News and Updates

November 2016

DACA

 Initial DACA applications. For those who have not yet applied for DACA, the processing of those applications is taking long enough now that they would likely not be adjudicated until after January 2017, and it is possible the DACA program will not exist by then. Therefore, at this point potential applicants’ efforts to assemble an initial DACA application and pay the filing fees (which go up in December 2016) may result in no benefit and expose them to DHS.

 DACA renewals. It is unknown whether the next Administration will terminate existing DACA grants or instead not allow DACA recipients to renew. Those who have already received DACA are known by the government. Therefore, renewing DACA does not carry a new risk. In fact, renewing DACA may mean a DACA recipient can have a work permit until it expires one to two years into the next Administration. One risk, however, is again that the renewal might not be adjudicated before Trump becomes President, and the effort and money to renew will be for nothing. People who file to renew soon may be successful, as DACA renewals are currently being processed in 8 weeks with USCIS' upgraded system. The cost may be offset by loans and other funding available through Mission Asset Fund, the Mexican Consulate, some DACA collaboratives and/or other programs.

 Advance parole. At this point, advance parole may be a little bit harder to get, because processing time is three months or more, which would put approvals (even if filed today) and subsequent travel in February 2017. Emergency advance parole requests, however, may still be useful in helping people travel and subsequently adjust status under 245(a).

President-elect Donald Trump pledged to end DACA when he becomes President. Trump will not be President until he is inaugurated on January 20, 2017. Until that time, DACA will remain in place and USCIS will continue to process both initial and renewal DACA requests.

The risk. Those who receive or apply for DACA will not necessarily be targeted for deportation. Administrative programs like this have never been used for wholesale deportation in the past. It would be extremely costly for the government to try to deport all 700K+ DACA recipients. However, Trump is more unpredictable than past presidents, so we do not really know what to expect.

What the Future Holds

We do not expect expanded DACA or DAPA to make it through the courts. 

What Immigrants Can Do Now

•   The ILRC has a comprehensive client intake form to assist practitioners in screening. It can be found online at https://www.ilrc.org/screening-immigration-relief-client-intake-form-and-notes.

•   The Immigration Advocates Network maintains a national directory of more than 950 free or low- cost nonprofit immigration legal services providers in all 50 states. It can be found online at https://www.immigrationlawhelp.org.

•   Community members should be warned of fraudulent service provider schemes and educated about how to seek competent immigration help.

  https://www.ilrc.org/anti-fraud-flyers. 

• People should know their rights when in contact with an immigration agency.

 The ILRC has created Red Cards to help both citizens and noncitizens defend themselves against constitutional violations during ICE raids. These cards provide citizens and noncitizens with information about how to assert their constitution rights and an explanation for ICE agents that the individuals are indeed asserting their constitutional rights. Go https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards for more information and contact us at redcards@ilrc.org to order. The ILRC also has information about raids and immigrants’ rights available online at https://www.ilrc.org/community-resources.

If filing to renew DACA, applicants need to be aware that the filing fee increases to $495 on December 23, 2016.

 The Mission Asset Fund (http://missionassetfund.org/lending-circles-for-dreamers/), Self-Help Federal Credit Union (http://www.self-helpfcu.org/personal/loans/immigration-loans), the Mexican Consulate or local DACA service providers may have information about loans or grants to help with the filing fees. 

Preparing Undergraduate Men of Color for Doctoral Study in the RISE Fields

We invite Native American, Black, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander undergraduate men who are presently in their junior year to apply for participation in our Grad Prep Academy, a project that prepares scholars for doctoral study and research-related careers in the five RISE fields: education, health, human services and social policy, juvenile and criminal justice, and workforce development.

http://risebmoc.org/grad-prep

2016 NLPA Biennial Conferencia

Latina/o Psychology: Advocating for social     justice, liberation, & equality for our familias

September 29 - October 2, 2016

Orlando World Center Marriott
Orlando, Florida

The National Latina/o Psychological Association (NLPA) is a national organization of mental health professionals, academics, researchers, and students whose objective is to generate and advance psychological knowledge and foster its effective application for the benefit of Latinas/os.

NLPA's membership represents a rich diversity of national background, ethnicity, cultural origin, religious tradition, and political ideology. We work in a wide range of professional and academic settings. 

The theme and logo of our conference want to inspire and mobilize our participants to advocate for all Latinas/os through a social justice and liberation psychology lens. We seek to inform and provide tools to address the needs of our Latina/o individuals, families, and communities. 

For more information:

http://www.nlpaconference.org/

Illinois Governor Rauner recently cut “Meals on Wheels” for seniors and at-risk youth services. Chicago residents were hit with a nearly 13% property tax increase. Some Chicago public schools could face 2017 cutbacks of an incredible 20 percent.

For entire article click on the link below
http://www.nationofchange.org/2016/08/21/escalating-war-low-income-families/

BREAKING NEWS: The online form to fill out a witness slip is up and running! http://tinyurl.com/gn5lvnm

Please sign up in favor of the bill! It takes less than 2 minutes. This is a perfect way to show support for the Student ACCESS Bill for those who cannot lobby in person on April 5th in Springfield. Sign up and then share the link with your networks! The goal is to flood the committee with witness slips of support for the IL Student ACCESS Bill!

‪#‎ACCESSIL‬

Here is how in less than 2 minutes:

1.) Click on URGENT: SIGN WITNESS SLIP NOW!

2.) I. Fill out your personal information 
(for Firm/Business or Agency AND Title you can write NA)
3.) II. myself or organization/business/school
4.) III. Click - Proponent
5.) IV. Click - Record of Appearance Only

The MINDS in AG program proposes a strategy to train the next generation of scientists to integrate data science and agricultural and biological sciences to address complex societal challenges.  Fellowships in the amount of $18,500 per year are awarded for the 2 years of the duration of the master's program. Faculty mentors are committed to supplement the fellowship to the level of 50% R.A.

 

Deadlines: Applications will be considered on a continuous basis until all fellowships are awarded. 

Eligibility: Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national.
• Fellowships are conditional on applicants being admitted into the master's graduate program within the department(s) of Crop Sciences or Animal Sciences.
• Applicant must have fewer than 2 semesters completed in graduate coursework.
• Identify at least 1 faculty mentor and a thesis research project relevant to the MINDS in AG areas of study.

 

Students from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Please prepare to submit the following documents during your application:

• Resume
• Personal statement of goals, research, educational accomplishments, and career objectives relevant to the MINDS in AG Program
• Names and contact information of two references
• Academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
• Summary of proposed research and name of proposed faculty mentor(s). Can be submitted at a later date.

 

Application Link: https://uiuc.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2bpc0T226VtQwWV

 

Free FAFSA Completion Workshop

Are you looking for scholarships, grants, student loans or on-campus job opportunities? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA) is the first step in the financial aid process. Join us for a hands-on FAFSA completion workshop.

* Bring a copy of your family’s most recent tax forms.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

10 a.m. –12 p.m.

La Casa Resource Center

1815S. Paulina Street

Chicago, IL 60608

Free parking available behind the church

COST:  $0, Nada

MOREMaríaBucio, Director of La Casa

INFORMATIONe-mail: lacasa@resurrectionproject.org

Ph (312) 880-1889

www.lacasastudenthousing.org

Deadline February 19, 2016

2016 Conference Call for Posters

We would like to extend an invitation to students from Illinois colleges and universities to participate in the 2016 Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) Emerging Scholars Poster presentation.  This cross-disciplinary forum was created to showcase the scholarly work of undergraduate and graduate Latino students from Illinois colleges and universities.  We welcome presentations across disciplines.  Proposals should address this year's conference theme in any of the three conference tracks mentioned below. However, you can and are encouraged to submit other proposals outside the scope of these tracks as long as it addresses the conference theme: Reshaping Latino Access to Higher Education: Realities, Challenges, and Opportunities.  

2016 Conference Call for Presentations

We would like to extend an invitation to ILACHE members and non-members from Illinois colleges and universities to participate in the ILACHE 24^th Annual Professional and Student Development Conference.  We welcome presentations across disciplines.  Proposals should address this year's conference theme in any of the three conference tracks mentioned below. However, you can and are encouraged to submit other proposals outside the scope of these tracks as long as it addresses the conference theme: Reshaping Latino Access to Higher Education: Realities, Challenges, and Opportunities.

You are on your way to earning a Ph.D. from a major research university. Your professors work at a major research university. Your placement director works at a major research university. But when the time comes for you to enter the job market, many of the available positions will not be at major research universities. Among the various other institutions of higher learning where you might be applying for jobs are selective liberal arts colleges, or SLACs. Here's what you should know.

Read more - 

https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2015/10/23/advice-getting-job-selective-liberal-arts-college-essay