Charlotte NC-The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy’s offices in east Charlotte were filled with lawyers and immigrants working together to file asylum applications on Saturday.
After people enter the country and are detained at the border, they generally have one year to file for asylum through an I-589 form. Though people can file the applications themselves without the aid of an attorney, legal assistance drastically improves their chances for success in immigration court.//accepted
This weekend’s clinic is the first of its kind in North Carolina, CCLA immigration attorney Rebekah Niblock said, though similar clinics have been held throughout the country.
Though the clinic’s participants won’t be legally represented by the CCLA in court, it’s a way for the agency, overburdened with requests, to expand its reach and serve more clients without having to turn anyone away.
“We can’t accept everyone,” Niblock said. “But the least we can do is help them get their applications out.”
Read more at: charlotteobserver.com
Tag: Immigrants
One woman’s journey to become a permanent resident
The first thing you notice when you meet Mirian is her kind smile and upbeat attitude. What you might not know is the 10-year journey it took to her become a permanent resident after immigrating to the United States as a young girl.
Born in El Salvador, Mirian traveled to the United States alone at the age of 13 when her grandmother and primary caregiver passed away. She was able to reach her mom in Charlotte, where she now lives.
For Mirian, the possibility of getting a green card “…is a dream that every person like me is waiting for.” But she quickly learned that it was a dream that would take time, knowledge, and resources she didn’t have. Facing the immense barriers put in place by a complicated immigration system, Mirian contacted Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy. From the moment the representation began, she knew it was the right decision.
“It’s an amazing place. You feel secure when you get there, and the people were all kind. At the beginning I didn’t speak any English, but you always had translators available. I felt at home.”
With the support of her family and her own determination over the years, Mirian was aided by Advocacy Center attorneys and obtained her permanent residency this past spring as a Special Immigration Juvenile. Mirian is not a lone statistic. Research has found that the probability of a positive outcome in an immigration case increases dramatically, from 5% to 95%, when an individual has legal representation. Most cases take years to resolve and hiring a private attorney can be cost prohibitive for immigrants and their families.
Reflecting on the experience, Mirian cannot help but be overcome with emotion. “[Without Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy] I think it would have been difficult for me and my family. If I had to go somewhere else, it would have cost a lot of money. My mom couldn’t afford it. I am thankful for everything you have done for me, everything you have done for my family.”
Now married with two wonderful children, Mirian knows having a green card has created the stability and security that she dreamed of when she came to America over a decade ago. “I don’t have to live in fear. I can live in peace and see my kids grow up.”
Planning to return to school to explore a career in real estate, Mirian is excited about the possibilities in front of her. “I see my future better than I did before.”
CDC Eviction Moratorium: What you Need to Know
*Updated June 29, 2021. Original post September 10th, 2020*
The federal government, through the Center for Disease Control, has announced a temporary halt on evictions through July 31, 2021 to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Under the order, landlords and property owners are prohibited from evicting certain tenants impacted by COVID-19. If you are an immigrant, you may have concerns about claiming protection under the eviction moratorium. While we think the risk is minimal, we provide the information below to help you decide what is best for you and your family.
How do I Qualify?
You qualify for the temporary protection against eviction if one of the following applies in your situation:
- You cannot pay your full rent payment because of household income, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, lay-offs, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses.
- Your income is below $99,000 annually for an individual/ $198,000 annually for a couple.
- You are using your best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as your circumstances permit.
- You have used best efforts to obtain all available government assistance available for rent or housing.
- If evicted, you will become homeless or will have to move in with others in close quarters.
How do I claim protection under the Temporary Eviction Moratorium?
To claim the protection against eviction, every adult tenant must sign an affidavit that includes an agreement to pay any accumulated rent arrears after July 31, 2020.
- Sign this declaration if the tenant meets its requirements.
- The declaration is a sworn statement, and there are criminal penalties for signing the declaration if it is not true!
- Give the signed declaration to the landlord
- Keep copies of the signed declaration.
- Follow the rental agreement.
Why might I worry about signing the affidavit as an immigrant?
An immigrant may be denied a visa, lawful permanent resident status, or reentry into the US (as a lawful permanent resident) if she or he is likely to become a public charge. Public charge is defined as someone who is primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.
Why I SHOULD NOT worry about signing the affidavit even though I am an immigrant:
- Getting help under the Temporary Eviction Moratorium is not considered cash or other financial assistance that could count against you as a federal benefit for the public charge test.
- The income limit for the federal moratorium is substantially higher than the income threshold for the public charge test. When you state that your income is not above $99,000/$198,000 annually, you do not admit that your income is below 125% federal poverty guideline ($32,750 annual income for family of 4) and, therefore, you do not jeopardize your immigration application.
Is it conceivable that my immigration application could be denied because I signed the affidavit stating that I cannot afford my rent?
It is conceivable but very unlikely and, certainly, there should be a legal challenge to a finding of public charge on this basis.
Remember that public charge DOES NOT APPLY to:
- Asylum or Refugee status
- Green Card renewal
- TPS, U or T Visa status
- DACA status or renewal
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
- Immigrants who already have LPR/ a green card
CONTACT CHARLOTTE CENTER FOR LEGAL ADVOCACY TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS.
- 704-376-1600
- Línea en español 800-247-1931
Obtenga La Ayuda Que Necesita Bajo La Moratoria Temporal De Desalojo
El gobierno federal, a través del Centro para el Control de Enfermedades, ha anunciado una suspensión temporal de TODOS los desalojos hasta el 31 de julio de 2021 para evitar una mayor propagación de COVID-19. Según la orden, los propietarios tienen prohibido desalojar a ciertos inquilinos afectados por COVID-19. Si usted es un inmigrante, es posible que le preocupe reclamar protección bajo la moratoria de desalojo. Mientras creemos que el riesgo es mínimo, la siguiente información puede ayudarle a decidir qué es lo mejor para usted y su familia.
¿Cómo califico para la moratoria?
Usted califica para la protección temporal contra el desalojo si alguna de las siguientes situaciones le aplica:
- No puede pagar el pago total del alquiler debido a los ingresos del hogar, la pérdida de horas de trabajo o salarios compensables, despidos o gastos médicos extraordinarios de su bolsillo.
- Sus ingresos son menos de $99,000 anuales por persona o $198,000 por pareja.
- Está haciendo todo lo posible para realizar pagos parciales puntuales que se acerquen tanto al pago total como lo permitan sus circunstancias.
- Ha hecho todo lo posible para obtener toda la asistencia gubernamental disponible para alquiler o vivienda.
- Si lo desalojan, se quedará sin hogar o tendrá que mudarse con otras personas cercanas.
¿Cómo reclamo protección bajo la Moratoria Temporal de Desalojo?
Para reclamar la protección contra el desalojo, todos los inquilinos adultos deben firmar una declaración que incluye su acuerdo de pagar los atrasos de alquiler acumulados después del 31 de julio de 2020.
¿Por qué podría preocuparme firmar una declaración como inmigrante?
A un inmigrante se le puede negar una visa, el estatus de residente permanente legal o el reingreso a los EE. UU. (como un residente permanente) si es probable que se convierta en una carga pública. La carga pública se define como alguien que depende principalmente del gobierno para su subsistencia.
Porque no DEBO preocuparme por firmar la declaración a pesar de que soy un inmigrante?
- Obtener ayuda bajo la Moratoria de Desalojo Temporal no es considerado dinero en efectivo u otra asistencia financiera que pueda contarse en su contra como un beneficio federal para la prueba de carga pública.
- El límite de ingresos para la moratoria federal es sustancialmente más alto que el límite de ingresos para la prueba de carga pública. Cuando declara que sus ingresos no superan los $ 99,000 / $ 198,000 anuales, no admite que sus ingresos estén por debajo del 125% de la línea de pobreza federal (Ingresos anuales de $ 32,750 para una familia de 4) y, por lo tanto, no pone en peligro su solicitud de inmigración
¿Es concebible que mi solicitud de inmigración pueda ser negada por firmar una declaración declarando que no puedo pagar el alquiler?
Es concebible pero muy improbable y definitivamentedebería haber una impugnación i legal contra una determinación de carga pública basado en esto.
Recuerde que la carga pública NO APLICA a:
- Asilados o refugiados
- Renovación de su permiso de residencia
- TPS, Visa U o Visa T
- Estado de DACA o renovación de DACA
- Estado Especial de Inmigrante Juvenil
- Ley de Violencia Contra la Mujer (VAWA)
- Inmigrantes que ya tienen Residencia Permanente
Comuníquese con Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy para hablar con alguien sobre sus opciones.
- Línea en español 800-247-1931
- charlottelegaladvocacy.org
Living in Fear: Report Documents the Harm Inflicted on Immigrant Families, Children in Charlotte Area, Carolinas
Every day, immigrant families live in fear of separation and suffer from chronic stress while struggling to build a stable life in a community that keeps them on the fringes.
These are the findings of a recent report documenting the harm of the Trump administration’s deliberate attacks on immigrants living in the Carolinas and across the U.S.
In collaboration with Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and South Carolina Appleseed, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) has released its findings based on interviews with a range of professionals serving the immigrant community—including childcare providers, nursing home visitors, health and mental health care providers, health insurance navigators, nutrition assistance providers, and legal service providers.
“The Trump Administration has repeatedly shown indifference to the effects of its policies and rhetoric on children across the country and in some cases is deliberately using harm to immigrant children as a political lever,” said Madison Allen, co-author of the Carolinas report and senior policy analyst/attorney at CLASP. “We found that parents are altering their daily lives and avoiding public health, nutrition, and education programs because of these relentless attacks. We heard stories about parents being detained in front of their children, kids who are afraid to go outside and play, and chronic stress that will have long-term consequences for many children.”
Charlotte’s foreign-born population makes up 10 percent of the total population, with most individuals coming from Latin America (50 percent) and Asia (31 percent). This population has grown significantly over the past 10 years.
With one in four children having at least one immigrant parent, the report illustrates the deliberate detrimental impact this administration’s rhetoric and policies are having on children and, by extension, our greater community.
Through interviews conducted between January and March 2020 in the Charlotte metro and Columbia, S.C. areas, recurring themes echoed the harmful and deep impacts families experience because of the Trump administration’s harmful rhetoric and zero-tolerance enforcement tactics.
Interviewees shared stories of how the constant, looming fear of immigration enforcement dramatically impacts daily life for immigrant parents and children in their communities.
Parents and caregivers are afraid to leave their homes to work or take care of everyday necessities out of fear that they will not return home to their families. That fear is not limited to adults either. Children of all ages are also experiencing and internalizing chronic stress and anxiety that impacts their health and wellbeing in ways that will linger for years.
Providers shared concerns about the children who are living at homes with chronic ongoing stress and what that means for their future. As a nurse practitioner explained, “the increase in cortisol and the inflammatory markers that go along with stress precipitates a lot of chronic disease.”
Families are also avoiding publicly funded health and nutrition services for which they are eligible specifically due to the administration’s new Public Charge rule. The rule, which went into effect Feb. 24, expands the types of benefits considered in the “public charge” immigration test administered to immigrants entering the country or seeking permanent residency to determine if they will become primarily dependent on the government for financial support.
The rule has faced several court challenges since going into effect with decisions just in the last month that have put it on hold and then resumed it again, adding to confusion about what options families have.
Immigrants without legal status do not qualify for most public benefits. Most immigrants with status who do qualify for public benefits along with all U.S. citizen family members are not subject to the rule. Also, several types of public benefits are not included in the assessment, such as WIC, NC Health Choice and Emergency Medicaid. This hasn’t stopped families from withdrawing from stabilizing programs out of fear.
In the report, Advocacy Center staff shared several stories of families choosing not to enroll in benefits.
One story involved a woman from Mexico who had been a U.S. citizen for 20 years. During a meeting to enroll in health coverage, a health insurance navigator shared that the woman was eligible to sign up for food stamps (SNAP benefits) based on her income. The woman declined “… because of the public charge, she thought it applied to her … and she was just really scared.”
Medical-Legal Partnership coordinator Elizabeth Setaro has been leading the Advocacy Center’s efforts to help families fight fear with facts.
“Through education and outreach, we are making sure families understand what they’re entitled to receive and have access to the necessary resources that ensure they remain stable during these uncertain times,” Setaro said.
On top of policy threats at the federal level, immigrant families in the Carolinas face added barriers when accessing safety net programs like Medicaid due to shortcomings in the state eligibility software and training for social services staff. These systems are difficult for most people to effectively navigate without assistance, especially when English is a second language.
CLASP’s research found that conditions for immigrant children and their families in the Carolinas were exacerbated by confusion, misinformation and limited availability of legal services, specifically in South Carolina.
In the Charlotte region, the Advocacy Center is the largest provider of free and low-cost legal services for immigrant families, but additional options for legal assistance are limited beyond hiring a private attorney.
Private immigration attorneys are often not well versed on immigrant eligibility for public benefits, which also adds to confusion and uncertainty.
The Advocacy Center fights to ensure equal access to resources under the law for immigrant families. That includes working with service providers and the immigrant community to help families understand and access local resources that are available, while also holding administrative and government systems accountable to provide services families are entitled to receive.
The report’s findings illustrate the need for policies that equitably ensure safety, economic security and stability for all families, including immigrants.
Such policies would enable all people to live their lives as productive citizens engaging in civic and economic life without fear and build a strong community that allows families to thrive.
Learn more by reading the report, “Trump Administration Immigration Policies Are Harming Children and Families in the Carolinas”.
COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance and Immigration
Eligibility for Unemployment Insurance Benefits based on Immigration Status
Undocumented workers are not eligible for North Carolina unemployment insurance benefits.
In general, workers must have valid work authorization during the base period used to determine the benefit amount, at the time they apply, and through the entire period they are receiving benefits.
Unemployment Benefits and Public Charge
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security does not list unemployment insurance benefits as public benefits in public charge determinations.
Self-Employed and Independent Contract Workers
Self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers and others who did not traditionally qualify for North Carolina unemployment insurance and were receiving unemployment benefits through Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) will no longer be eligible for unemployment after September 4, 2021. Find updates on the program here.
Please note there is a special hotline for PUA applicants, 866-847-7209.
PUA applicants can also call during additional special hours on Sundays from 12 – 5 p.m.
Where can I receive additional information?
Visit the DES COVID-19 help page for more information.
Conozca Sus Derechos
Usted tiene derechos. Sin importar su estado migratorio. Para protegerse usted y su familia, es importante saber sus derechos.
You have rights regardless of your immigration status. To protect yourself and your family, you must know your rights.
Nuestras organizaciones reconocen que la incertidumbre sobre el futuro puede causarles inquietudes a las familias inmigrantes. Esperamos que estos recursos puedan brindar las familias herramientas necesarias para convertir las angustias en acción.
Our organizations understand that uncertainty about the future creates anxiety for immigrant families. We hope that these resources below can give families tools to transform fear into action.
Juntos, podemos construir una comunidad más acogedora y justa para todas las personas.
Together, we can build a more welcoming and just community for all people.
El Centro de Apoyo Legal de Charlotte
La Coalición
El Puente Hispano
Action NC
Comunidad Colectiva
Recursos/Resources
Conozca Sus Derechos: Guia sobre sus derechos / Know Your Rights: Guide to your rights
Tarjeta Roja de Derechos Constitucionales / Red Card Outlining Constitutional Rights
Thousands of immigrants seek asylum in Charlotte court. Nearly all will lose.
Charlotte N.C.- “Stand up and raise your right hand,” Judge William Riggs said.
He looks expectantly at a Central American man in front of him, who’s wearing headphones to listen to the Spanish interpreter to the left of Riggs. Before she finishes translating, Riggs raises his own right hand to demonstrate the action.
After the man takes an oath, a baby, in the wooden benches designated for observers, starts whining. The mother bounces her knees up and down, attempting to soothe the child.
The immigrant’s lawyer explains his claim, and at one point, Riggs rests his chin in his hand.
It’s about 9 a.m., and this is the first of dozens of asylum cases he’ll hear that day. Once the lawyers finish, he either assigns a later individual hearing or orders the respondent removed from the country.
All of this takes place in Charlotte’s immigration court, located in a mundane office building in east Charlotte. There isn’t a sign outside to identify it, and once inside, you have to take a rickety elevator to the fourth floor — just three floors above an immigration law firm.
That’s where anyone in the Carolinas has to go to claim asylum, and its four judges are some of the strictest in the country.
Read more at charlotteobserver.com
Some Immigrants Choose Between Food Stamps and a Green Card
Lourdes Juarez has lived in North Carolina since 2000, working part-time to help children with disabilities improve their motor skills. Originally from Mexico, she is now a lawful permanent resident of the United States with plans to apply for citizenship.
After bouts of pancreatic and liver cancer left her struggling with medical debt, she learned that she qualified for Medicaid, the government health program for low-income people. But she had a nagging concern that accepting government benefits would affect her chances of gaining citizenship. She had heard rumors to that effect among her friends and in the news.Juarez’s fear reflects the growing sense among immigrants that they should avoid public programs, which also include food stamps and certain housing programs, in case they count against their ability to stay in the country permanently. In December, Juarez called the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, which reassured her that her citizenship would not be affected if she enrolled in Medicaid. Only then did Jaurez relax and sign up.
Read more from theatlantic.com