Racism and the US Immigration System. Immigrant Legal Center’s mission is welcoming immigrants into communities with high-quality legal services, education, and advocacy. We are committed to welcoming and inclusivity work, intentionally striving for a world where Black lives matter, no person is illegal, and no human being is superior to another.
Feb 17, 2022 · As a Black person and an immigration attorney who works inside detention centers, I know that Black immigrants are being brutalized, dehumanized, and rendered invisible by the system. Anti-Black racism is ingrained in the U.S. immigration system, from courtrooms to detention centers, just as it is throughout U.S. culture and society at large.
Jan 28, 2018 · Attorney Chris M. Ingram also believes that everyone should be able to have a free consultations so that potential clients can speak personally and confidentially with an immigration specialist and discuss their US Visa, Work Permit and Green Card needs and learn about how we can help them achieve the American Dream.
Jul 25, 2018 · Immigrant discrimination is the unfair or unequal treatment of a person or group of persons based on their classification in a “protected status”, such as race, national origin, sex, religion, and political background. Anti-discrimination laws prohibit such conduct as harassment or preferential treatment based on the person’s background.
We all live in our own bubble and often don’t make an effort to reach out and create a space to talk about inconvenient truths. We haven’t reconciled with or learned from America’s racist past.
I often think that maybe if I had reached out to people who are different, they would not be so skeptical of my racial, cultural, and religious identity. Much of the negativity against immigrants appears to stem from a lack of knowledge or interaction on a personal level.
I can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines and go on with my business as usual. To bring about a change, I need to present counter-narratives to the negativity surrounding the term immigrant. I can start by reaching out to my neighbors, by inviting them over for lunch or dinner.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is a federal immigration law that requires employers to hire only employers with proper work authorization. However, INA also contains anti-discrimination provisions that reach out to protect employees.
The INA anti-discrimination protections cover various employment aspects such as recruitment, hiring, and firing decisions. Under the INA, an employer cannot engage in any of the following:
While it is against the law for employers to knowingly hire illegal immigrants, they also cannot make decisions that are discriminatory against immigrants. They also cannot enforce or maintain work policies that are discriminatory in nature.
Immigrant workers who are in the U.S. under a valid employment visa and work permit generally have similar rights to any other workers in the country. In fact, due to their background, they may also have specific rights that protect them from issues like harassment and employment discrimination against immigrants.
Anti-discrimination policies should be followed very carefully in the workplace. Discrimination violations can carry very serious legal consequences, especially with the recent changes in immigration laws in some states.
The Immigration and Naturalization Act replaced the previous quota system with “a preference system based on immigrants’ family relationships with U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and, to a lesser degree, their skills.”.
The History of U.S. Immigration in the 1800s. Our nation’s very first immigration law passed in 1790, creating a process to grant naturalized citizenship to immigrants who had lived in the United States for at least two years.
It is common to refer to the United States as a nation of immigrants, but the reality is that immigrants in our nation have been scapegoated, exploited for cheap labor, and treated as second-class citizens for hundreds of years.
Congress passed several laws to exclude Chinese immigrants from the country and society. In 1882, Congress passed the first of three Chinese Exclusion Acts, banning additional Chinese immigration.
A noticeable pattern emerges throughout our nation’s history of immigration: when the economy needs immigrant labor, restrictions decline and immigrants are welcomed into the country. However, if circumstances change and immigrant labor is no longer needed, the U.S. position on immigration shifts to restriction, deportations, and xenophobic rhetoric.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, also known as “ICE” was created in 2003, as part of the national response to the September 11 attacks. Throughout President Obama’s two terms, ICE conducted more than 2 million immigrant removals, more than any other president until that time.
The provisions of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo included safety and protection of: land ownership, language, and culture for Mexicans living in that territory, as well as access to U.S. citizenship.
Like any employee, you have the right to be paid for the work you do, at minimum wage, at least, plus overtime pay when legally required.
These rights are all too often violated, however, because employers know the workers don't want them to reveal their undocumented status.
Aspects of the Constitution that address certain basic human rights apply to all people, even those who lack proper documentation. Examples of these rights include: 1 the right to due process (fair treatment according to established rules and principles) in legal proceedings 2 the right to have the laws protect you in the same way they do everyone else 3 the right to a jury trial and to defend yourself if arrested (including arrests by immigration authorities) or sued 4 the right to organize or be part of a labor union 5 the right to be protected against unlawful search and seizure 6 the right not to testify against yourself in court 7 the right to file a civil lawsuit if you've been harmed, and 8 the right not to be discriminated against.
the right to due process (fair treatment according to established rules and principles) in legal proceedings. the right to have the laws protect you in the same way they do everyone else. the right to a jury trial and to defend yourself if arrested (including arrests by immigration authorities) or sued.
For starters, staying in the U.S. beyond 180 days is a ground of "inadmissibility" under U.S. immigration law. That means if the person tried to apply for a U.S. green card, he or she would likely be barred for the following three years. The number jumps to ten years if the unlawful stay was for 365 days or more.
It also means that if someone sues you over a civil matter (for example, alleging that you owe money for having breached a contract or done damage to the other person's property), that you have the right to receive notice and to defend yourself in court. Also see "Defense Against Removal," below.
It is against federal law for an employer to hire an undocumented immigrant, and they face financial and other penalties if they do so. If you accept a job in the U.S., then on your first day of work or soon after, the employer will (if obeying the law) check to make sure you have a green card, visa with work privileges, work permit (also called an employment authorization document or EAD), or naturalization document (meaning the person has become a U.S. citizen).
In addition to federal protections, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) protects employees and job applicants from any unfair or adverse treatment.
The United States is often called a nation of immigrants, and this is also true in the workplace, as people born outside the country made up 17.4% of the labor force in 2019. However, discrimination against immigrants in the workplace continues to be a common problem.
International Rescue Committee – With locations all over the world, including in 29 American cities, the IRC’s mission is “to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives.”.
[UPDATE: Following the Department of Justice’s announced plans to close the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Avvo has launched a free hotline (1-888-380-4056, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST) for DACA program recipients facing legal issues and questions.