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.
(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.”
(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.
(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.
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
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?
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.