Author: CAIR-Ohio

CAIR-Columbus Director Appointed to New American Advisory Council

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date March 10, 2017

3/10/17 – CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Jennifer Nimer, was appointed this week to the City of Columbus’ New American Advisory Council (“NAAC”).

The NAAC consists of representatives for various elected officials along with representatives of community organizations that represent refugees and immigrants. It was first convened last year by now-Commissioner Kevin Boyce to discuss ways that the city and state could help the newest Americans in our community to integrate into our broader society.

Since the presidential election, the NAAC has been meeting weekly in order to discuss issues affecting local new Americans and to discuss ways to promote the image of immigrants and refugees in Ohio. The Council is planning a large symposium in May that will be open to the public and will highlight the positive contributions of refugees and immigrants to our local Ohio communities.

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CAIR-Columbus & Local Clergy Denounce Trump’s New Executive Order (Video)

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date March 8, 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio — On Thursday, March 7th, a prominent group of interfaith clergy and community leaders gathered at Trinity Episcopal Church to condemn President Trump’s executive order banning the entry of immigrants and visitors from Muslim-majority countries, as well as refugees.

Clergy and community leaders called on President Trump to immediately repeal this executive order and protect religious freedom. Our nation was founded to be a beacon of hope and freedom for people fleeing violence and persecution.

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CAIR-Columbus Director Speaks at International Women’s Day Event

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date March 7, 2017

CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Jennifer Nimer, was one of three panelists to speak at the International Women’s Day event at the Ohio Statehouse on March 6, 2017. The panelists discussed the contributions their organizations are making to advancing immigrant women’s rights in central Ohio.

Nimer said that CAIR has consistently been the leading Muslim organization in promoting women in leadership roles. She pointed out that nationwide CAIR has many female Executive Directors, lawyers, and board members, including the current chair of the CAIR National Board.

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CAIR-Columbus Speaks at Islamophobia Roundtable Hosted by City Council

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date March 6, 2017

Columbus City Council is continuing to fight against hate speech and discrimination.

On Monday, March 6, from 5-7pm at the Abubakar Assidiq Islamic Center, Columbus City Council held a roundtable discussion regarding the proliferation in hateful Islamophobic rhetoric and violence across the country.

A panel of interfaith leaders and representatives helped facilitate the conversation, including CAIR-Columbus Legal Director Romin Iqbal. Mr. Iqbal also gave a report on the state of Islamophobia and status of other marginalized groups in America before the start of the panel discussion.

Tags columbus city council

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Important Information About the “Muslim Ban”

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date January 28, 2017

Like you, we only recently received the final, signed copies of President Trump’s Executive Orders targeting Muslims and refugees. And like you, we are appalled at these attempts to erode our American values by targeting individuals based on race, religion, and national origin.

A complete analysis will take time, but we continue to hear from many of you, worried about what this means for your families and friends. Accordingly, we wanted to reach out and offer some preliminary guidance. We will send out more details as they become clear.

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CAIR-Columbus to Hold News Conference on President Trump’s “Muslim Ban” Executive Order

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date January 26, 2017

(Columbus, OH, 1/25/17) – On Thursday, January 26, the Council on American-Islamic-Relations, Columbus chapter, an office of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, will hold a news conference with other non-profit, refugee rights groups, civic & faith leaders to offer reactions to recent and upcoming executive orders signed by President Donald Trump.

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CAIR-Columbus to Present at CBA Program: Modern Day Hate

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date January 24, 2017

CAIR-Columbus Attorneys Jennifer Nimer and Romin Iqbal will be among the presenters at the Columbus Bar Association 5th Annual MLK, Jr. Memorial Symposium on January 27. The morning session is entitled Modern Day Hate, and will cover the Muslim-American experience in present day U.S.

The 5th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Symposium will be split into two sessions – morning and afternoon. Both of the sessions open to attorneys or non-attorneys, but space is limited so register in advance.

Full program and registration link

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Join our 100 Days of Action Campaign!

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date January 23, 2017

The Women’s March on Washington was an amazing and powerful moment in history, but we have to make sure we don’t let that momentum die. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work! Tomorrow we will be launching our CAIR-Ohio 100 Days of Action campaign. Every day for the first #100days of the new administration we will post new action items that we can all take part in so that we stay engaged and empowered. Visit our CAIR-OHIO 100 Days of Action website for daily action alerts at www.cairohiofirst100.com.

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CAIR-Columbus Asylum Project Volunteer Attorney Training

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date January 23, 2017

On Thursday, February 9, the Columbus Chapter of CAIR-Ohio will host a training for volunteer attorneys who are interested in participating in the CAIR-Columbus Asylum Project. The project will consist of preparing and filing free asylum applications for Syrian refugees.

Training will be provided by CAIR National Litigation Director, Lena Masri, who successfully ran a Syrian Refugee Asylum Project through her former position as Legal Director for CAIR-Michigan.

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CAIR-Columbus Files Suit Against U.S. Consulate Over ‘Extreme Visa Delay’

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date January 20, 2017

Visa stamp travel passport immigration macro emigration

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 1/19/17) – The Columbus, Ohio, chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Columbus) announced today the filing of a federal lawsuit against the US Consulate in Jerusalem for unreasonably delaying an immigrant visa for a Palestinian-Muslim applicant for almost nine years.

The plaintiff, Ahmad Abughalia, applied for an immigrant visa in 2007 based on his marriage to a United States citizen. He was interviewed by consular officers in Jerusalem in 2008 and again in early 2014, but to date the consulate has refused to adjudicate his application stating that it is still in “administrative processing.”

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CAIR-Columbus Welcomes BMV Reversal of CDL Cancellations

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date January 20, 2017

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 1/20/17) – The Columbus, Ohio, chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Columbus) today welcomed a decision of the Ohio BMV not to revoke the commercial driver’s licenses of over 500 Ohio immigrants.

The issue began in mid-December when the BMV sent letters stating that CDL licenses would be revoked within 30 days if the holder could not provide proof of a green card or US citizenship – causing widespread panic among immigrant commercial truck drivers who currently have pending green card applications. Ohio law previously only required proof of “legal presence” which would include proof of a work authorization or proof of filing of various types of immigration applications.

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CAIR-Columbus Welcomes Ohio BMV Reversal of Immigrants’ License Cancellations

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date January 20, 2017

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 1/20/17) – The Columbus, Ohio, chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Columbus) today welcomed a decision by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) not to revoke the commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) of more than 500 Ohio immigrants.

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Media Interview: Local Muslims dealing with fear, misunderstanding

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date December 27, 2016

CAIR-Columbus Director Jennifer Nimer along with other local Muslim women were interviewed by Kurt Ludlow of Channel 6 today in the CAIR-Columbus office. The interview focused on fears of the Muslim community going into a Trump administration and also on the positive contribution Muslims are making in our local communities, with a focus on the CAIR-Columbus monthly Feeding Families initiative.

Video Link: http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/local-muslim-women

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CAIR-Columbus $50,000 Donation Matching Challenge

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date December 23, 2016

Thanks to a very generous donor, EVERY donation to CAIR-Columbus between now and March 1 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000!

Can we count on you to be a CAIR-Columbus Champion of Justice and help us reach our goal of turning $50,000 into $100,000 by making a year end pledge today?

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CAIR-Columbus Seeks Volunteer Attorneys

Post author By CAIR-Ohio
Post date December 22, 2016

In preparation for the next four years, the Columbus Chapter of CAIR-Ohio (CAIR-Columbus) is creating a list of volunteer attorneys who are willing to assist the current legal team with Muslim civil rights cases. Informational meetings will be held in the CAIR-Columbus office in January. Interested attorneys can sign up for the volunteer list and an info session here.