MICA Project

Yesterday, MICA Project's Director of Legal Services Patrick Helling and President of the Board Annie Rice testified in front of the Missouri House of Representatives Interim Committee on "Illegal" Immigrant Crimes. They sent the message that all immigrants are welcome in Missouri. We were encouraged and inspired by testimony from community members who proposed a vision for a welcoming Missouri. We were also troubled a vocal minority of Representatives who don't understand the weight that their hateful words have in creating an anti-immigrant climate in our state. The MICA Project will continue to work day in and day out to build a welcoming St. Louis region that welcomes all immigrants.

(Español abajo) CALL TO ACTION! The Missouri House of Representatives has formed a Special Interim Committee on “Illegal Immigrant” Crimes. The committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday September 3 at 11:00am at the Missouri Athletic Club. One of the goals of this committee is to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to assess criminal activities involving undocumented immigrant in the state and devise effective solutions to address them. Our immigrant neighbors, regardless of their immigration status, are not a threat to our communities. Ample evidence demonstrates this. The committee is creating a false problem to demonize undocumented immigrants. This will lead to increased distrust between immigrant families and individuals and law enforcement agencies. The MICA Project will be present at the hearing to send the message that IMMIGRANTS ARE WELCOME HERE! We invite you to join us! ¡LLAMADO A LA ACCIÓN! La Cámara de Representantes de Missouri ha formado un Comité Especial Interino sobre los Crímenes de “Inmigrantes Ilegales”. El comité llevará a cabo una audiencia el martes 3 de septiembre a las 11:00 a.m. en el Missouri Athletic Club. Uno de los objetivos de este comité es colaborar con las agencias del cumplimiento de la ley para evaluar las actividades delictivas que involucren a inmigrantes indocumentados en el estado y diseñar soluciones efectivas para abordarlas. Sabemos que nuestros vecinos inmigrantes, independientemente de su estatus migratorio, no son una amenaza para nuestras comunidades. Hay amplia evidencia que lo demuestra. El comité está creando un problema falso para demonizar a los inmigrantes indocumentados. Esto conducirá a una mayor desconfianza entre las familias e individuos inmigrantes y las agencias del cumplimiento de la ley. ¡El Proyecto MICA estará presente en la audiencia para enviar el mensaje de que LOS INMIGRANTES SON BIENVENIDOS AQUÍ! ¡Te invitamos a unirte a nosotros!

"Each of us weaves a unique experience and history into the fabric of our nation’s culture. Perhaps more than any other month, June illustrates that tapestry’s richness. This month includes Juneteenth, World Refugee Day, the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Plyler v. Doe decision, and of course June is Pride Month.   "With all of the urgent threats demanding our attention, it can be hard to make a moment for celebration. But these observances are also remembrances. They remind us that the fight for equity, inclusion, and acceptance began long before us. That we walk in the footsteps of giants like Opal Lee, Tom Lantos, Lidia and Jose Lopez, and Lilli Vincenz. And that like them, we must persevere until we build a country worthy of our shared heritage." -Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition 

New pathways to status Today, President Biden signed a series of executive actions on immigration that could have a significant impact on local families. They provide a path to lawful status (and eventually citizenship) to hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have deep roots in our communities. After three years of broken promises - including the recent executive action about closing the southern border - the administration has finally taken a step towards providing relief to immigrants and their families. Today, we celebrate the potential impact of these executive actions. Tomorrow, we will continue to fight alongside those who remain without a path to lawful status. Our action plan We are planning a series of community presentations and workshops to provide information about these new programs.  And we need your help!    1. If you speak Spanish, sign-up to be a volunteer translator or interpreter: https://lnkd.in/gH9UmSiH If you speak a language other than Spanish, you are also welcome to sign-up! We work with clients from around 50 different countries and often need interpreters.    2.  Help us launch this responsive program! There will be a huge demand for information and legal representation. MICA needs to expand our capacity to be responsive to this time-sensitive opportunity. You can contribute here: https://lnkd.in/gZQpSSJV  If you or your business is interested in sponsoring an upcoming presentation or clinic, please contact [email protected]. Read the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/gqJMTchN

We reject exclusion Seeking asylum is a universal human right protected by both U.S. and international law. Many migrants who come to the United States left their home countries because they faced immediate violence and persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Asylum laws provided them with an opportunity to find safety and re-establish their lives in the United States. With this executive action, President Biden is limiting migrants' access to asylum in the United States. He is turning his back on the country’s moral responsibility and legal duty to allow those who are persecuted an opportunity to legally seek reprieve via the asylum system. This move demonstrates that anti-immigrant sentiments and policies are pervasive across parties. We expect that this executive order will face legal challenges, but it will still impact the fate of thousands of people while these lawsuits make their way through the judicial system. We imagine a future in which the United States welcomes those seeking safety from persecution, as well as those who seek opportunities to support and reunite with their families. Read the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/gdPcesjm

Did you catch this story on St. Louis on the Air? One of MICA's clients collaborated with a local artist on two songs - "Ana's Song" and "The Golden Cage." You can hear a snippet around minute 8:30, and hear more from Alicia Revé, the artist, around minute 18:00. They'll be performed live on June 2 at Work & Leisure. Thanks St. Louis Public Radio, Action Art Collaborative, Ana, Alicia Reve, and Stephen Lightle for making this happen! https://lnkd.in/gvsbCE2Y

Hello, I’m Lucia and in these brief words I want to express my most sincere gratitude to the MICA Project–for so much dedication and...unconditional support...And to each of the people at MICA, thank you all for making my case a success and that we could win it....I hope and ask God that they can give their support and kindness to many more immigrants. This Give STL Day, help us make Lucia's wish come true! Support MICA so that we can work with many more immigrants. Donations made today will be TRIPLED! https://lnkd.in/ge9nwPAZ

Do you get the MICA e-newsletter delivered to your inbox? If not, read on! Also available at https://lnkd.in/gW-jY2rv

Ladue News featured MICA in its most recent issue. They interviewed MICA staff member, Mariana: February 5 was our last open day, and we received about 245 calls that day alone from about 180 individuals. We’re committed to working with low-income immigrants to overcome the barriers to justice,” Leon adds. “We try to educate and advocate to give these immigrant families and communities a voice and a sense of human dignity.” https://lnkd.in/gBbwagzM

Spring e-newsletter is here! Didn't get it? Sign up on our website! Here's a sneak peak... It's heartwarming to share that MICA clients from Afghanistan, El Salvador, and Honduras have won asylum this year, both from the immigration court and the asylum office! Each case requires numerous hours of preparation and our clients have shown incredible patience, usually waiting years for a decision on their case. They now have permission to stay permanently in the United State, safe from the persecution they fear in their country of origin. Congratulations to everyone involved!