Immigration Action Update from the White House

Friends-

This week’s report brings us updates as we head into next week where the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold the first ever Senate hearing on the DREAM Act, recently announced improvements to the Secure Communities, highlighting World Refugee Day and other news.   Please visit www.whitehouse.gov/immigration for the latest news and www.whitehouse.gov/immigrationaction to host a roundtable on fixing our broken continue elevating the conversation in your community.

Please pass this along to your friends and colleagues.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Valencia

First Ever Senate Hearing on the DREAM ACT

Dick Durbin, the United States Senator for Illinois and Assistant Majority leader announced, he will chair the first ever hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security. The hearing will take place on Tuesday 28^th, at 10:00am ET and will be webcast live at www.judiciary.senate.gov.

Improvements to Secure Communities Program

ICE also announces key improvements that are a part of President Obama administration’s continued commitment to smart and effective immigration enforcement. The Secure Communities program – prioritizes removal resources on individuals who are found to be illegally in the country after being arrested for other crimes. For additional information please visit www.ice.gov/secure_communities/.

World Refugee Day Celebration

A statement by President Obama was give on June 20^th, highlighting the plight of 15 million refugees in the world today honoring the courage of men, women and children who have been forcibly displaced and fled from their home countries to escape violence, oppression, abuse, and other forms of persecution. The President statement also indicates the 60^th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees- a landmark achievement of international law that sets forth certain rights of refugees and legal obligations of States relating to refugees. Click here for more of the President’s statement.

One Refugee Officer’s Reflection

A United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) refugee officer, Diana Norman speaks candidly about her day to day conversations with refugees. The article highlights Norman’s struggles of hearing heart wrenching stories from her interviewees but is amazed at the compassion, love and hope that resonates from refugees despite their circumstances. She expresses with confidence that her work has positively impacted her life forever.  For more information on World Refugee Day and USCIS’s work with refugees, please visit our website.

ICE Announces Employment authorization eligibility for certain Libyan students

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is providing relief for F-1 Libyan students who suffered extreme economic hardship as a direct result of civil unrest in their home country since February 2011. This relief effort applies only to students who were lawfully present in the United States on F-1 status as of Feb. 1, 2011, and enrolled in an institution that is certified by ICE’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). To learn more about the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, visit www.ice.gov/sevis/.

The Department of State is partnering in these efforts by announcing a similar program granting special relief for certain Libyan J-1 exchange visitors. More information about this relief effort is available in the Federal Register or the Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange. The armed conflict in Libya has increased the financial burden of many of these students who previously depended on assistance from the Libyan government to maintain basic living expenses. There are approximately 2,000 Libyan F-1 students currently enrolled in schools within the United States and the current conditions in Libya make it impossible for students to return.

Immigrant Integration: Taking the Conversation on the Road

Over the summer, federal officials will be making several stops around the country to gather feedback that will assist us in developing a federal strategy on immigrant integration. Look for us in a city near you:

• Seattle, Washington on July 7^th
• Atlanta, GA on July 13^th
• Houston, Texas on July 26^th
• New York, NY on July 28^th
• Los Angeles, CA on August 5^th
• Detroit, MI on August 10^th

Check out this blog post for more information on this immigrant integration initiative and if you are doing innovative work in your community and want to share it with us, please email Immigration@who.eop.gov

Stephanie Valencia Ramirez
Associate Director
White House | Office of Public Engagement

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