In June 1856, after unilaterally dissolving a wartime government, a young man boasted to all of Nicaraguan society that he was their newly-minted emperor and president. He was not a politician or military leader from Nicaragua, or even any Central American nation. He was, in fact, a Nashville, Tennessee blue blood…
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TNJFON staff continues to advocate for the Afghan Adjustment Act in meetings with legislators and presentations to the community. For the representatives in Congress, this is simply another bargaining chip and talking point, but for Afghan evacuees, it’s their lives. We owe it to our new neighbors to do the right thing.
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In June 2022, Metro Council voted to invest $1.8m+ in immigration legal services over two years, with $630,544 going to TNJFON. Three quarters in, here’s a look at the impact this generous grant has had on our work…
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Last Tuesday, the Biden administration released a notice of proposed rulemaking detailing new immigration regulations that amount to an asylum ban at the US-Mexico border. While the Biden administration has attempted to distinguish its asylum ban from Trump’s policies, it still has the same effect: denying asylum seekers lifesaving protection in the United States. Right now, the asylum ban is still a proposal. We have just 30 days to submit public comments urging the administration to reverse course.
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As we close out Black history month with a discriminatory asylum ban on the horizon, it’s time for the immigration justice movement to bring an intentional focus to racial justice. For Black immigrants, the criminalization of Blackness and the criminalization of immigration intersect with dire consequences.
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We are proud to announce that TNJFON has been approved as a founding Nashville Living Wage Employer! Nashville Living Wage was founded in 2021 to educate the community about the urgency of providing a living wage to all workers, and certifies local businesses and organizations that pay all employees at least a survival wage.
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Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors exists in a complex world, where economic, cultural, legal, and security interests create both opportunities and barriers for immigrants attempting to access legal assistance. The political climate of a particular state can have a life-changing impact on the ability of the national JFON network to help others. Each JFON affiliate participates in a variety of advocacy efforts, accounting for political context that may impact the success of their work.
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On Wednesday, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a lower court’s July 2021 decision that the DACA program is unlawful. Current DACA grants remain valid, and DACA recipients may continue to renew their status pending the lower court’s decision. Despite the temporary reprieve, the outlook for the DACA program is grim. The Fifth Circuit’s decision underscores the need for legislation creating a permanent solution for Dreamers, including the many DACA recipients we serve here at TNJFON.
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