logo
  • Nonprofit News
  • Management
    • Boards and Governance
    • Communication
      • Framing & Narratives
    • Ethics
    • Financial Management
    • Grassroots Fundraising Journal
    • Leadership
    • Technology
  • Philanthropy
    • Corporate Social Responsibility
    • Donor-Advised Funds
    • Foundations
    • Impact Investing
    • Research
    • Workplace Giving
  • Policy
    • Education
    • Healthcare
    • Housing
    • Government
    • Taxes
  • Economic Justice
    • About
    • Economy Remix
    • Economy Webinars
    • Community Benefits
    • Economic Democracy
    • Environmental Justice
    • Fair Finance
    • Housing Rights
    • Land Justice
    • Poor People’s Rights
    • Tax Fairness
  • Racial Equity
  • Social Movements
    • Community Development
    • Community Organizing
    • Culture Change
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Gender Equality
    • Immigrant Rights
    • Indigenous Rights
    • Labor
    • LGBTQ+
    • Racial Justice
    • Youth Activism
  • About Us
  • Log in
  • CONTENT TYPES
  • Featured Articles
  • Webinars
    • Free Webinars
    • Premium On-Demand Webinars
  • Tiny Spark Podcast
  • Magazine
    • Magazine
    • Leading Edge Membership
Donate
Policy

Judge Rules in Favor of Nonprofit Groups Serving Immigrants

Ruth McCambridge
July 25, 2017
Share19
Tweet4
Share2
Email
“Help” by Tsai Project

July 24, 2017; U.S. News & World Report

Saying that recent restrictions handed down from the Department of Justice violate the First Amendment rights of immigrant-serving nonprofits, U.S. District Court judge Richard Jones, by way of a temporary injunction, ruled that nonprofit legal groups can keep assisting immigrants facing deportation even if they do not subsequently represent them in court. This was an important decision for groups all across the country that serve the legal needs of immigrants.

The Justice Department informed the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project by way of a cease and desist letter sent in April that it was not allowed to provide certain legal assistance to immigrants unless it intended to follow through with court representation. NWIRP sued the Justice Department and AG Sessions.

Steven Hsieh, writing for the Stranger, says this effectively signals “to nonprofits nationwide that they’re free to help undocumented immigrants without going through the process of formally signing onto the case of every person that they advocate for. Thirty-two different legal organizations and nonprofits signed declarations and letters of support saying the policy would impede their ability to help immigrants.”

“During this unprecedented time of increased immigration detention and deportation of immigrants by the Trump Administration, thousands of immigrants who cannot afford an attorney rely on legal advice to help them as they face deportation,” said NWIRP executive director Jorge L. Barón. “Today’s victory grants them a better opportunity to seek justice.”—Ruth McCambridge

Share19
Tweet4
Share2
Email

About The Author
Ruth McCambridge

Ruth is the founder and Editor Emerita of the Nonprofit Quarterly. Her background includes forty-five years of experience in nonprofits, primarily in organizations that mix grassroots community work with policy change. Beginning in the mid-1980s, Ruth spent a decade at the Boston Foundation, developing and implementing capacity building programs and advocating for grantmaking attention to constituent involvement.

Related
Supreme Court Prepares to Judge whether Undocumented Immigrants “Count”
By Carole Levine
October 21, 2020
Barring the Way to Justice: The Threat to Civil Society
By Carole Levine
September 29, 2020
Black-Led Groups to Get Seattle City Property
By Ruth McCambridge
September 25, 2020
Firestorm over Seattle’s Tiny Steps to Defund the Police
By Sofia Jarrin
August 12, 2020
Immigrant Legal Aid at Risk as Nonprofits Bend under Cuts and Late Payments
By Ruth McCambridge
August 6, 2020
If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try Again: Seattle’s “Amazon Tax” Returns
By Steve Dubb
July 7, 2020

Upcoming Webinars

Group Created with Sketch.
January 21, 2 pm ET

Remaking the Economy

Health, Racial Disparities, and Economic Justice

other posts by The Author
Ruth was here, but now she’s gone…
By Ruth McCambridge
December 31, 2020
What’s in the Relief Bill Congress May Pass Today
By Ruth McCambridge
December 17, 2020
The PPP Loans of Private Foundations
By Ruth McCambridge
December 17, 2020
CYNDI SUAREZ
The Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap: Flipping the Lens
Powerful Interests Seek to Make Puerto Rico the Hong Kong of the...
Moving Beyond the Privilege of White Tears
logo
Donate
  • About
  • Contact
  • Newsletters
  • Write for NPQ
  • Advertise
  • Writers
  • Funders
  • Copyright Policy
  • Privacy Policy
Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 20-4080038

Subscribe to View Webinars