Recording | Urgent Community Briefing: The New Budget Bill’s Impact on Immigration and What Comes Next
Experts from NIJC give a breakdown of how the new budget bill impacts immigration policy and immigrants in our communities.
It’s Never Late to Achieve Your Dreams: Heidy’s Immigration Story
After many years of legal advocacy with NIJC’s Indiana team, Heidy won asylum, became a permanent resident, and then a citizen. Heidy shared her story in this video, which premiered at the 26th Annual NIJC Human Rights Awards in June 2025.
Press Release
District Court Strikes Down Restrictions in Biden-Era Rule Severely Limiting Asylum
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today issued a victory for the plaintiffs in Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center VERSU.S. U.S. Department of Homeland Security , striking down key parts of a Biden administration rule severely restricting asylum.
Nonprofits Sue to Stop Trump Termination of Program That Provided Attorneys for People in ICE Detention Deemed Mentally Incompetent
Nonprofit legal services organizations are suing the Trump administration to restore a critical national program that provided federal funding for legal representation for people deemed mentally incompetent who are detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Advocates Sound the Alarm: House Judiciary Budget Bill Endangers Unaccompanied Children
WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee marked up their portion of Congress’s supercharged budget bill, which aims to dramatically change existing immigration laws and dismantle key protections for unaccompanied immigrant children, leaving them more vulnerable to harm and trafficking.
Access to Counsel
In immigration court, having legal representation matters. Access to counsel often makes the difference between whether someone is allowed to
Press Release
Nonprofits File Temporary Restraining Order to Block Trump Administration’s Termination of Critical Legal Access Programs
Washington, D.C. – Nine immigrants’ rights organizations filed a renewed Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to block the Trump administration’s termination of critical legal orientation programs for immigrants, including the Family Group Legal Orientation Program, Counsel for Children Initiative, Immigration Court Helpdesk, Legal Orientation Program, and Legal Orientation Program for Custodians.
NIJC responds to presidential memo targeting immigration lawyers
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) Executive Director Mary Meg McCarthy responded to the March 21 White House memo, “Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Courts,” with the following statement: “The National Immigrant Justice Center’s legal services have kept families together, freed people from the dangers of immigrant detention, and prevented the deportation of refugees and asylum seekers…
Update: Trump administration rescinds stop-work order that halted legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children
Update: On February 21, 2025, the Trump administration rescinded, without explanation, the stop-work order that had abruptly cut funding for lawyers working with unaccompanied immigrant children.
Press Release
Nonprofits Sue the Department of Justice and Kristi Noem to Restore Legal Access for Immigrants Facing Deportation
Update: On January 24, 2025, in response to a federal court order, the Trump administration rescinded a stop-work order that had abruptly paused NIJC’s Chicago Immigration Court Helpdesk.
DOJ’s Forced Pause of Vital Legal Programs for Immigrants Cuts Off a Lifeline for People Navigating a Complex and Punitive Immigration System
In one of the Trump administration’s first actions of its anti-immigrant agenda, the National Immigrant Justice Center received a stop-work order on January 23 ending federal funding for our Immigration Court Helpdesk at the Chicago Immigration Court.
NIJC to challenge Biden final rule that will further restrict access to asylum
Today, the Biden administration announced a new final rule further curbing access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.