March 28th, 2019
For Immediate Release
Contact: assefash@africans.us, nekessa@undocublack.org
Joint Statement on the Liberian DED lawsuit, African Communities Together v. Trump:
Hearing on preliminary injunction and other updates
Press Releases
African Communities Together Supports
Modernizing New York’s Deceptive Practices Act (GBL § 349)
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Lawyers for Civil Rights jointly filed a lawsuit today challenging President Donald Trump’s termination of humanitarian protection and relief for immigrants from Liberia. The lawsuit, the first of its kind in the country, was filed on behalf of African Communities Together (ACT), the UndocuBlack Network, and fifteen affected individuals, including Liberians raising U.S. citizen children. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
The lawsuit challenges President Trump’s March 27, 2018 decision to terminate Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED), a life-saving immigration program, marshalling evidence of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and/or national origin in violation of the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Have you heard the recording going around African social media from a worker at JFK Airport?
The anonymous worker describes seeing a traveler at the airport having her green card taken away, allegedly for receiving public benefits. Can this really happen?
ACT Executive Director and immigration attorney Amaha Kassa addresses the rumors and explains the legal information you need if you are a green card holder who's preparing to travel.
Please join the members, staff, and Board of African Communities Together at a celebration of 5 years of African immigrants making change!
Featuring African food (heavy appetizers), African music, and African people!
At the historic National Black Theatre in Harlem.
Honorees to be announced.
Purchase tickets online by clicking here.
Since 2016, ACT has been fighting for the thousands of immigrants from Liberia who are in the US under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programs.
Most recently, we helped organize the campaign to extend DED, working with DED holders, the Liberian community, African organizations, and allies from around the country to lobby Congress, rally, and speak out to save this important program.
Today, we learned that the Trump Administration will terminate the program, after a one year transition period.
African Communities Together addresses questions about President Trump's immigration executive orders on an emergency informational call for African communities. Panel includes legal experts from:
- American Civil Liberties Union
- International Refugee Assistance Project
- National Immigration Law Center
- Urban Justice Center
This call also includes upcoming actions and next steps to fight back against the orders, and tips for community members to protect themselves.
PBS NewsHour recently covered New York City's expanded translation of voter registration forms, and highlighted ACT's work on language access for New York's African communities:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/new-york-city-voter-registration-la…