Immigration Bulletin

Immigrant and refugee affairs

Para asistencia, llame al 612-673-2700, Yog xav tau kev pab, hu 612-673-2800, Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500

January 6, 2021

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Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) Bulletin

In this bulletin you will find information regarding immigration developments and news on issues that impact immigrant, refugee, and new American communities in the City of Minneapolis.

For questions, comments or community concerns, please contact OIRA Director Michelle Rivero at 612-394-6018 or michelle.rivero@minneapolismn.gov.

Sign up for the OIRA Bulletin here.


Potential impact of New Presidential Administration on Federal Immigration Policy

The Presidential administration that will end on January 20, 2021 has made, and continues to make, significant changes to the United States immigration system. One report, from the Migration Policy Institute, has compiled over 900 changes from the start of the administration in January 2017 through July 2020. Many of these changes have imposed great harm on immigrants, refugees, new Americans and their families.

The incoming Administration of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris has indicated its intent to move forward with a more welcoming immigration policy, and the Biden immigration plan gives reason for optimism.

It will take commitment, perseverance and well-informed effort, not only by the incoming administration, but by people in our communities, to reverse the damage done to our immigration system. A recent report, Blueprint for the Next Administration, put out by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, provides excellent background information on changes that should be made to support our immigrant, refugee and New American Communities.

The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs is committed to the immigrant, refugee and new American communities of the City of Minneapolis. Please contact OIRA for more information as we anticipate and work towards changes that lead to greater strength and inclusion of these communities in our society.


Immigration Updates


Liberian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (LRIF) application period extended to December 20, 2021

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 which was signed into law on December 27, 2020, has a provision extending the 12/2020 deadline for the Liberian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (LRIF), a law that enables certain Liberian citizens present in the United States to obtain permanent resident (green card) status. Applications must now be received by US Citizenship and Immigration Services no later than December 20, 2021. Updated information is available at the USCIS LRIF webpage. Please note that this extension of LRIF does not extend Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberia, which is set to expire on January 10, 2021.

For information on local nonprofit legal service providers offering assistance with LRIF applications, please visit the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Immigration Legal Help page.


EOIR filing fee hike scheduled to take effect on January 19, 2021—litigation anticipated

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has issued a final rule that would raise the fees for applications, appeals and motions in immigration court proceedings. The rule is set to take effect on January 19, 2021. Some of the fee increases include:

  • Form EOIR-26, Notice of Appeal from a Decision of an Immigration Judge, fee increase to $975 (from $110);
  • Form EOIR-29, Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals from a Decision of a DHS Officer, fee increase to $705 (from $110);
  • Form EOIR-40, Application for Suspension of Deportation, fee increase to $305 (from $100);
  • Form EOIR-42A, Application for Cancellation of Removal for Certain Permanent Residents, fee increase to $305 (from $110);
  • Form EOIR-42B, Application for Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status for Certain Nonpermanent Residents, fee increased to $360 (from $100);
  • Fee for a Motion to Reopen before the Board of Immigration Appeals: Fee increase to $895 (from $110).

In late September 2020, imposition of a steep hike in USCIS filing fees was successfully halted by federal court injunction, thus litigation to halt the imposition of this rule relating to EOIR filing fees is anticipated.


New, more difficult US Citizenship test for applicants who file on or after December 1, 2020

US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that a revised naturalization test will be administered to applicants who file for US Citizenship on or after December 1, 2020. The new test doubles the number of questions that an applicant must answer correctly, from 6 out of 10 to 12 out of 20, and has also increased the number of questions an applicant must study, from 100 to 128.  A full list of test questions and answers can be found here. The test questions and answers are also available in Spanish. Advocacy groups have called for a rescission of the test, asserting that the changes will, among other negative impacts, drive up denial rates of naturalization applications.


City of Minneapolis joins lawsuits to protect access to asylum in the United States

In December, the Department of Homeland Security issued a regulation that radically restricts the ability to apply for asylum in the United States. The regulation is scheduled to take effect on January 11.  The City of Minneapolis has joined multijurisdictional efforts in federal court to halt implementation of this rule and protect access to asylum.  A detailed summary of how this rule would significantly restrict the ability to obtain asylum in the United States has been published by local immigration legal service partner, the Advocates for Human Rights.


Temporary Protected Status extensions – El Salvador, Nicaragua, Sudan, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS), for beneficiaries from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, and Sudan and has automatically extended the validity of TPS-related documentation, including work authorization documents, for current TPS beneficiaries from these countries through October 4, 2021. This is an automatic extension from the current expiration date of January 4, 2021. The Federal Register notice explains this extension in greater detail.


President continues labor market based entry restrictions for certain immigrants/nonimmigrants through new Proclamation

On December 31, President Trump issued a proclamation extending Proclamations 10014 and 10052, which suspended the entry of certain immigrants and nonimmigrants into the United States in light of the labor market impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The proclamations have been continued until March 31, 2021. It is worth noting that Presidential Proclamations can be rescinded by new Presidential administrations. A Congressional Research Service report on Executive Orders, Presidential Memoranda, and Proclamations describes this subject in greater detail.


USCIS accepts new DACA applications pursuant to federal court order

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is fully restored thanks to a new federal court decision. While USCIS has indicated that it may consider further legal action, for now, pursuant to this order USCIS is:

  • Accepting first time DACA applications;
  • Accepting DACA renewal requests;
  • Accepting applications for advance parole (travel) documents;
  • Extending one-year grants of DACA to two years; and
  • Extending one-year employment authorization documents under DACA to two years.

The USCIS website was recently updated with information regarding these changes, and applications are being accepted now.

Please consult with a competent legal service provider first before submitting a DACA application. The City of Minneapolis partners with several nonprofit immigration legal service organizations to make sure residents are able to obtain accurate, competent, and free immigration legal information and assistance. For additional questions, please contact the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs

 


City of Minneapolis Updates


December 10: Human Rights Day panel discussion

Human Rights Day 2020 panel discussion still frame

December 10 is recognized as Human Rights Day. On this day in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first agreement among countries around the world recognizing the rights that we all hold as human beings, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.

The City of Minneapolis honored Human Rights Day 2020 by passing a Human Rights Day Resolution and hosting a virtual panel discussion moderated by Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights attorney Abdifatah Mohamed. The panel was co-sponsored by the City of St. Paul and the United Nations Association Minnesota Chapter, and addressed human rights challenges faced here in our communities, from the death of George Floyd to the disproportionate health, economic and social impacts of COVID-19. 

Watch the recording from the Human Rights Day panel here.


December 18: Minneapolis recognizes International Migrants Day 

The Minneapolis City Council approved a resolution declaring Dec. 18 International Migrants Day in Minneapolis. International Migrants Day recognizes the efforts, contributions and human rights of migrants worldwide. It also calls out the difficulties of resettling internationally.

The resolution focuses on a human rights concern affecting migrants in Minnesota: the spread of COVID-19 among people being held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at county jails in Minnesota. Right now at least 20 people in immigration custody have COVID-19 in one Minnesota county jail alone. ICE reports on number of immigration detainees with COVID-19 per detention facility here.   

Watch the council meeting on the City website (navigate to the Dec. 18, 2020, City Council meeting), featuring an expert orientation on this topic.


COVID-19 Information


Culturally specific COVID-19 Hotlines and Resources

The Minnesota Department of Human Services Resettlement Programs Office operates a multilingual hotline with information about the COVID-19 pandemic and additional services. Call 651-318-0989 between 9 am- 5:00pm Monday through Friday. A flyer with this information can be found here.

The organization HACER also operates a Spanish/English COVID-19 hotline at 651-304-6145. More information at https://hacer-mn.org.

For additional culturally specific information, resources and support available to Minnesotans during the pandemic, visit COVID-19 Community Coordinators on the Minnesota Department of Health website. Community Coordinators, which are contracted through the Minnesota Department of Health, are also listed on this page.


Submit your opinion regarding COVID-19 vaccine allocation--Comments due by 5PM on January 7

In September 2020, the State of Minnesota formed the COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group to determine how to distribute initial COVID-19 vaccinations in a fair and equitable way. Members of the public can share their opinions about COVID vaccine allocation here

Comments are due by 5PM on January 7.


Report and Project documenting the impact of COVID-19 on immigrants, refugees and the immigration system

Two recent initiatives document the impact of the Pandemic on immigrants, refugees and the US Immigration system.  The American Immigration Council has issued a report addressing the impact of COVID-19 on immigrant and refugee communities, and on the immigration system. The University of Minnesota’s project entitled “Immigrants in COVID America: Documenting the Impact of COVID-19 on Immigrants and Refugees in the US,” is a living digital collection of “news, reports, perspectives and additional resources documenting the health, economic and social impact of COVID-19 on immigrants and refugees in the United States.”


Where to get immigration help

If you or someone you know needs immigration help, please contact the City of Minneapolis Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, or see this list of trusted nonprofit legal service providers.  Through relationships with immigration legal service partners, the City of Minneapolis demonstrates its commitment to residents, by making sure that residents with immigration questions are connected to safe and trusted providers. 


About the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs

The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) is an office in the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department. For more information, please visit http://www2.minneapolismn.gov/ncr/oira/index.htm, email oira@minneapolimn.gov, or call 612-394-6018.


For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact:

 Michelle Rivero, OIRA Director

Department of Neighborhood and Community Relations

michelle.rivero@minneapolismn.gov or 612-394-6018

Visit our webpage at: minneapolismn.gov/ncr/oira

People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-263-6850.

Para asistencia 612-673-2700, Yog xav tau kev pab, hu 612-673-2800, Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.