Communicating to Receiving Communities about Administrative Relief - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Communicating to Receiving Communities about Administrative Relief

Today’s Agenda

Welcome and Introduction

Jessy Molina and David Lubell, Welcoming America

Immigration Law Overview – Kari Hong

Kari Hong, Boston College Law School

Q&As Tips for Effective and Positive Messaging on Administrative Relief

Rachel Peric, Welcoming America and Amanda Cooper, Lighbox Collaborative

Q&As

Immigration Law Overview

• Prof. Kari Hong

Boston College Law School

When can someone receive permission to stay in the United States?

 Family ties  Asylum (life is in danger in native country)  Employment

When does someone no longer have permission to be in the United States?

 No longer have permission to stay in

existing status

• E.g., tourist visa expires after 3 to 6 months
• Fails to apply to have conditions removed from

green card (if based on marriage)

• Does not file the proper paperwork in time

(family and employment)

 Immigration violations

• Remaining without status
• Criminal acts
• Criminal convictions

What the old law used to be:

 Before 1997, immigration law had a

balance between eligibility requirements and discretion

• People could legalize if without status
• Could receive green cards after 7 years if

established strong familial or community ties

• Could apply for waivers and pay fines to

forgive immigration violations if had family or employment tie to remain

What caused the current immigration crisis?

 In 1997, Congress passed the Ilegal

Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA)

• Ended discretion
• Ended waivers and fines
• Ended ways to legalize status
• Broadened crimes that could serve as basis

for removal (deportation)

• Place strict time limits on applying for

remedies (e.g., asylum)

What does the President Obama’s Executive Action help address?

 Pathway for parents of citizen children

and lawful permanent resident children to receive temporary status

 Expands DACA  Eases processing of high-tech, skilled labor

jobs

 Attempts to change how non-citizens

with criminal convictions are identified

What does the Executive Action not address?

 Non-citizens who do not have children  Continues to remove/deport those with

criminal convictions

 Does not apply to people who entered

the country after January 1, 2014

 Will probably not benefit people who

have convictions

• May include minor convictions such as

DUIs

Information non-citizens need

 Find reliable sources of information about

the new programs

• Details and forms will not be released until

2015

 If they have had any contact with law

enforcement, meet with an immigration lawyer

 Meet with credible attorneys and non-

profit organizations

• Avoid scams and notarios

Resources

 Finding facts, forms, and updates:

• http://www.dhs.gov/immigration-action

 Finding a starting place to find an attorney

• http://www.ailalawyer.com

 Economic and political benefits of

executive action

• http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-
• ffice/2014/11/21/fact-sheet-economic-

benefits-fixing-our-broken-immigration-system

Tips for Effective and Positive Messaging on Administrative Relief

Rachel Peric, Welcoming America Amanda Cooper, Lightbox Collaborative

Nashville

Audience: Receiving Communities

Photo credit: Welcoming Framingham

Good Messaging

From Policy to People

Credit: Welcoming Long Island and Immigrant Nation

Good for communities

Credit: Uniting NC

Define America

Prosperous Communities

New Americans who have been in the US for at least five years will add $6 billion more in payroll taxes in the first year of the program, and over $45 billion

• ver five years.

Tough Questions

How do we get these stories out?