National Immigration Law Center

Securing immigrant access to health and economic supports: one of nilc's longstanding program priorities focuses on defending and increasing immigrants' access to health care, safety net, and economic support programs regardless of status. Over the last year, this included advocating for removing the five-year waiting period many lawful permanent residents (i.e., immigrants with "green cards") are currently forced to endure before being allowed to apply for health and public benefit programs available to others with lawful status. During the transition to the biden administration, nilc convened a working group of other partner organizations to promote a wide range of policy solutions to expand and protect immigrants' access to health care. Nilc continued to work with protecting immigrant families (pif) coalition partners and other allies to challenge the ongoing impact of various trump administration-era public charge initiatives, racialized "wealth tests" designed to restrict immigrants' ability to adjust their Immigration status and get on a path to citizenship if they use safety-net programs. Finally, nilc staff provided strategic advice, guidance, and other support to key state-based partner organizations seeking to advance policies to provide health care for all state residents without immigration-related restrictions.

Advancing workers' rights: defending and expanding the rights of low-wage immigrant workers remains an essential program area for nilc. Over the last year, nilc played a leading role in submitting recommendations to the department of homeland security and the department of labor on the shape and scope of long-sought paradigm-shifting changes to the government's worksite enforcement policies to ensure employers are held accountable for protecting immigrant workers' rights and strengthening labor standards. The goal has been to clarify an affirmative process by which immigrant workers involved in labor disputes can fight for their rights on the job without fear that their employers will use their Immigration status to retaliate against them and report them to Immigration authorities. While awaiting the formal policy change, nilc supported allies in several states that brought test cases to provide a basis for ensuring a clear and efficient "deferred action" process. Nilc also represented two workers affected by a january 2021 nitrogen gas leak at a Georgia poultry plant that killed six people in january 2021, supporting the workers in their requests to be allowed to remain and work in the country while the case concerning the gas leak moves forward.

Promoting immigrants' access to status : another core program area for nilc involves ensuring that as many low-income immigrants as possible gain protection from deportation and viable paths to citizenship or lawful Immigration status. Over the last year, this included advocating that a pathway to citizenship be included as part of the build back better act, and engaging in rapid response efforts throughout congressional negotiations to highlight the dangers of numerous anti-immigrant amendments that were filed and voted on. Once those congressional negotiations stalled, nilc used advocacy, litigation, and communications/narrative change strategies to defend and fortify the deferred action for childhood arrivals (daca) program, a crucial lifeline for immigrant youth who have grown up in the u.s. The only country they call home. Nilc continued working in close partnership with allies to advocate for permanent protection from deportation for daca recipients, daca-eligible people, and other undocumented immigrant youth.

In addition to its core program priorities, nilc focused on other program initiatives geared toward advancing the goals outlined in its strategic framework for transformational change. This included: challenging unjust laws and promoting systemic policy solutions that make it possible for low-income immigrants and their loved ones to more fully participate in our country's society, economy, and democracy; using movement-building strategies to help build a healthier and more powerful immigrant justice movement that can collectively advance transformational change; and advancing narrative and culture change to mobilize public support for a more inclusive and equitable society.