CSU, The California State University, August 13, 2024

The California State University (CSU) system offers comprehensive support for undocumented students and students from mixed-status families, including legal services, financial aid, and academic resources. A key partner, Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD), co-founded by Barbara Pinto, provides free legal assistance to CSU students, helping them navigate complex immigration issues. These services are instrumental in empowering students and securing their futures.

Los Angeles Times, June 26, 2024

Governor Gavin Newsom's recent budget plan preserves crucial programs for immigrant Californians, ensuring continued support for in-home care and legal services. The California State University Immigration Legal Services Project, vital for immigrant communities, was saved from severe cuts, which Barbara Pinto of Immigrant Legal Defense said would have caused the program to "come to a full stop." Eleni Wolfe-Roubatis praised the legislature for maintaining funding, calling it an investment in California's future. Despite these positive steps, the plan delays expanded food benefits for undocumented seniors and ends aid for unaccompanied children, highlighting ongoing challenges in supporting all vulnerable populations.

The San Diego Union Tribune, June 11, 2024

Barbara Pinto, an attorney and founding co-executive director of Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD), criticizes Gov. Newsom's proposed 75 percent budget cut to the California State University Immigration Legal Services Project. The program, which Pinto oversees, provides free immigration legal services to students and community members across nine CSU campuses. With California being home to the largest immigrant community and the CSU system hosting the most undocumented students nationwide, the budget cut threatens critical support for these students. Pinto argues that this reduction undermines both educational empowerment and economic mobility, especially for undocumented students who often face numerous challenges. She emphasizes that investing in immigrant youth yields significant economic benefits and highlights the life-changing impact of the Legal Services Project. The Legislature and the Latino Caucus have opposed the cuts, urging the governor to align his workforce development priorities with actions that support vulnerable immigrant communities.

Press Release, June 6, 2024

June 6, 2024, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside), Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, presented Assembly Concurrent Resolution 206 to commemorate June 2024 as Immigrant Heritage Month, emphasizing the importance of funding state programs supporting immigrant communities. Cervantes highlighted the significant contributions of California's 10.5 million immigrants, including many DACA and TPS recipients. She stressed the need to preserve resources for programs like Medi-Cal expansion and the CSU Immigration Legal Services Project. The event featured community guests, including Barbara Pinto, Co-Executive Director at Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD), and Iris Iraheta Miranda, a client of ILD, showcasing the impactful work of these programs. The Caucus continues its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for California’s immigrant population, recognizing their vital role in the state’s economy.

The Guardian, June 4, 2024

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced his administration's most stringent immigration policy to date, issuing an executive order that allows for the mass rejection of asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border when crossings exceed a certain threshold. This policy, which could temporarily shut down the border and automatically block migrants from presenting asylum cases, is seen as one of the harshest immigration crackdowns by a Democratic president, drawing parallels to former President Trump's restrictive measures. The timing of the order, just five months before the election, comes as immigration ranks high among voters' concerns, and Republicans criticize Biden amid rising migrant numbers in US cities. Despite recent decreases in crossings since December, a complex mix of violence, poverty, natural disasters, and political instability continues to drive high numbers of migrants to the border, overwhelming an outdated US immigration system that has not been updated in over 30 years. Senate Republicans have repeatedly blocked efforts by Congressional Democrats to reform immigration. The Guardian also highlighted the personal stories of several asylum seekers, illustrating the hardships they face within the current system.

The San Francisco Chronicle, May 21, 2024

Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed budget cuts nearly 75% of funding for California's state-funded legal services for immigrants, drawing significant concern. This reduction, part of efforts to address a $27.6 billion state deficit, affects programs crucial to immigrants like Salvador Rodriguez Castellon, a Cal State East Bay student who obtained work authorization through the CSU-based Immigrant Legal Services. Critics argue these cuts will severely impact vulnerable populations, including undocumented students and victims of crime, who rely on these services for legal representation, work permits, and potential citizenship. Advocates, including state legislators, emphasize the importance of maintaining funding for these essential programs amid broader political and budgetary debates.

Los Angeles Times, March 15, 2024.

The CSU Immigration Legal Services Project, established in 2019, provides free legal assistance to immigrant students, staff, and their families across California State University campuses, significantly impacting their lives and career prospects. Students like Galilea Ramirez and Adolfo Romero Ramirez have benefited from this program, receiving vital legal advice and securing work permits, visas, and other protections. However, Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed budget cuts would slash the program's funding from $7 million to $1.8 million, threatening its ability to serve new clients and maintain its current operations. These cuts come amid a $38 billion budget shortfall and ongoing uncertainty regarding immigration policies and enforcement. Advocates stress the importance of this program, especially in regions with limited immigration services, while some lawmakers argue that such services should be handled by nonprofits rather than state-funded institutions. The future of the program will be decided in upcoming budget subcommittee hearings.

The Hill, June 22, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), along with Reps. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and 29 additional Members of Congress introduced the Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act, legislation to fix the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) program for immigrant children who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected. Congress established the SIJS program in 1990 to protect these youth from additional harm, but in recent years, visa backlogs have prevented the program from keeping these children safe.

Despite being a humanitarian visa, the pathway to a green card for SIJS children runs through the employment-based immigration visa system, subjecting SIJS recipients to annual worldwide and country-specific quotas. This legislation would exempt SIJS children from annual employment-based visa caps, ending years-long case backlogs and allowing these children to move forward with their lives as lawful permanent residents of the United States.

The Sacramento Bee, April 20, 2022

“A federal judge in San Francisco on Tuesday ordered government immigration officials to hold a bond hearing within 30 days to determine whether Iraqi refugee Omar Ameen can be released back to his family in Sacramento pending deportation proceedings. The 10-page order by U.S. District Judge William Orrick requires the government to “provide Ameen a constitutionally sufficient bond hearing — placing the burden of proof on the government to show by clear and convincing evidence that Ameen remains a flight risk or danger to the community — within 30 days of the date of this order.”

Placing the burden on the government is particularly appropriate in Ameen’s case where the government had amassed significant amounts of evidence from the extradition proceedings, and Ameen had been in federal custody since 2018,” the judge wrote. “There was no basis for placing the burden of proof on Ameen in his initial bond hearing.”

Fox News 40, March 29, 2022

Ameen has long been cleared of terrorism charges, but the Iraqi husband and father turned Sacramentan has still been fighting to stay in the U.S. and regain his freedom.

His efforts just took a big step forward in immigration court.

Ameen’s attorneys, Ilyce Shugall and Siobhan Waldron of Immigrant Legal Defense, spoke with Sonseearhay about the legal mountain he still has to climb.

Press Release, March 28, 2022

Ms. Shugall stated, “We are thrilled that the Immigration Judge found what we have been arguing all along—that the government does not have reliable evidence that Mr. Ameen has had any involvement in terrorism. We are also glad she made the right decision to grant him protection so he can remain in the United States safely. We will continue to pursue his immediate release from custody.”

Ms. Waldron noted, “The federal government’s baseless targeting of Mr. Ameen to pursue a political agenda in its War on Terror has always been unacceptable. The Immigration Judge’s findings make it clear that Mr. Ameen’s continued detention in the name of national security is unwarranted and unjustifiable.”