy cannot be summed up in a few simple sentences, but it will live on in the ground-breaking legal access projects he pioneered, in his large body of judicial decisions that made our legal system better and more fair, and in our entire community. He inspired us and paved the way for all of today’s immigration legal advocates and we owe him a debt of gratitude. And though he leaves a world behind that is more just and more compassionate because of his efforts, perhaps what we will remember most was his gentleness, his unfailing kindness, and his constant ability to make time for each and every one of us and make us feel heard.
We know that over the next weeks and months many whose lives he touched directly will gather and find ways to honor his memory. We look forward to taking their lead and joining the efforts to ensure his memory lives on in New York and beyond.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State and working on increasing access to justice for all.