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Helping Young Adults Reach American Dream
A UMNS Report
By Kathy L. Gilbert and Jan Snider*
3:00 P.M. ET September 26, 2012
Many young adults have spent long summer Saturdays in church getting free legal advice and encouragement in the quest of their dreams to one day become U.S. citizens.
In June, President Obama opened the doors for young adults, ages 15 to 30, who are not U.S. citizens but have lived in the United States most of their lives to get a temporary reprieve from the fear of being deported while they are in school or serving in the military.
United Methodist churches, as well as other faiths, are holding free clinics for these young adults — called DREAMers in reference to the DREAM Act or the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act that was first introduced in Congress in 2001. The legislation would give young people who meet specific conditions a path to citizenship. (more…)
An Apology for Juana Villegas
On July 3, 2008, a 9-months-pregnant mother named Juana Villegas was pulled over by the Berry Hill Police in Nashville, Tennessee. Two days later, Juana found herself shackled during labor and denied a breast pump while she was in the custody of the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Daron Hall. Her shackling was a direct result of Hall’s 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In April of this year, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee said this treatment was illegal and unconstitutional, and just last week, a federal jury awarded her $200,000 in damages.
The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition has put together a petition asking for Sheriff Hall to offer an apology to Juana. Click here for more information.
Jasmine’s Story to Premiere Thursday, May 12
TnJFON supporters are cordially invited to attend the screening of a documentary short entitled “Jasmine’s Story.” Produced by TnJFON board member Jan Snider, the video features the story of a Michigan teenager left behind when her parents were deported and the extraordinary response by the local faith community. The video is part of the Women’s Work Showcase and Celebration, sponsored by the Tennessee Women’s Theater Project. Tickets for the evening are $ 5.00 and include a variety of artistic works by local women. “Jasmine’s Story” screens Thursday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m., at the Looby Theater, 2301 Rosa Parks Blvd. For more information: 615-681-7220 or twtp.org.
A flyer for the event can accessed at this link: http://www.twtp.org/WW2011-flier.pdf
JFON Tennessee Featured on hernashville
JFON of Tennessee was recently featured in hernashville magazine. Click here to read the article online.
JFON Attorney Featured in Vandy Law Magazine
JFON staff attorney Adrienne Schlichtemeir was recently featured by the Vanderbilt Lawyer Magazine. Click here to see what they had to say…
