RMIAN Collaborates with Denver's Immigrant and Refugee Commission to Educate Our Community About Immigration Basics

Interested in learning more about immigration law? Join RMIAN Senior Staff Attorney, Conor Gleason, and Social Worker, Cindy Schlosser, who will be speaking on June 29, 2023 from 5:30-6:30 pm about what benefits are available for people both recently arriving in our community as well as those who have lengthier ties to the United States and are seeking immigration benefits. They will also discuss who qualifies for work authorization and how to apply. In addition, Conor and Cindy will provide updates on the latest changes to U.S. policy and litigation impacting noncitizens navigating the exceedingly complicated U.S. immigration system. The event is taking place at McGlone Academy, Confluence Media Center located at 4500 Crown Blvd., Denver, CO 80239.

RMIAN Educates the Community About What Constitutes Human Trafficking with a Focus on the Legal Recourses a Survivor Can Take to Pursue Justice

On June 30, 2023, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) is partnering with the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking and working in collaboration with the Larimer County Department of Human Services to provide a training on how labor trafficking presents among youth in Larimer County and impacts their families. Labor trafficking exists in both the formal and informal economy in industries that are prevalent in Colorado. Because both people directly impacted by human trafficking and their communities are often unaware of the crime, we often miss it even when it's happening right in front of us. The way in which the U.S. economy forces immigrants and refugees to work in unregulated spaces, they are disproportionately vulnerable to potential labor or sexual exploitation, which can include wage theft and human trafficking. Immigration status is often used as a form of coercion to elicit compliance and fraudulent promises of work are often used to recruit individuals into an exploitative situation. People who are targets of human trafficking may not fully understand their rights, may have their identification confiscated, and may not feel safe to report. This presentation will cover the complexities of disclosure for systems involved youth, including immigrant communities, as well as the legal recourse a survivor can take to pursue justice. RMAIN attorneys, Caleb Stewart and Christine Dutko, will be sharing their expertise from 10 am - 12 pm at the West Oak Building Hearing Room, 200 West Oak, Fort Collins, Colorado.

With no magic wand yet, next best thing supporting Denver’s immigrants receives more funding

Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund receives more money to help a community in desperate need

Free Webinar: Representing Asylum-Seekers at the Aurora Immigration Court

It is our pleasure to invite you to a free webinar on Thursday, March 30, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. MST hosted by RMIAN and the Immigration Justice Campaign:

Detention Trends, Fear-Based Relief, and Practical Tips for Representation before the Aurora Immigration Court

With changes to border policy, more and more people are being detained by the Biden Administration upon arrival in the United States. Given the increase in detained asylum seekers, there is an ever-growing need for pro bono representation of people who fear persecution and torture in their countries of origin and who are ineligible for release from detention. Join us on March 30th for a free webinar to learn more about detention trends and how you can help. There will be a review of withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture, as well as practical tips for in-person and remote representation before the Aurora Immigration Court.

1 general CLE credit pending. Register here.

Please take a moment to share with your networks and consider a detained pro bono case through RMIAN! Limited scope matters available! People detained in Aurora need pro bono representation for bond, parole, merits (including limited scope matters like I589 assistance), and BIA appeals. As a reminder, RMIAN and the Immigration Justice Campaign provide expert mentorship, document review, and sample filings.

RMIAN Social Services Project Director Promotes Value of Immigration Case Management

For well over a decade, Megan Hope has provided social services to immigrants who require assistance navigating the challenges of being detained in Colorado, resettling in a new community, and finding stability after a period of significant flux. Megan has advocated on behalf of countless individuals and is an expert in her field. Now, she uses her unique lens to lift up the need for a system change that includes wrap-around social services for migrants rather than continuing down the path of detaining people in dehumanizing and abusive facilities. Read the full piece on Colorado Newsline.

Summer 2023 Legal Internships

RMIAN is offering two full-time, paid summer internships for current law students during Summer 2023. Interns will:

• Gain practical, hands-on knowledge about the immigration legal system and its intersection of other legal fields

• Work closely with staff in the Children’s Program or Detention Program

• Observe and/or participate in hearings before the Denver or Aurora Immigration Courts

• Experience the work environment in a nonprofit legal services organization

Location: Westminster, Colorado

Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week)

Duration: at least 10 weeks between May and August

Compensation: $5,000 stipend (subject to withholding)

RMIAN is committed to providing educational opportunities for law students interested in pursuing professions in the field of immigration advocacy.

For more information about legal internship opportunities at RMIAN, including how to apply, click here.

RMIAN Featured in Denver Gazette/Colorado Politics Town Hall on Immigration

RMIAN’s Director of Advocacy & Litigation, Laura Lunn, spoke to members of the greater Denver community during a Town Hall on Immigration on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. She appeared alongside University of Colorado Law professor, Violet Chapin, the Director of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Office for Human Rights & Community Partnerships’ (HRCP) at the City of Denver, Atim Otii, and Denver Gazette reporter Nico Brambila. The convening was organized in response the the recent influx of migrants to the Denver area and drilled down on the push and pull factors drawing people to the region.

Throughout the conversation Laura emphasized RMIAN’s commitment to creating a welcoming space for the community it serves and highlighted the importance of legal representation. “An estimated 70% of those in immigration proceedings do not have an attorney, Lunn said, adding individuals with a lawyer are 10 times more likely to win their immigration case.” RMIAN is committed to serving people in need of legal guidance and representation, recognizing that in addition to the increased chance of success, RMIAN’s staff members provide people with respect, dignity, and hope.

Click here to read the full story and watch the Town Hall.

Shaleen Morales, RMIAN Universal Representation Staff Attorney Speaking at American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Conference in Colorado

RMIAN’s expertise in the realm of immigration detention will be front and center at the AILA Colorado Chapter Annual Conference, “Resistance to Subsistence: Policy Updates from Trump to Biden & How We Can Advocate for Meaningful Reform,” taking place on Friday, February 10, 2023 at University of Denver, Sturm College of Law. Click here for more information on how to register.

RMIAN's Social Services Project works with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) to educate community members on how to support and welcome newly arriving migrants

Join RMIAN and AFSC to learn how to support people detained in immigration custody, assist them with planning their release, and accompany them as they settle into our community. RMIAN’s Social Services Project Director, Megan Hope, and Social Worker, Cindy Schlosser, will be leading the training, which will take place on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 from 6-7:30pm MST. Register here.

Rocky Mountain PBS Highlights RMIAN's Impact

RMIAN’s Emily Brock, Children’s Program Deputy Managing Attorney, and Conor Gleason, Detention Program Senior Staff Attorney, speak to Rocky Mountain PBS about the challenges migrants face when they stare at a legal system stacked against them and the difference attorneys can make in overcoming such barriers.

RMIAN Staff Members Speak Out About the Value and Importance of Universal Representation for Noncitizens in Removal Proceedings

Check out what Shaleen Morales, Universal Representation Staff Attorney and Carly Howenstein, Legal Advocate, had to say when they appeared on Hear, Allà, Presente. Use the QR code below to listen!

Deputy Managing Attorney of RMIAN's Children's Program Speaks Out Against the Treatment of Asylum Seekers in the Denverite

Emily Brock, the Deputy Managing Attorney of RMIAN’s Children’s Program, spoke to Kevin Beaty from the Denverite about her experience serving families subjected to the Dedicated Docket. RMIAN stands in stark opposition of this policy, which fast tracks immigration cases of families from around the world, with the exception of Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, with completion goals of 300 days after their initial hearings. This expedient timeline is a barrier to accessing legal counsel, and as a result, families on the Dedicated Docket have much lower success rates than other asylum seekers even though many of them have strong legal claims for asylum.

RMIAN is Honored to Receive the Professional Resource of the Year (IVLP) Award from WorldDenver

RMIAN was honored to receive the Professional Resource of the Year (IVLP) Award from WorldDenver for the impact our work makes on our community.

WorldDenver is a nonprofit community organization that promotes a greater understanding of world affairs and cultures throughout the Denver Metro area, creating and implementing unique programs that connect Coloradans with experts, leaders, and ideas from across the globe. In honor of WorldDenver’s 10 year anniversary, it honored 10 community partners this year who have made a significant impact on WorldDenver and its ability to build global understanding and cross-cultural ties.

"The highly qualified and impressive participants from around the world posed challenging questions that fostered deep thinking about how to address injustices of human trafficking and prison/detention conditions locally and globally."

- Caleb Stewart, Senior Staff Attorney, Anti-Human Trafficking Project

Today is Colorado Gives Day! Will you join RMIAN in fighting for justice?

As an early teen in Nicaragua, Sam* sought the support of a religious-based youth organization as an alternative to the gangs that frequented his neighborhood. Because of their religious beliefs, Sam and others in his organization spoke out against atrocities committed by the president of his home country. In response to their call for change, the organization’s gathering place was attacked by soldiers, littering the walls with bullets. Sam survived by hiding in a closet, shielding younger members of the organization.   

Sam fled to the United States, where he was welcomed by a Colorado church and parishioners who served as his guardians. RMIAN helped establish custody for his guardians when Sam was 19 years old. RMIAN continued to represent Sam in his application for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), a protection for youth who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. With SIJS, Sam is on the pathway toward lawful permanent residency and no longer fears deportation. Sam calls the day he received news of his approval the best day of his life.   

Although SIJS protections exist pursuant to federal law, state court proceedings dictate who qualifies for this benefit.  

In March of 2019, Colorado House Bill 19-1042 expanded state court jurisdiction in custody and guardianship proceedings for youth who are dependent on a caretaker, increasing the minimum age from eighteen to twenty-one. RMIAN was one of many key partners who shaped and drafted this important legislation.  

Sam was able to access SIJS protection not only because he had access to legal representation through RMIAN's Children's Program but because HB19-1042 was signed into law. Because of RMIAN's efforts in 2019, a broader swath of youth across the State of Colorado can seek permanent residence under SIJS.  

RMIAN is at the forefront of groundbreaking advocacy and litigation like HB19-2041. In 2021, RMIAN was a fundamental partner in creating Colorado's Immigration Legal Defense Fund and improving access to U visa protection for immigrant survivors of crime, and in 2022, RMIAN helped ensure eligibility to state courts for unaccompanied minors. 

RMIAN's work has a critical impact on the communities we serve. In 2022, RMIAN provided an unprecedented number of clients with free immigration legal services, including "Know-Your-Rights" education, individual client intakes, direct legal representation, and referral to pro bono representation.*  

Will you donate today and help ensure access to these critical services for Colorado immigrants?  

Governor Polis Urges Congress to Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform & Protection for Dreamers

RMIAN Grieves in the Aftermath of the Club Q Shooting Targeting LGBTQ+ Community Members

RMIAN deeply mourns the lives lost and the devastation for so many at the horrific mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs on Saturday, November 19th. Anti-LGBTQ violence in all its forms destroys our communities and must end. RMIAN will always stand alongside and support the LGBTQ+ community.

RMIAN shares the following resources from One Colorado for those impacted in the immediate aftermath:

https://one-colorado.org/new/shooting-in-colorado-springs-lgbtq-club/

Transgender Week of Awareness | November 13 - November 19

Transgender Week of Awareness

RMIAN proudly joins organizations and individuals across the country to participate in Transgender Awareness Week this November 13-19, 2022. This week leads to the annual observance on November 20th for Transgender Day of Remembrance, to honor the memory of transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of transgender violence.

Despite incredible strength and resilience, the transgender community is often under attack and marginalized. RMIAN stands up against this hatred, discrimination, and bigotry. RMIAN celebrates our transgender clients, community members, and loved ones, and works every day to fight for the rights, protection, and recognition of all.

During this week, RMIAN calls on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. government, to immediately end the imprisonment of transgender individuals in immigration detention across the United States. We know that transgender individuals in immigration detention face disproportionate harm, including discrimination, inhumane conditions, abuse, prolonged detention, a lack of safety, and a lack of access to basic needs and medical care. 

This week—and every day—RMIAN re-affirms its deep commitment to advocating for the rights of transgender individuals.

We invite you to consider donating to one of the following organizations:

One Colorado: Reduces barriers experienced by transgender Coloradans and their families through advocacy, policy, and education. 

Transformative Freedom Fund: Supporting the authentic selves of transgender Coloradans by removing financial barriers to transition-related healthcare.

Colorado Name Change Project: Helps you better understand and navigate the process of changing your name and/or your gender marker.

RMIAN Holds ICE to Account by Filing FOIA About the Death of Melvin Calero Mendoza

On October 13, 2022 Melvin Calero Mendoza, age 36, died while in ICE custody in Aurora. To date, the details provided by ICE are sparse and leave more questions than answers. That's why earlier today, RMIAN filed a Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA) seeking records from ICE that might help explain what led to his sudden passing.

Detention sequesters people out of the public eye. RMIAN is dedicated to shedding light on the circumstances that resulted in Melvin Calero Mendoza's death.

Free CLE webinar 11.2 on Difficult Conversations in Pro Bono

Pro Bono Best Practices Part 4: Navigating Difficult Conversations with Pro Bono Attorneys

Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST

Format: Free CLA Webinar via Beacon Live

Immigration is an exciting area of law that offers a range of ways for pro bono attorneys and volunteers to get involved and work directly with clients, from court appearances to filing forms to one-time legal clinics. Most of the time, representation in immigration cases consists of lawyers and clients working together harmoniously towards a common goal. This virtual training will provide information, considerations, and insights about what happens when that relationship changes and difficult conversations must be had between attorney and the person coordinating or supervising the pro bono relationship.

The presentation aims to deliver tailored guidance for supervising attorneys navigating situations that may alter the original attorney/client dynamic and how to support the pro bono attorney or volunteer during the transition.  

The ABA will seek 1 hour of CLE credit in 60-minute states, and 1.2 hours of CLE credit for this program in 50-minute states. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules. CLE credit will be given to live attendees only.

Speakers:

• Becky Wolozin- Director, George Mason University ASLS Immigration Litigation Clinic; and Senior Attorney, Immigrant Justice Program, Legal Aid Justice Center

• Emily B. Brock- Senior Staff Attorney, Children’s Program, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network

• Nareeneh Sohbatian- Immigration Pro Bono Managing Attorney, Winston & Strawn 

Moderator:

• Marissa LaVette- Assistant Staff Counsel, ABA Center for Pro Bono

  Register HERE: https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/427059176/