DWT Pro Bono & Social Impact’s Post

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a full committee hearing on the urgent need for Congress to protect and deliver permanent legal protections for immigrant youth, given ongoing attacks against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in the courts. As hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients and DACA-eligible young people await a critical decision in the lawsuit seeking to end the program, there is no time to waste for the Biden administration nor Congress. For the past eight years, DACA and the future of Dreamers across the country has been under attack. After years of being on the defensive, and with a potentially catastrophic court decision looming, now is the time for President Biden and Congress to act to protect DACA recipients and DACA-eligible youth. DACA recipients and Dreamers positively contribute to our society in so many ways. They support and enrich the lives of their families, friends, and communities. They also pay local, state, and federal taxes—contributing to social safety nets that many Dreamers cannot benefit from themselves. National polling consistently shows widespread support for creating a pathway to citizenship for this population and protecting Dreamers. It is critical that the Administration do all in its power to implement protections for this at-risk population and ensure that American families can stay together and continue to thrive.

Guiding individuals, families, and businesses toward positive outcomes since 1987. Our fulfillment comes from assisting individuals in finding direction in their lives and taking the necessary steps to achieve American citizenship. #ImmigrationLawExperts #ProsperInAmerica #LegalGuidance #ExperienceMatters

A 529 plan owned by a grandparent will no longer require reporting on the FAFSA. This opens up opportunities for grandparents to contribute to their grandchild's education without jeopardizing their financial aid eligibility. Learn how to take advantage of this new rule in this week’s blog. ▶️ https://lnkd.in/gMcVUgCt Visit https://brodeurlaw.com/ or call (860) 535-1989. #brodeurlawfirm #CTestateplanninglawyer #RIestateplanninglawyer #estateplan #legacy #legacyplanning #familylegacy #buildalegacy #revocablelivingtrust #willsandtrusts #assets #assetprotection #assetprotectionplan #probateattorney #powerofattorney #incapacityplanning #endoflifeplanning #healthcaredirectives

Today, President Joe Biden announced executive actions that will impact beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and certain other immigrants to the U.S. Specifically, the orders will ease the work visa process for DACA recipients and provide them a path to citizenship. Our business community has been advocating for years for a streamlined pathway for DACA recipients. That includes the Chamber highlighting the issue in our Belong advocacy agenda and in meetings with Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, including both Senators, as recently as last month. For as many years, we have been told by both sides of the aisle the other side would have to give first. Red and blue states alike have taken it upon themselves to attempt to solve this critical federal issue, including a bipartisan delegation in the Wisconsin State Assembly. We are facing a talent imperative, and in Wisconsin alone, there are nearly 6,000 DACA recipients ready to help solve it. We appreciate President Biden’s leadership on this issue, and we hope this is a step toward congressional action on a permanent solution.

#EJAFELLOWUPDATE Hey Everyone its time for second second update as an Equal Justice America Fellow My time at Resilience Force continues to show me the importance of supporting the workers who help rebuild and repair in the wake of climate disasters. The past couple of weeks I have been working on compiling all of the facts and familiarizing myself with all the different labor and civil rights abuses that some of these workers have unfortunately had to endure. I have also had the chance to speak with these workers a bit more. The moments when I get to interact with clients are truly special and profoundly meaningful and each interaction is a reminder of why I chose this path. Since court cases take a years and a lot of that time is spent preparing for court it can become easy to sometimes lose sight of the purpose and impact this will have in these individuals lives. This is why I love the approach that Resilience Force takes, which is to create group chats where we constantly keep the workers informed about what's going on in court and we have meetings where we provide each other updates and check up on each other every three months. Being a public interest attorney who interacts closely with clients isn't just about legal representation—it's about building relationships, fostering hope, and making a positive impact that extends far beyond the courtroom If you'd like to contribute to EJA's mission and funding so that it can continue supporting public interest students like myself, please check out my fundraising page. https://lnkd.in/gkNQfKGA

Here is my third #EJAFellowsUpdate! These last few weeks at KIND, I have been working on several research projects regarding various inadmissibility grounds to assess whether our special immigrant juvenile (SIJ) clients would be subject to grounds that could render them ineligible for relief from removal. For a bit of context, grounds of inadmissibility are reasons set out in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) for why non-citizens seeking admission into the U.S. and certain immigrants seeking to apply for permanent and conditional residence might be ineligible. These inadmissibility grounds are vast, ranging from health-related grounds to criminal grounds. SIJ is a classification of humanitarian immigration relief that allows children to become eligible for permanent residence if they are unable to reunite with one or both of their parents due to abandonment, neglect, or abuse. Throughout this research process, I’ve been reminded of the cyclical nature of trauma and how trauma at a young age can often lead to greater vulnerability to mental health issues and involvement in the criminal punishment system. The overly broad nature of the grounds of inadmissibility, particularly the criminal grounds, often overlooks the trauma and instability that many SIJ children experience, making them more susceptible to activities that could render them removable. Despite the inequities of the immigration system, I’ve seen how hard KIND attorneys and staff work to advocate for their clients. They do their best to exhaust all possible legal avenues and arguments to overcome inadmissibility grounds, looking after the client’s best interest and ensuring that they remain eligible for relief. If you’re interested in donating to Equal Justice America’s amazing work, you can use the link below!

🚨 Important Update on Oklahoma's HB 4156: Risks and Impacts on Our Hispanic Community 🚨 As a proponent of justice and fairness, I feel compelled to express my concerns about the recently enacted HB 4156 in Oklahoma. This sweeping immigration enforcement bill poses significant risks to our Hispanic community and other minority groups, sparking serious civil rights issues. Key Issues with HB 4156: 1. Increased Risk of Racial Profiling: Despite existing prohibitions, the extensive powers granted by HB 4156 could inadvertently lead to racial profiling. This is concerning as it fosters an environment of fear and mistrust among Hispanic individuals, including those legally residing in Oklahoma. 2. Impact on Community Policing: Effective community policing builds trust and cooperation. However, this bill threatens to sever the ties between law enforcement and community members, which is essential for public safety. 3. Potential for Unnecessary Legal Complications: With its focus on stringent enforcement, the law might subject legally residing individuals to undue scrutiny for minor infractions during routine checks. This could unnecessarily strain our legal systems and affect individuals’ lives disproportionately. My Stance: It is crucial to advocate for policies that enhance community safety and trust without undermining the rights and dignities of any group. Oklahoma needs immigration reform that is just, fair, and respects the constitutional rights of all its residents. I stand with the ACLU of Oklahoma and other community leaders in urging a reevaluation of this legislation. Our goal should be to ensure our laws protect and uphold the rights of all Oklahomans. Together, we can build a community that truly values justice and equality. #JusticeForAll #ImmigrantRights #OklahomaPolicy #CommunitySafety

Understanding SIJS: A Lifeline for Immigrant Youth SIJS provides crucial protection for undocumented minors. This article breaks down eligibility, legal challenges, and the impact of SIJS on vulnerable children seeking a better future. Read more. #SIJS #ImmigrationLaw #ChildProtection #LegalAdvocacy

The time to elect the #POTUS and a new #Congress is rapidly approaching. It is time to replace this DO NOTHING Congress. What the world is seeing is not the #COTUS...but kindergarten theater. When the time comes to act in the national interest,they want a break. #Election2024 is coming. If Congress isn't willing to do their job, they shouldn't be rewarded with an extended holiday. How much time was SQUANDERED with childish bickering while the nation has suffered its greatest lack of leadership in the 21st century...you can QUOTE me on that. The President has the power, under Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, to call a special session of the Congress during the current adjournment. DO IT! Support #Ukraine 🇺🇦 but enforce the border. It's getting ridiculously out of hand. Likewise, ease unemployment by easing legal immigration. Let's not be little Hitlers talking about immigration poisoning the blood of America. We NEED immigrants. We just need them to come through legal channels. They are our greatest strength, not our weakness. It's far past time we recognized this. Their contributions are endless. I was alive in South Florida during the Mariel boat lift with tent cities in Miami. They were talking about Cuba emptying their prisons and hospitals of AIDS patients. Now, more than one in five Florida residents is an immigrant, while one in eight residents are native-born U.S. citizens with at least one immigrant parent. 23% of these are Cuban Americans, the largest immigrant group. They account for nearly half a million small businesses that now account for about 33% of Florida's economy. Short term pain. Long term gain. Treating them as undesirables is not only shortsighted. It's stupid. #houseofrepresentatives #FoxNews #CNN #reuters #MSNBC #abcnews #NYT #Congress #GUARDIAN