Named for civil rights leader Herbert Henderson, first African American graduate of the George Washington University Law School and leader of the West Virginia (WV) NAACP. “This office, with the assistance of the Minority Affairs Fund, will do the work that Mr. Henderson devoted his life to – it will work to serve the people of West Virginia and to open a dialogue on issues that affect minorities.”
ICE Raids Toolkit – Defend Against ICE Raids & Community Arrests
This publication is the product of the Immigrant Defense Project and the Center for Constitutional Rights’ collective work against ICE arrests under Bush and Obama, and serves as “the first comprehensive guide and organizing resource to fight back against the Trump administration’s efforts to criminalize communities and deport millions of people.”
The toolkit is intended to offer social justice advocates, lawyers, and community members critical information and analysis of our country’s massive detention and deportation system, as well as straightforward guidance on how to prepare for the ICE raids. The entire toolkit can be downloaded with/without appendices.
Inside the toolkit:
- Definitive information on who ICE targets for deportation, priority locations for ICE activity, and common ICE arrest tactics and strategies.
- Recommendations for immigrants and advocates on emergency preparedness for those at risk of deportation, individual rights during ICE encounters, and potential legal and community challenges to ICE raids.
- Key takeaways from years of critical research and experience with the mechanics of the world’s largest detention and deportation apparatus — including an initial forecast of what we may see under a Trump administration.
- Select internal DHS/ICE enforcement memos and training documents secured through a pending FOIA litigation — as well as summaries of raids reported to IDP, organized by common ICE tactics and ruses.
Coming soon:
- An online interactive map of the raids reported to IDP in the New York City area.
- An online directory of FOIA documents from Immigrant Defense Project et al. v. ICE et al.
- A web-based version of the toolkit.
- Ongoing updates and more resources on emergency preparedness.
CUNY Citizenship Now!
CUNY Citizenship Now! provides free, high quality, and confidential immigration law services to help individuals and families on their path to U.S. citizenship. The organization has 40 locations across New York City. Its attorneys and paralegals offer one-on-one consultations to assess participants’ eligibility for legal benefits and assist them in applying when qualified.
The website lists the immigration issues handled by by CUNY Citizenship Now! They include many routine and complex issues apart from employment-related cases such as visas (immigrant or nonimmigrant, including H1B and the like) or employment related adjustment of status, change of status, or extension of status.
At an Immigration Rights Workshop in Queens, NYC Legal Aid attorneys mentioned this organization as an excellent resource for free legal help in an environment where many pro bono legal organizations suddenly have a big backlog.
CUNY Citizenship Now! Is actively soliciting volunteers.
Languages: English, Spanish
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)
The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) serves the Commonwealth’s one million foreign-born residents with policy analysis and advocacy, institutional organizing, training and leadership development, strategic communications, citizenship assistance, and AmeriCorps initiatives and has an active membership of over 130 organizations.
Languages: English, Spanish
Legal Aid Society, Immigration Law Unit – Know Your Rights, Executive Actions, Deportation Information
The Legal Aid Society is a nonprofit public interest law firm for low-income families and individuals.
The Society’s Immigration Law Unit provides an emergency plan information factsheet to help communities prepare in case of detention and deportation of a family member. It also offers a factsheet on providing sanctuary to immigrants. An ICE deportation hotline is available at 844-955-3425.
The Immigration Law Unit provides a detailed summary of the Executive Orders issued by President Trump on immigration and related draft orders that have not (yet) been issued. The Unit also offers ongoing workshops and individual immigration assistance, though its attorneys’ have recently emphasized a large backlog of cases following Trump’s election and executive orders.
Factsheets are available in English, Spanish and Chinese (traditional and simplified).
ICE Raids in New York: Get Informed and Know Your Rights!
This publication describes who may be at risk of being targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and what to do if ICE approaches you on the street (before giving your name or any information, ask, “Am I free to go?”) or comes to your home (they need a warrant signed by a judge to enter).
The publication was produced by Make the Road New York, with the assistance of the Immigrant Defense Project.
Liberty in North Korea
LiNK is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that provides support, information, and resources for North Korean refugees. Rescue Teams in South Korea and Southeast Asia support North Korean refugees leaving North Korea or China. In South Korea and the United States, LiNK’s Resettlement Assistance Program connects resettling refugees to resources and support, including counseling, financial assistance, health services, and community gatherings.
Faith Action Network Advocacy Toolkit
A variety of sources that faith communities can utilize in advocacy work for refugees and immigrants. Tools for contacting legislators, building community support, creating sanctuary in faith communities, utilizing the media, and other helpful links.
Working with Persons with Disabilities in Forced Displacement
Developed by the UNHCR to guide staff in developing policies and practices that meet the needs of people with disabilities in forced displacement and protect them from discrimination. The brief report presents an overview of disability and chronic conditions, nondiscrimination and participation as keys to protection, key considerations, and key resources.
Working with Persons with Disabilities in Forced Displacement
Unitarian Universalist Sanctuary Movement and Locations
The Unitarian Universalist Church is part of the growing Sanctuary Movement comprised of faith and immigrant communities seeking to protect and stand with immigrants facing deportation. Members pledge to protect immigrant families who face workplace discrimination or unjust deportation.
The site maintains a list of Unitarian Universalist congregations and organizations that have pledged to support the New Sanctuary Movement and/or are offering Sanctuary. Includes information on how to become a Sanctuary congregation.
Unitarian Universalist Sanctuary Movement and Locations