Amica Center for Immigrant Rights

Carlos, a former participant of Amica Center’s Legal Orientation Program, fled to the U.S. from Nicaragua after being persecuted by gangs for being Christian. Carlos’s story is just one example of how access to vital legal information changes lives. Over the past few weeks, Trump cut nationwide funding for legal access programs like this one that helped Carlos. But last week, Amica Center and our partners sued the DOJ and Kristi Noem in federal court and the DOJ rescinded the stop-work order in only two days, allowing us back into ICE facilities. We will continue our fight—in the courts and Congress—so that Trump does not shut down this program again. #DefendDueProcess #LegalAccess #ImmigrantRights #KnowYourRights

🚨 In a move that endangers our communities, the Senate’s budget resolution was just voted out of committee this week. It diverts a staggering $175 billion from local programs that support working families to fund mass deportation efforts. 🏠 👉 Click below to learn how you can speak out and demand a budget that supports everyone. #ProtectOurFamilies #ImmigrantRights #StandTogether

Over the past few weeks, Trump cut all funding for legal access programs nationwide - programs like our Legal Orientation Program. They blocked us from going into detention centers and helping immigrants facing deportation. But last week, Amica Center and our partners sued the DOJ and Kristi Noem in federal court and the DOJ rescinded the stop-work order in only two days, allowing us back into ICE facilities! But we’re not finished yet. We must keep fighting the lawsuit so that Trump does not shut down this program again. Despite rescinding the stop-work order, the DOJ continues to attack these legal access programs, making statements that they are “ineffective” or “inefficient.” We fear the DOJ will continue trying other tactics to cut these vital services. But we will not be shut down! We will continue our fight—in the courts and Congress. Watch the video to learn more about this vital program and the importance of legal access services for immigrants at risk of deportation. #DefendDueProcess #LegalAccess #ImmigrantRights #KnowYourRights

🚨 UPDATE: The “stop-work” order has been rescinded, allowing our team back into ICE facilities! We're thrilled to announce that the "stop-work" order has been rescinded, allowing our dedicated team back into ICE facilities! After filing our lawsuit on Friday, January 31, just two days later, the DOJ rescinded its stop-work order for all legal access programs! While the court has not yet made a decision in our case, it appears that the filing of it, plus the earlier temporary restraining order in New York v. Trump, made the DOJ reconsider.

🚨[BREAKING] Nonprofits fight back for immigrants’ legal access. On Friday, Amica Center and partner organizations, represented by Gibson Dunn, filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Justice and Kristi Noem. This lawsuit challenges the shutdown of critical legal orientation programs for immigrants facing deportation. Learn more: https://bit.ly/fightDOJ Without these programs, unrepresented immigrants are left without basic legal information while in detention and during deportation proceedings. This lawsuit seeks to restore these essential programs, ensuring immigrants receive the legal support they deserve. Join us in this urgent fight for justice. 🌟How You Can Help: support immigrant rights🌟 ✊ Donate: https://lnkd.in/diR_AExM 📞 Call your representatives: https://lnkd.in/grup5-2 📝 Sign and share the petition: https://lnkd.in/e3u_z-9h * Organizational plaintiffs in the suit include American Gateways, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, Estrella del Paso (formerly Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services, Inc.), Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, Immigration & Legal Advisory Services (ILAS), National Immigrant Justice Center, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC), and Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network. #DefendDueProcess #LegalAccess #ImmigrantRights #KnowYourRights

Since 2009, we've been providing #KnowYourRights presentations, legal orientations, and intakes to people in ICE detention centers. Last week, the government issued a stop-work order, cutting funding for national legal access programs. The very next day, our team was escorted out of the detention center, and our materials were torn down. But we’re not backing down. We will continue to fight for legal access and help those facing deportation. Everyone deserves a fair hearing. We won’t let Trump take away due process. #LegalAccess #DefendDueProcess

Trump and the Department of Justice have shut down federally funded #KnowYourRights and legal access programs for immigrants in detention, including Amica Center’s Legal Orientation Program. These actions contribute to a large-scale effort to ramp up mass deportations and create chaos within the legal system, further harming immigrant communities. #DefendDueProcess Reach out to your local representatives and tell them we must keep these vital programs. Stay tuned as we share updates over the coming weeks. Help us spread the word about the importance of legal access for immigrants facing detention and deportation: https://lnkd.in/grup5-2

🚨 Urgent Alert: Legal Access Denied in ICE Jails 🚨 Trump and the DOJ are blocking lawyers from providing essential Know Your Rights information in ICE jails. Immigrants in detention now face our complex system alone, without basic legal guidance. 🚫 Amica Center is taking action. We're preparing to file a federal lawsuit to challenge this attack on immigrant rights. Learn more below and join us in this fight for justice. 🤝 Contact your representative today: https://lnkd.in/grup5-2 #KnowYourRights #DefendDueProcess

Last week, the Department of Justice ordered an immediate halt to critical legal services that many immigrants rely on to navigate our confusing immigration system. Watch this recent interview with Amica Center's executive director, Michael Lukens, and NBC4 Washington investigative reporter, Tracee Wilkins. Without these programs, immigrant children and adults may be left to represent themselves in legal proceedings, severely undermining their chances for a fair outcome. Taking away these vital due processes during Trump's recent elimination of the sensitive locations policy and the suspension of refugee programs further demonstrates a systemic attack on immigrant communities and contradicts claims of prioritizing public safety. https://lnkd.in/eaTdyNvQ

For $25, you can help our attorneys defend immigrants and challenge Trump’s inhumane policies in court: https://lnkd.in/ei2BQtRM Since his inauguration, Trump has issued dozens of Executive Orders targeting immigrants—empowering ICE to raid protected spaces like churches and schools and even militarizing our communities. Take a look at our social post for a breakdown of the announcements that are top of mind for us. This is an urgent crisis unlike anything we’ve seen, with record numbers of people facing detention, deportation, and indefinite separation from their families.