ATTACK ON CHILDREN & THE CONSTITUTION (14TH AMENDMENT)

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State Legislators Announce Attempt to Subvert U.S. Constitution to Advance Their Political Agenda.  Dismissing in effect the U.S. Constitution and its core American values, politicians from 14 states touted proposals to subvert the 14th Amendment by denying newborn children of immigrants U.S. citizenship and the documentation needed to prove citizenship.  Here is a statement from Linton Joaquin, general counsel of the National Immigration Law Center. (1/5/11) READ THE STATEMENT ››

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Attacking the Constitution (from The Huffington Post, by NILC Executive Director Marielena Hincapié) -- Today, a group of state legislators launched an attack on the fundamental American values in the U.S. Constitution by announcing their intent to target babies born in the United States.  This attempt to deny American babies citizenship, and the documentation to prove it, is a shameful, if unsurprising, new low. (1/5/11) READ THE BLOG ARTICLE ›› 

THE DREAM ACT

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An Unfinished DREAM.  The U.S. Senate has failed to pass the DREAM Act, bipartisan legislation that, had it passed, would have provided undocumented young women and men who were brought to the U.S. as young children a pathway to U.S. citizenship if they attended college or performed military service.  Here is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. (12/18/10)  READ THE STATEMENT ››

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DREAM Act Yearbook Profiles DREAMers from Alabama to Wyoming.  On the eve of an historic vote on the fate of the DREAM Act, the National Immigration Law Center and a coalition of civil rights, education, child advocacy, and labor organizations released the DREAM Act 2010 Yearbook (PDF), featuring the personal stories of undocumented young men and women who would benefit from the legislation. (12/17/10) NEWS RELEASE ››  YEARBOOK ››

STATE-IMPOSED EMPLOYER SANCTIONS
Supreme Court Hears Challenge to Arizona Employer Sanctions Law.  The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in Chamber of Commerce v. Whiting, the first challenge to the recent wave of state and local anti-immigrant laws to reach the Supreme Court.  The case, brought by a broad coalition of civil rights and business groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Arizona, MALDEF, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and the United States Chamber of Commerce, challenges an Arizona law that imposes penalties on businesses that the state determines have employed workers not lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.  (12/8/10)  READ THE PRESS RELEASE ››

IMMIGRANT STUDENTS' ACCESS TO HIGHER ED.
Calif. Supreme Court Issues Ruling in Martinez v. Regents, California’s AB 540 Lawsuit.  The California Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to AB 540, a California law that allows students who have attended California high schools for three years and received their diploma or GED to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities in California.  (11/15/10)  READ THE NEWS RELEASE ››  READ THE DECISION ››

HEALTH COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN & PREGNANT WOMEN

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"Lawfully Residing" Children and Pregnant Women Eligible for Medicaid and CHIP.  To be "lawfully residing," children and pregnant women must be "lawfully present" in the U.S. and must meet the Medicaid state residency rules.  Lawfully present immigrants include the "qualified" immigrants listed in 8 U.S.C. § 1641, as well as several other categories of non–U.S. citizens who have permission to live and/or work in the U.S.  The immigration categories that are considered "lawfully present" for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility purposes are described here.  (Posted 10/19/10)

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Facts About Federal Funding for States to Provide Health Coverage to Immigrant Children and Pregnant Women.  The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 provides states with a new opportunity to provide affordable health coverage to many immigrant children and pregnant women through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  READ THE UPDATED FACT SHEET ›› (Posted 8/6/10)

SB 1070 | ARIZONA RACIAL PROFILING LAW
NILC and other Organizations Applaud U.S. District Court Decision Recognizing Claims of Racial Profiling.  Plaintiffs in Friendly House, et. al. v. Whiting, et al. have won an important legal victory in their constitutional challenge to SB 1070, Arizona’s racial profiling law.  Among other things, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona found that the plaintiffs’ claim that “Racial discrimination was a motivating factor for [S.B.] 1070’s enactment” establishes a valid constitutional challenge to the law.  This decision was filed in response to the defendants’ motions to dismiss the case and the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction.
     Today’s order is an important first step in challenging this unconstitutional law.  The civil rights coalition will continue its legal fight until all of SB 1070 is taken off the books.  (Posted 10/8/10)  READ THE NEWS RELEASE ››  READ THE COURT ORDER ››  MORE ABOUT THE CASE ››

IMMIGRANT WORKERS & THE U VISA
The U Visa and How It Can Protect Workers.  Sometimes employer abuse of workers rises to the level of being criminal.  Depending on the crime committed and other factors, victim workers may be eligible for a U nonimmigrant visa, which provides important relief to those who fear losing their existing lawful immigration status through employer retaliation or who are targeted for abuse because they lack lawful status. READ THE ISSUE BRIEF ››  (Posted 9/20/10)