Join us for a discussion about the benefits of becoming a U.S. Citizen, how to apply for citizenship, and how to obtain funding for the USCIS filing fee. Naturalize #2MillionBy2022!
Healing at the Border: Discussing the Medical Need at the U.S.-Mexican Border with Laura M. Vargas and Dr. Hannah Janeway from Refugee Health Alliance
On the 18th episode of Immigration Today! Angeline Chen introduces us to Laura M. Vargas and Dr. Hannah Janeway from Refugee Health Alliance. Refugee Health Alliance is an organization that was established in 2018 in response to the increasing medical need at the US-Mexican border. They aim to provide ethical, holistic, and culturally-sensitive healthcare to vulnerable populations.
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Laura M. Vargas is one of the founders and co-directors of Refugee Health Alliance. She also works in Neurosurgery at a medical center and attended the University of Florida, where she dual majored in Neuroscience and Biochemistry and was a Division 1 Gymnast. Laura immigrated to the United States from Colombia as a child and is the first in her family in medicine. Her immigrant background has had a tremendous effect on the work she does. In this episode she shares a little bit about her background as a young immigrant being raised in America and how that affected her passion for helping those in need.
Dr. Hannah Janeway (they/them) is one of the co-founders and co-directors of Refugee Health Alliance. Dr. Janeway completed medical school at Brown University and now they split their time between Refugee Health Alliance and their work as an Emergency Physician. Their work focuses on re-envisioning healthcare spaces to serve the people who visit them, free from carceral forces, border health and border abolition. Dr. Janeway also shares a bit about their upbringing and how their interactions with the health care system made it apparent that there were great inequities that needed to be addressed.
“Refugee Health Alliance’s overall mission is to work towards the freedom to stay, freedom to move and the freedom to return to your community. Everyone who truly wants global health equity, which is one of the most basic human rights, should be working towards that. It is about working towards a world in which borders are not necessary because there is equity across the border, so people aren’t forced to leave for basic things like health and security. ”
Refugee Health Alliance began with a group of people responding to the health care needs of people at the border in 2018. At the time, more than 8,000 Central American migrants were arriving in caravans at the U.S. – Mexican border. As the need grew, RHA’s network of health care providers, students, volunteers etc. also grew. Eventually they became an official 501(c)(3) organization and now they have two clinics, Resistencia en Salud and Justicia en Salud. They focus on hiring local Mexican nationals or asylum seekers in order to ensure that the services they provide are holistic and non-hierarchal.
If you want to keep up with this amazing organization please visit them on their website here and social media pages on Facebook, and Instagram. Please consider supporting them through a donation here.
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DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
A Conversation on Anti-Asian Hate and AAPI Activism – Connie Chung Joe, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Los Angeles
On the 17th episode of Immigration Today! Angeline Chen interviews Connie Chung Joe, the Chief Executive Officer of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles. They are the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Connie received her BA in Spanish and International Relations from USC and her JD from Georgetown University Law Center. She has worked alongside immigrant communities for many years and is the daughter of South Korean immigrant parents. Throughout this podcast, she tells us about her own upbringing and the work she does at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – LA.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – LA was founded in 1983 in the wake of the murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American killed by two Caucasian auto workers who blamed the Japanese auto industry for the economic demise in Detroit at the time. There then became a rise in Asian American activism, which brought to light the need for organizations that focused on ethnically and culturally specific work. To this day, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – LA serves more than 15,000 individuals and organizations every year. Through direct services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building, Advancing Justice – LA focuses on the most vulnerable members of Asian American and AANHPI communities while also building a strong voice for civil rights and social justice.
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“There are still so many people who blame the Asian American community for Covid 19. Asian Americans continue to be scapegoated for it and means that we will continue to experience violence and hate. This is why investment in racial equity, showing solidarity and supporting the Asian Community during this time, continues to be important.””
Connie has been honored for her work by the Asian Pacific Women’s Center and Asian American Drug Abuse Program. In 2016, she was appointed by California Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon to the Domestic Violence Advisory Council. In 2017, Connie was named by CA Assembly member Sebastian Ridley-Thomas and LA County Board of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas a 40 Under 40 Emerging Civic Leader.
You can keep up with this amazing organization via their social media on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Please also consider donating via their website!
DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
How to Create Real Change by Getting Involved with Local and State Immigration Policies – Shiu-Ming Cheer from the California Immigrant Policy Center
On the 16th episode of Immigration Today! Angeline Chen interviews Shiu-Ming Cheer. Shiu-Ming is the Deputy Director of Programs and Campaigns at the California Immigrant Policy Center. They are a constituent-based, statewide immigrant rights organization that promotes and protects safety, health and public benefits and integration programs for immigrants. They are one of the few organizations that effectively combines legislative and policy advocacy, strategic communications, organizing and capacity building to pursue its mission. Shiu-Ming graduated from U.C. Berkeley and from the Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law. Shiu-Ming has received awards for her community and legal work from the National Lawyers Guild – LA and the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition.
In this episode, Shiu-Ming goes into detail about how she became involved in immigrant rights as a young college graduate. She migrated to America at the young age of 2 and has over 25 years of experience in immigrant rights and social justice issues. The California Immigrant Policy Center came about because of draconian anti-immigration laws in 1996 that made it impossible for immigrants to access public health benefits. The Center has had victories such as playing a huge role in securing driver's licenses for everyone regardless of immigration status. They also pushed for the CA Values Act in 2017 (SB 54) which prevents state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources on behalf of federal immigration enforcement agencies. All of this has been influential to the progression of support that other states begin to show toward immigrants.
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“We need to remember that we are the ones who have the power. And overtime, we are the ones who can really advance an agenda on racial and social justice. We are keeping the hope alive…that we will eventually win everything that our communities really need.”
If you are listening to this episode, you can make a difference in the way these policies play out at your local level. If you are a registered voter or simply a citizen in your city, you have the power to call on your local and state representatives and urge them to support policies that protect immigrants. You can also engage any organization that accepts volunteers for direct action such as the California Immigration Policy Center itself. Please follow CIPC on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Most importantly, consider donating here or sign up for the email alerts on their webpage.
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DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
The Battle to End Immigrant Detention with Immigrant Rights Activist Maru-Mora Villalpando
Welcome to the 15th episode of Immigration Today!. In this episode, Angeline Chen interviews Maru Mora-Villalpando. Maru is a long time immigrant activist and the founder of Latino Advocacy, LLC and co-founder of La Resistencia. La Resistencia is a grassroots organization working to end the detention of immigrants and stop deportations. Specifically, their goal is to shut down the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC), and to end all detention and deportation in Washington State. Latino Advocacy provides policy development and advocacy consulting to organizations and grassroots groups in Washington state. They empower organizations to organize effectively by conducting workshops, facilitating group meetings, and providing leadership development training to leaders.
In this episode, Maru explains how she became politicized and how she got involved in the struggle for immigrant rights. She grew up in Mexico D.F. and quickly became aware of the social movements that took place in her city as well as she became aware of the struggles that forced her out of her native land. Upon her arrival in the United States, Maru quickly found similar activist circles and found herself heavily involved in the fight to close Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) and for-profit detention centers in the state. Maru became a target as an undocumented activist herself and faced her own deportation case in the midst of all of this. After a long battle, Maru’s deportation case was dropped and she was granted lawful permanent residency.
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Maru has been featured in Univision, KUOW radio station, The Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, The Globalist, Democracy Now! and many more. You can support La Resistencia in many ways. Please consider donating here. You can also follow La Resistencia on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date with their actions.
“I jumped on the fight against detention and deportations because I realized, we can get legal status… but as long as the detention centers exist, we are not going to be safe. Yes, we need citizenship, but we also need to undo ICE altogether!”
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DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
How a Dreamer Channels Social Media to Tell Her Story and Create Change - A Conversation with Sara Mora
On the 14th episode of Immigration Today! we welcome Sara Mora. Sara is a storyteller, digital strategist and activist. She is the founder of Population MIC which is a think tank initiative focused on making storytelling tools accessible. Population MIC is a project that builds bridges between folks doing activist work and creative tools. Sara is dedicated to education equality, language accessibility, storyteller rights and migrant rights. A DACA recipient herself, she has dedicated her youth to strategizing ways to support her community.
In this episode, Sara tells us about her upbringing in New Jersey and how it has impacted her work today. She also tells us about her meetup with the President of Costa Rica and how that impacted her love for social movements and media today. There she understood the gaps in conversation between world leaders and low income immigrants. She realized that the people most impacted by change in laws usually have the least access to the conversations needed to change them. She understands the power of media and how it can be used to shape narratives and stories.
Sara uses her love for social media to create a platform for many young immigrants needing a voice. After Trump rescinded DACA, Sara became part of a lawsuit against Trump and his administration’s actions which led to a win that made Sara a young voice defeating discrimination. Sara is also involved in youth leadership programs and served as Co-President of Women's March Youth Empower in late 2018.
She has been featured on OPRAH'S 8 Young Visionaries, Seventeen Mag's 2020 Voices of the Year, GIRLBOSS Radio Podcast, has worked with Banana Republic, HBO Max, Adobe, and most recently UNICEF. She was recently listed on Premios Juventud as an agent of change in her community. Sara Mora can be found on @MissSaraMora on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also book Sara Mora as a keynote speaker or a panelist at your event. Book her here!
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“My passion for media started because I realized that traditional media was powerful but it was run by only those who had access to it, understood it, and had the money to create it. But now…it’s just your phone. Your phone becomes this powerful weapon that you can use to share your ideas, amplify your voice, and ultimately shift the world. ”
Immigration Today! is always releasing new content. Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with any new episodes!
DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
Empowering Immigrants Through International Cuisine – with Meymuna Hussein-Cattan from Flavors From Afar
On the 13th episode of Immigration Today! we welcome Meymuna Hussein-Cattan, an executive, entrepreneur, and owner of Flavors From Afar. Flavors From Afar is a black-owned social-enterprise restaurant that brings traditional recipes and global flavors to Los Angeles. Located in Little Ethiopia, Flavors From Afar uniquely highlights chefs who are refugees, indigenous people, and immigrants who make cuisines from around the world. She also focuses on job creation and entrepreneurship. Aside from that, Meymuna is the CEO of the Tiyya Foundation, an award-winning grassroots organization that supports families of immigrants, refugees, and displaced Americans.
Meymuna’ s passion for helping immigrants is interconnected to her upbringing. She was born in a refugee camp in Somalia to Ethiopian parents. Her family is indigenous to East Africa and a huge inspiration for the work she does today. Meymuna received her BA in Social Sciences from UC Irvine and MA in Organizational Management from Antioch University. Meymuna has been recognized by the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, was a PBS/ KTLA Local Hero nominee, was selected Woman of the Year by Congressman Adam Schiff, has been publicized in the LA Times, Buzzfeed, Voyage LA, and much more.
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“Flavors From Afar comes from my family’s personal story. I was born in a refugee camp so the refugee cause has always been a passion of mine.”
Flavors From Afar launched during challenging times in the midst of the rise of the pandemic, however, they have stayed afloat and have gained great recognition. They have plans of continuing to expand and you do not want to miss it! Pay them a visit and try a dish from their exquisite menu! Please also consider donating to the Tiyya Foundation and following them on their social media handles: Instagram, Facebook , LinkedIn.
Immigration Today! is always releasing new content. Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with any new episodes!
DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
The Dreamer Who Sued the U.S. Government and Won – A Conversation with Dulce Garcia from Border Angels
On the 12th episode of Immigration Today! we welcome Dulce Garcia, the Executive Director of Border Angels. Border Angels is a nonprofit organization that advocates for human rights at the U.S. Mexican Border. Their work focuses on attempting to reduce the number of fatalities at the border through direct action such as water drops at the desert to help immigrants battling dehydration along their journey into the U.S and direct humanitarian aid.
Dulce Garcia was raised in San Diego and is an undocumented DACA recipient herself. She is a witness of the hardships many immigrants face but despite of this she graduated from UCSD with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and attended law school at Cleveland Marshall College of Law. Since then she opened her private practice in 2016 and has provided assistance to many low income immigrants. Dulce also sued Trump and the administration after the termination of DACA. As a result of those efforts, hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients are able to renew their DACA status. She has received the “Women of the Year” award by Assembly Woman Lorena S. Gonzalez.
In this podcast, Dulce recounts her personal journey as an undocumented immigrant growing up near the border in San Diego. She is a business owner, property owner, an attorney, and she pays taxes. Even after 33 years she does not have a path to citizenship like thousands of other migrants in the U.S. She also tells us about her brother’s deportation case and how she fought to bring him back.
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“It is hard to feel a sense of belonging when we are still attacked and there is no path to citizenship… we feel American, we feel like this is our home but the Federal Government keeps reminding us that we are not there yet.”
Border Angels relies on the generosity of donations from listeners like you – please consider donating via their website. You can also follow them on social media to stay up to date with all that they do: Facebook, Instagram, Linked in, or YouTube.
Immigration Today! is always releasing new content. Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with any new episodes!
DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
U.S. Immigration Policy on Haitian Migrants – with Guerline Jozef from Haitian Bridge Alliance
On the 11th episode of Immigration Today! Angeline Chen interviews Guerline Jozef, President of Haitian Bridge Alliance. Guerline is a woman on the move with a passion to serve others and promote her beloved Haiti. Haitian Bridge Alliance is a nonprofit community organization that assists thousands of refugees in their journey to America. Their mission is to guide, elevate, and empower Haitian immigrants through advocacy, organizing, outreach, and direct services such as Immigration detention visits, transitional housing, legal assistance, and educational, social and cultural programs. Haitian Bridge Alliance is the only Haitian female-led organization that provides support in Mexico at the U.S.-Mexico border. Guerline seeks to create a community and a movement that is inclusive of all people. She makes sure that black narratives are at the forefront of her movement while attempting to make real systematic change for everyone. She was recently honored the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.
In this podcast Guerline discusses her background and what led her to start this organization. She also goes into the current state of things in Haiti – from political turmoil, the crisis at the Southern border, and the mass deportation of asylum seekers from the Biden Administration. Haitian Bridge Alliance is in need of your help to support migrants who have gone through deportation proceedings or who are seeking assistance at the border. Please provide financial support by visiting this link here. If you are an attorney that can provide legal support through pro-bono work please email info@haitianbridge.org to get more information.
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“The Biden Administration has sent 114 deportation flights to Haiti while they are in the middle of extreme political chaos, while the President has been assassinated, while they had a second earthquake that destroyed thousands of lives … the Administration felt it was okay to deport people while Haiti continues to deal with these extreme conditions.”
Immigration Today! is always releasing new content. Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with any new episodes!
DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
Helping Afghan Refugees One List at a Time – with Miry Whitehill from Miry’s List
On the 10th episode of Immigration Today! Angeline Chen interviews Miry Whitehill, the founder and Executive Director of Miry’s List. Miry’s list is a nonprofit organization in CA dedicated to helping refugee families with resources to resettle in to their new homes in the United States. Miry started Miry's List in July 2016 when a friend introduced her to a family of newly arrived Syrian refugees resettling in Los Angeles with kids the same age as her own. There she realized that refugees required assistance even after their arrival to the United States.
Miry's List provides a mechanism for people to directly help new arrival refugee families with the things that they need to get started in their new lives – from diapers to beds to cleaning supplies and toiletries. They use crowdsourcing and social media to connect people who want to help, with new refugee families who have needs that are not completely met by the organizations that sponsor them. Each family has unique needs, so each family has a unique "list" of supplies to get started, and Miry’s list takes care of that.
“Every family has its own unique needs; emotional, physical and financial needs. They need and deserve individualized attention…. This is why my friends and I needed to get involved. ”
Miry’s List depends on donations from listeners like you. Please consider donating at this link. Your donation can help a child to have a bed to sleep on. Please also follow Miry’s list on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook to stay up to date with their work.
Immigration Today! is always releasing new content. Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with any new episodes!
DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
A discussion on Government Surveillance of U.S. Citizens - with Mohammad Tajsar from ACLU Southern California
On the ninth episode of Immigration Today! Angeline Chen interviews Mohammad Tajsar, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California. Mohammad’s work focuses on national security and counterterrorism policy, with a particular focus on the impacts of U.S. national security law on Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities. Mohammad also works on police misconduct, government surveillance, and protecting individuals’ and organizations’ rights in the digital world.
Mohammad describes where his passion for civil rights stem from and how being a Muslim and a father has affected his work. He goes into detail about his early career and how he landed at the ACLU. Mohammad’s current docket includes Fazaga v. FBI, a challenge to the FBI’s surveillance of mosques in Orange County, and Phillips v. Customs and Border Protection, a constitutional challenge to the surveillance and detention of immigrant rights lawyers and non-profit leaders. On this episode Mohammad discusses his position in protecting people's civil rights and freedoms through legal advocacy.
“The US Government has made many attempts to punish migrants but also those who work with them.. so my job is to attempt to vindicate their civil and constitutional rights that I believe were violated quite strongly.”
If you are interested in learning more about the surveillance of Muslims at the mosque in Orange County listen to this podcast recommended by Mohammad Tajsar himself: This American Life – The Convert.
Find more information about the ACLU here. Please also follow them on social media to stay up to date with their latest: LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Immigration Today! is always releasing new content. Please subscribe to our immigration newsletter to stay up to date with any new episodes.
DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
How Music Crosses Borders – with Artist Nancy Sanchez
On our eighth episode of Immigration Today! Angeline Chen interviews Nancy Sanchez, an award winning singer-song writer. Nancy is known for her interesting variety of styles ranging from jazz, mariachi, regional Mexican music, pop, and much more. Nancy is not your typical artist – she is bilingual, multi-cultural, and a strong advocate of immigrant and women’s rights. Her music is unique because she speaks about social justice, immigrants, and the issues they face, while thriving in often male-dominated music genres. Nancy is a 3 Time Winner of the Orange County Jazz and Latin Music Awards, a featured artist in Telemundo’s Acceso Total, and her song La Gran Civilizacion was selected in the top 10 songs of 2020 by NPR’s Alt. Latino. These are just a few of her accolades!
Nancy fell in love with music at a very young age. In this podcast she recounts her journey migrating to the United States from Toluca, Mexico and how this shaped her musical career. Because she is an immigrant, she feels the need to express her experiences and those of many others through her music. Not only does she perform – but she is also very involved in non-profit work that has a direct impact in uplifting migrant communities. Nancy uses her artistic talents to advocate against injustice and oppression and is a great example of what it means to use your voice for change.
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You can follow Nancy on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to her YouTube channel! Make sure to listen to her latest album La Gran Civilizacion on all platforms!
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“By telling my story, I can shine light to a topic that has been demonized. By being an immigrant, being a full version of myself and being able to share my talents with people, I am changing the narrative of what being an immigrant is all about.”
DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
The Fate of Unaccompanied Minors Coming to the U.S. – Lindsay Toczylowski from Immigrant Defenders Law Center
On the seventh episode of Immigration Today! Angeline Chen interviews Lindsay Toczylowski, Executive Director of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, an organization founded by a dedicated group of advocates and activists interested in creating an organization on the vanguard of the movement for a public defender system for immigrants facing deportation. They are fighting back every day against the immigration system's campaign of cruelty against migrants at the border with a focus on assisting children and families. Lindsay is a social entrepreneur whose work to increase access to justice for immigrants is at the forefront of the movement for universal representation. Lindsay also served as the Overseas Operations Director at Asylum Access, an international nonprofit that fights for the rights of refugees in the global South. She was recently named one of California’s Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers by the Daily Journal. Lindsay is the proud mother of two revolutionaries-in-training, and they are her inspiration to keep fighting for social justice every day.
Lindsay describes her experience defending kids in foster care and how that funneled her into providing legal representation for immigrant children. Her work is unique as she was one of the first attorneys in the Los Angeles area exclusively representing unaccompanied minors. This eventually paved the road in founding Immigrant Defenders Law Center. They are strong believers that no child should be forced to face an unjust immigration system alone.
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If you are interested in learning more about their work please check out their website and consider making a donation. Give them a follow on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn!
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“I have literally sat in court and watched a crying infant who was the only defendant in their deportation case be held by a social worker that works for the government…A crying baby can be a defendant who is expected to represent themselves.”
DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
The Afghanistan Crisis – How Can You Help? – With Sima Alizadeh from PARS Equality Center
On this episode of Immigration Today! Angeline Chen interviews Sima Alizadeh, an Iranian-born Senior Immigration Attorney at Pars Equality Center, a nonprofit organization that assists low-income Middle Eastern and South Asian communities of the Bay Area and Los Angeles, with legal and social services. She is a graduate of U.C. Hastings Law School and has been aiding the Afghan community for the last 10 years. She leads the Pars Afghan Support Project which is committed to matching Afghan nationals with volunteers to help with the filing of humanitarian parole applications, and assist in evacuations and perform strong congressional advocacy work. In her role with the Afghan Support Project, Sima recruits and trains Pars volunteers and attorneys nationwide, and matches them with cases. Sima is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has served as AILA faculty at various conferences. She is currently on the AILA Afghan Task Force creating relevant material for, and responses to, the crisis.
In this podcast, Sima explains what is going on in Afghanistan and how Afghans are attempting to flee the country to safety. She delves into the different ways that people are leaving and what can be done to aid Afghan nationals.
“We are witnessing an exodus. We are watching a humanitarian crisis occur with individuals desperately needing to leave a militant nation. It’s an overnight catastrophe.”
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PARS Equality Center has received hundreds of inquiries and is in need of assistance from attorneys, volunteers, translators, and anyone with a devotion to those in need. If upon listening to this episode, you are inclined to help, you can find more information about volunteering or donating here. You can also check out their Facebook Fundraiser and make a contribution. Further, lawyers, volunteers, and firms can offer to assist with the humanitarian parole applications by emailing Afghansupport@parsequalitycenter.org .
You can follow PARS Equality Center on Facebook and Instagram, or connect directly via their website.
DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
Does U.S. Asylum Law Really Exist? The Reality of Those Living on the Margins of the U.S.-Mexican Border – with Nicole Ramos from Al Otro Lado
On this episode of Immigration Today! with Angeline Chen, we are pleased to have Nicole Ramos, Director of Al Otro Lado. Al Otro Lado is a binational non-profit organization providing holistic legal and humanitarian support to indigent refugees, deportees, and other migrants in the U.S. and Tijuana through a multidisciplinary, client-centered, harm reduction-based practice. Nicole Ramos fiercely advocates for immigrants at the border by helping asylum seekers in Tijuana, Mexico who wish to present themselves to immigration authorities. She is incredibly brave and fearless – not only is she constantly in front of the U.S. government challenging the practice of turning away asylum seekers at the border – but she is also equipping these families with the knowledge needed to advocate for themselves. Nicole is also an Adjunct Professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law and lectures extensively at universities, law schools, and professional conferences throughout the United States and Mexico regarding the impact of border enforcement practices and policies on asylum seekers.
She talks about the impact of the Migrant Protection Program (MPP), Title 42, the reality many unaccompanied minors face and the lack of basic human aid provided to these refugees. Her work is complex and ground breaking – Al Otro Lado is assuring that asylum seekers can meet their needs with dignity.
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If you are interested in learning more about Al Otro Lado and Nicole’s Ramos work please consider donating to their page at this link!
Please also follow Al Otro Lado on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn!
“I did death penalty work when I was in Alabama and it would be inconceivable to have people go to defend their lives before a giant without the representation of an attorney…but that’s exactly what the US government is telling people to do. Defend your life, prove that you are right and that your life is worth saving and then you can get your asylum… but those are very hard things to do and what’s happening is that our government is deporting tens of thousands of people each year back to their death.”
DISCLAIMER – The views and opinions expressed in the podcast represent the view of the host and guest(s) and not necessarily the official view of Clark Hill PLC. No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
Federal Tort Claims Act: What Everyone Should Know – Trina Realmuto from National Immigration Litigation Alliance
“I have gotten to witness firsthand the trauma that it causes to people…all folks that have had abuse in detention. Money helps but money does not take away the trauma that people experience from being subjected to this kind of abuse and misconduct.”
On this episode of Immigration Today! Angeline Chen interviews Trina Realmuto, the Executive Director at the National Immigration Litigation Alliance. With over twenty years of experience in immigration, damages, and transparency litigation in federal courts, Trina has litigated and argued several precedent decisions and is a frequent presenter on immigration issues. Most recently, Trina was a Directing Attorney of Litigation at the American Immigration Council, the Litigation Director of the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild and as a consulting attorney to the Council. She has done great work abroad representing noncitizens applying for visas at U.S. embassies and consulates and has even won awards for her excellence in immigration litigation.
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Trina became acquainted with immigrant struggles from a very young age. Her mother grew up in the outskirts of rural New York and Trina’s grandfather was a farmer who had some onion fields. Trina’s mother would pick onions with the migrant workers. There she grew a strong appreciation for the hard work that these migrant workers did and instilled these values to her children. Trina later went to law school and started working with migrant farmers herself through “know your rights” presentations herself which further exposed her to her career in immigration law.
Specifically, she fights cases under the Federal Tort Claims Act which is a statute that allows people to make claims against the federal government for damages on account of mistreatment at the hands of federal officers. Trina works with these type of claims to make real systemic change which has a lasting impact in the future of immigration policies for all. Trina is an inspiration to many and an example of what it means to fight for immigrant rights.
If you want to support the National Immigration Litigation Alliance please consider donating via their website. You can even join their Strategic Assistance program for more in depth detail of the wonderful work they do!
A Look Inside a Migrant Shelter in TJ, Mexico – Leticia Herrera, Pro Amore Dei
“How can I live so well when a lot of people are suffering? I knew I had to do something to help my people.”
On this episode of Immigration Today! with Angeline Chen, meet Leticia Herrera, the owner of a migrant shelter in Tijuana Mexico called Pro Amore DEI that houses asylum seekers. This shelter hosts around 185 people including 60 children. One of the unique qualities of this shelter is that they work with the Yes We Can World Foundation and turned a school bus into a classroom for kids. You can review the LA Times article here.
In the podcast, Leticia details why she does this work, what is provided in the shelter, and how you can help.
I had the pleasure of meeting Letitia as the cofounder of Rise to Reunite, a volunteer group that helps reunite families separated at the border. We volunteer with Al Otro Lado, which is a bipartisan legal services organization assisting migrants in Tijuana and Los Angeles. We have brought volunteers to Pro Amore DEI consistently from the middle of 2018 to 2020 providing humanitarian aid and legal services. Leticia is one of the strongest and most committed people I know, doing this work out of the kindness of her heart.
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You can follow Pro Amore Dei on Facebook.
If you are interested in donating money to help with food, water, diapers, medical supplies, utility bills, etc., you can donate directly to this shelter by using pay pal at this link Pro Amore Dei
You can also donate food, clothes, and supplies directly to the shelter by contacting Leticia through Whatsapp at +52 664 232 3116 or through www.borderangels.org.
DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.
Video: Let’s Chat About the US Citizenship Act of 2021 and DACA
Webinar: Let's Chat About the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 and DACA
Join us in a free discussion about the latest immigration changes under President Biden: Immigration Bills, Executive Orders, and DACA. We will go into detail about these updates and inform you on where to obtain free legal services as well as other services for immigrants. Event will be held in English and Spanish.
Monday, March 8 - 6:00 PM PT
Highlights of Biden’s Immigration Bill and Will it Pass? – Angelica Salas from CHIRLA
On this episode of the Immigration Today! podcast with Angeline Chen, meet Angelica Salas, the Executive Director of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights also known as CHIRLA. From 1999 to now, she has transformed CHIRLA into one of the nation’s largest and most effective immigrant rights organizations. CHIRLA is a mass membership immigrant-led organization that empowers immigrants and their families to win local, state, and national policies that advance their human, civil, and labor rights. Among her achievements include: winning in-state, financial aid, and grant programs for California’s undocumented students, winning drivers’ licenses for undocumented drivers, decoupling local police departments from immigration enforcement, and winning Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Angelica is an immigrant from Durango, Mexico, and came to the United States as a child to reunite with her parents. She comes to her understanding of immigrants and immigration first hand. She and her entire family lived in the country undocumented, experienced deportation, and were able to legalize their status. In 2008, she became a U.S. citizen.
“ When you really think about family separation, just think about your kids and ask, ‘How long could I be away from my children? What would I be willing to risk for them?’ And all of a sudden, the answer is…anything.”
I have had the pleasure of knowing Angelica through the YWCA Pasadena, where she was a recipient of the Women for Racial Justice Award at the annual breakfast and has been a valuable supporter of the YWCA. I am truly inspired by her leadership, voice, and an unstoppable drive to help immigrants.
Learn more about CHIRLA and how you can help at www.CHIRLA.org and on IG @chirla_org.
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DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.