Foreign data-sharing programs are deeply embedded in U.S. immigration enforcement practices, with dire consequences for those caught in the unreliable data web. U.S. immigration agencies access a vast network of transnational data used to target immigrants for arrest, detention, and deportation.…
Sixth Annual Report of the Chicago Legal Protection Fund
In its sixth year, the Legal Protection Fund (LPF) has helped thousands of Chicagoans defend their rights and access new legal protections, including communities affected by war and natural disaster. As Chicago opened its arms to welcome…
Children who have arrived at the U.S. border without a parent or legal guardian are particularly vulnerable to lasting harm from time spent in U.S. government custody. The federal government’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is legally required to care for them and does so through its…
The U.S. immigration system routinely detains and deports immigrants on the basis of an arrest or criminal conviction — tearing them away from livelihood, family and community. The weighty decision of who to detain and deport often turns on the contents of a single document: a police report.
NIJC…
Fifth Annual Report of the Chicago Legal Protection Fund
In its fifth year, the Legal Protection Fund has helped thousands of Chicagoans defend their rights, access new protections in a rapidly changing immigration landscape, and get information and appointments for a vaccine against a…
International asylum law first emerged following the Holocaust and other atrocities during World War II. The world bore witness to the genocide of millions at the hands of brutal dictatorships, while powerful nations showed callous disregard for people seeking asylum, turning them straight back to…
Despite the Biden administration’s substantial commitments to reduce the use of immigrant detention and address punishing conditions for people held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), its track record since inauguration has gone in the opposition direction. The ICE detention population…
A Roadmap to Bring Home the Unjustly Deported
I. Introduction
The transition to a new presidential administration offers an opportunity to reimagine an immigration system that is just and humane, supports family unity and strong communities, and addresses the effects of decades of government…
Each year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detains over 100,000 immigrants, including people who have lived in the U.S. for decades, parents of U.S. citizens and individuals who come to the country seeking safety. ICE subjects people in detention to dangerous conditions and…
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to grow its massive immigration detention system using a web of corrupt contracts that breed impunity for abuses. Government watchdog agencies and lawmakers have long documented improper contracting practices and farcical inspections practices…