Alexandria, VA — In a major win for voting rights and the rule of law, Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, largely denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss in Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) v. Beals. The ruling keeps plaintiffs’ central claims intact and clears the way for discovery.
Press Releases
NEW YORK – Today, on behalf of The Door and African Communities Together, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Make the Road New York (MRNY), and Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP (ECBAWM) filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of New York challenging Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) cruel, unlawful policy that allows ICE agents to arrest people for showing up to court and prevent them from pursuing their immigration cases.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/15/2025
Contact: Assefash Makonnen, 646- 629-7131, assefash@africans.us
65+ AFRICAN BRAIDERS RALLY IN ALBANY FOR EQUITABLE PROFESSIONAL LICENSING FOR NEW YORK STATE BRAIDERS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On May 2, 2025, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a 6-month automatic extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudan. This announcement was made nearly two months after the statutory deadline of March 3, 2025. This limited 6-month extension does not reflect the situation in South Sudan. South Sudan is currently facing multiple crises, including escalating armed conflict, mass displacement, severe drought and climate-related shocks, and critical food insecurity. The State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for South Sudan and begun evacuating non-emergency personnel. These conditions clearly meet the legal criteria and warrant a full extension of TPS. This limited extension only prolongs the uncertainty faced by South Sudanese TPS holders.
ALBANY, NY. – Last week, Assembly Member Pamela J. Hunter (D. 128th A.D.) introduced a bill in the New York State Legislature that would champion much-needed reforms to New York’s natural hair styling license requirements. A.6592 and the previously introduced Senate Bill [S.5438], introduced by Senator Cordell Cleare (D-30), address challenges associated with obtaining a license to braid hair, including language access and burdensome training and testing requirements. The bills are strongly supported by local advocacy organization, African Communities Together (ACT), representing the interests of braiders in New York State.
New York, NY - The members of the Language Justice Collaborative (LJC), namely, New York Immigration Coalition, Asian American Federation, Masa, African Communities Together (ACT), Immigrant ARC, and Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP) released the following joint statement in response to President Trump’s executive order issued on March 1, 2025, declaring English as the language to be used to conduct official, day-to-day business of the United States.
For Immediate Release
February 21, 2025
Contact: Danyeli Rodriguez Del Orbe, Danyeli@undocublack.org
Taisha Saintil, taisha@undocublack.org
Trump Administration Revokes Humanitarian Protections for Haitians, Fueled by Racist Rhetoric Amid Black History Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, African Communities Together along with 62 other organizations issued a letter to the administration urging the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Secretary Kristi Noem to extend and redesignate South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. The current designation is set to expire on May 3, 2025, yet, escalating armed conflict, widespread mass displacement, devastating drought and climate shocks, and severe food insecurity continue to threaten millions of lives.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 17, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT:
e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov
c: 202.913.0126
Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), colleagues, and advocacy groups held a press conference at the Capitol calling for the Biden Administration to protect Black immigrant communities during the lame duck session, with concern about how President-elect Trump’s proposed immigration policies will impact Black communities and families of mixed status.
Over 1,300 advocates from over 550 immigrant and refugee rights organizations at the National Immigrant Inclusion Conference in Houston champion inclusive democracy and vow to protect immigrant communities across the nation