Immigrant Law Center Of Minnesota Inc

PROVIDE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES, EDUCATION, & ADVOCACY FOR LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANTS & REFUGEES IN MINNESOTA

GENERAL LEGAL SERVICES: THE IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA (ILCM) HELPS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IMPROVE THEIR LIVES BY HELPING THEM TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION AND ABUSE, BECOME UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS, DEFEND THEMSELVES IN IMMIGRATION AND FEDERAL COURT, AND REUNITE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS. ILCM DOES THIS BY PROVIDING BRIEF LEGAL ADVICE, REFERRAL, AND ONGOING DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN A VARIETY OF IMMIGRATION MATTERS INCLUDING ASYLUM, FAMILY-BASED PETITIONS AND REUNIFICATION, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT APPLICATIONS, U.S. CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS, TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS, IMMIGRATION COURT DEFENSE, AND APPEALS TO THE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION APPEALS AND FEDERAL COURT. IN THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2021, ILCM WORKED ON 3,092 CASES, ON AVERAGE, THE OUTCOME OF EACH CASE AFFECTS THREE FAMILY MEMBERS RESULTING IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED THROUGH LEGAL REPRESENTATION AT AN ESTIMATED 9,276. OF THE CASES CLOSED IN 2021, 49% WERE EXTENDED REPRESENTATIONS AND 51% WERE BRIEF SERVICE OR ADVICE. OUR CLIENTS ORIGINATED FROM 102 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, WITH 58% COMING FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, 20% COMING FROM ASIAN COUNTRIES, 18% COMING FROM AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AND THE REMAINING 4% COMING FROM VARIOUS OTHER REGIONS OF THE WORLD. THE MAJORITY OF CLIENTS EARN EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN 187.5 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES.

COMMUNITY DEFENSE PROJECT: THIS PROJECT IS AN EVOLVING RESPONSE TO THE CRITICAL, EMERGENT NEED FOR DEPORTATION DEFENSE, TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER AND PROTECT COMMUNITIES' MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. THE PROJECT PROVIDES ADVICE AND BRIEF SERVICE TO DETAINEES IN CUSTODY, PROVIDES FULL REPRESENTATION FOR DETAINED CLIENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR ASYLUM OR OTHER RELIEF, AND PRESENTS APPEALS IN COURT TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONALLY-GUARANTEED FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES OF IMMIGRANTS. AS PART OF THESE EFFORTS, ILCM ALSO SUPPORTS IMPACT LITIGATION THAT ADVANCES PROTECTIONS ON CIVIL RIGHTS FOR IMMIGRANTS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, NONPROFITS, AND PRIVATE LAW FIRMS.

NEW BEGINNINGS PROJECT: THIS PROJECT ASSISTS BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMENS AND THEIR CHILDREN AND IMMIGRANT CRIME VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO OBTAIN IMMIGRATION BENEFITS, THEREBY ENABLING THEM TO GAIN THE PERSONAL AND ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY NEEDED TO ESCAPE THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE, AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH OTHER SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MUTUALLY ASSIST THESE CLIENTS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, ILCM WORKED ON 485 CASES.