Immigration Resources
The U.S. immigration system has been broken for decades—plagued by backlogs, outdated systems, and worsened by political gamesmanship. Yet, instead of instituting comprehensive immigration reform and humane solutions, our political leaders continue to push cruel mass deportation policies that tear families apart and violate civil liberties that every person living in the US has.
The fight for immigrant justice is more urgent than ever. It’s critical that we stay informed, prepared, and ready to protect one another. Below, you’ll find trusted resources from our partners to help you understand your rights, prepare for potential enforcement actions, and support loved ones facing immigration threats. Together, we can build stronger, more resilient communities that stand against injustice.
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STUDENTS RIGHTS TO AN EDUCATION
The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that the citizenship or immigration status of students, parents, or guardians cannot be used to bar students from public schools (Plyler v. Doe, 1982). Federal, state, and local schools' enrollment policies and practices are required to be consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964's prohibition against discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.
The Trump administration’s recent Executive Orders on immigration enforcement do NOT override the legal responsibilities of schools to protect the safety and well-being of their students, and it does NOT override a school’s legal rights to deny entry to non-public areas in school buildings absent a warrant.
Guidance for Higher Education on Immigrant Student Privacy and FERPA
ACLU Michigan and Michigan Immigrant Rights Center’s letter schools related to legal rights of immigrant students in Michigan schools
BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP
Memo from the Michigan Department of Education on the Responsibility to Educate Children Regardless of Citizenship and Immigration Status
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a multi-state lawsuit on behalf of the
people of Michigan, which asserts that Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship is unconstitutional and a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment begins: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.”
Find out more about the history of birthright citizenship and the U.S. Supreme Court decision that established this clause and changed the course of history for Asian Americans in the United States: Wong Kim Ark v. United States (1898)
ASIAN LAW CAUCUS Know Your Rights: Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Executive Order
TRUSTED PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
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Call (734) 239-6863, press 1 (Monday through Thursday)
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MIRC has offices in Ypsilanti, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Detroit.
Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center
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Call 313-288-9904
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SWIRC has offices in the Southwest and Eastside neighborhoods of Detroit and Pontiac.
American Citizens Immigration Task Force
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Free consultation number 248-309-9967
Michigan United
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Call 1-877-507-7774
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
NAKASEC
Empower yourself with Know Your Rights 4 Immigrants app. Use this app to prepare, learn and respond if you are at risk of being detained by deportation agents.
ACLU of Michigan
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call (313) 578-6800
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Email at aclu@aclumich.org
