advocacy

Advancing Justice - AAJC, Advancing Justice - ALC, Advancing Justice - Chicago, and Advancing Justice - Los Angeles stand in solidarity with Black communities across the country demanding justice for Black lives on the National Day of Mourning for the family of George Floyd and the many other Black American families who have suffered the loss of a loved one due to a culture of systemic violence.

As community members face uncertain times, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice-LA) is here to be a community resource. As Californians practice social distancing and other preventative measures while observing the state-wide Safer At Home order, Advancing Justice-LA can still be reached by phone and direct services are still available.

Today, on February 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) final public charge rule will go into effect nationwide. The new DHS rule made sweeping changes to the previous "public charge" test and will disproportionately block lower-income immigrants of color from obtaining lawful permanent residency, getting a green card. The expanded public charge rule also will make it harder for immigrant workers and international foreign students from extending or changing their visas and undermine the ability of green card holders to re-enter the U.S. if they have spent more than six months abroad.

During the worst refugee crisis in history, the Trump administration is intentionally dismantling the life-saving and bipartisan refugee admissions program. The United States is projected to admit less than half of the number of refugees allowed under the current cap of 45,000 (19,899 refugees as of the end of August, projected to reach a high of 21,708 by the end of the fiscal year on September 30). Now the Trump Administration calls to drastically cut the FY2019 refugee cap to 30,000—only to slam the door on more refugees and asylum seekers who are desperately fleeing violence and terror in their home countries.