This won’t make us safer. It will only tear us apart.
This week, Nebraska leaders said they’re turning a work ethic camp in McCook — about an hour drive south of North Platte — into an…
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An important win: Two of our neighbors are home.
Yesterday at 4 a.m., two mothers awoke in a detention center in North Platte to travel to a courtroom in Omaha. They had already been…
Inside the strategy to deny immigrants their rights
More than two dozen of the workers detained in the Glenn Valley Foods raid in June remain in detention, even after immigration judges have determined…
Social work after the Glenn Valley Foods raid
After the raid of Glenn Valley Foods in June, we didn’t know what the ripple effect would be for families of loved ones who were…
Voices from the front: Q&A with Stacy Marquez
Stacy Marquez coordinates the Nebraska Immigration Legal Assistance Hotline. Everyday, she and her team are often the first people immigrants talk to when they’re scared…
DHS declares some immigrants ineligible for bond
Families and communities raised the money for bond, but many of the workers swept up in the Glenn Valley raid are still being held in…
The federal budget bill and its consequences
Last week, Congress passed a sweeping federal budget bill but, for immigrant families, it amounts to a blank check for more jails and enforcement agents.
One worker home, dozens more waiting
On June 10, nearly 80 of our neighbors were rounded up in a massive immigration raid at Glenn Valley Foods in South Omaha. Many of…
Update: Birthright citizenship
The promise of birthright citizenship has protected millions of families for nearly 160 years. Last week, the Supreme Court made it easier to attack that…
June 10 raid was a wake-up call for immigration reform
Nebraska statewide partners across sectors call on Congress for overhaul.
June 17 update: Legal aid and social work
Over the weekend, our legal team was on site at a detention center four hours from Omaha, meeting one-on-one with the workers who were arrested…
June 12 update: ICE raids in Omaha
On Tuesday, June 10, we saw the largest ICE raid in years right here in Omaha. Nearly 100 people were arrested at work and 74…
June 11 update: ICE raids in Omaha
Yesterday, Nebraskans saw the largest ICE raid in years right here in Omaha. Nearly 100 people were arrested at work and as of this morning,…
Business Owners and Managers: Know Your Rights at Work
The constitution of the United States protects business owners and managers against unlawful entry by immigration officers, or ICE. If an immigration officer is attempting…
ICE raids in Omaha: What you need to know.
This morning, June 10, 2025, immigration raids were reported across south Omaha at several large food processing and packaging facilities. Eyewitnesses described people being zip-tied,…
Voices from the front: Q&A with Veronica Amaya
Veronica Amaya is often the first person a client opens up to. Over her eight years with the organization, the lead legal assistant has helped…
Voices from the Front: Q&A with Marcos Fregoso
Marcos Fregoso is a CIRA social worker based in Grand Island, Nebraska. He travels to rural communities to support unaccompanied minors and families, connecting them…
Expanded Use of Expedited Removal
The Trump administration has expanded its use of “expedited removal”, a process that allows the government to quickly deport certain undocumented individuals without the chance…
Take Action: H.R.29/S.5, Laken Riley Act
H.R.29/S.5, known as the Laken Riley Act, which has passed in the House and advanced in the Senate, would “flip our system of constitutional governance…
Biden Administration announced the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela
The Biden Administration announced the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela for an additional 18-month…
Omaha.com | Midlands Voices: Nebraskans live in fear of being forced back to countries they escaped
From Scottsbluff to South Sioux City, thousands of Nebraskans are living in fear of being forced back to the countries they once escaped. These aren’t…
The Promise of Our Support
Between now and January 20, the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) will help resettle 350 refugees hoping for a new life in Nebraska.…
A Story of Hope
When we first met Sara, she was living in fear that she’d be forced to leave her small Nebraska town. Like many of our immigrant…
Omaha.com | Omaha refugee agencies hurry to resettle people before Trump takes office
The welcoming was a variation of a scene that’s been happening often at Eppley lately. Local resettlement agencies in Omaha are hurrying to take in…
5 Facts: A simple guide for a complex issue
At Thanksgiving tables across America this week, talk may turn to immigration. You may hear heated rhetoric about “invasions” and calls for mass deportation. We've…
Ready to Protect Nebraska Families
Every day in immigration courts in Nebraska and across the region, immigrants and refugees have less than 4 minutes to introduce their story. That’s how…
Nebraska advocacy groups brace for Donald Trump’s deportation promise
President-elect Donald Trump has long promised a crackdown on illegal immigration, including the largest mass deportation operation in the country’shistory. On Sunday, he said he…
Scottsbluff Holds First Naturalization Ceremony for Panhandle’s Newest Americans
For many new Americans, the journey to becoming a U.S. citizen is long. Immigrants seeking naturalization must complete lengthy applications, sit for an interview with…
Food Truck World Tour 2024
Food Truck World Tour is more than a celebration of our immigrant and refugee communities; it is a vital source of funding for our agency’s…
Legal Services Team Launches Friend of the Court Program
Immigration courts don’t guarantee the right to counsel for noncitizens, even minors. In 2023, only 56% of unaccompanied minors in immigration courts had legal representation,…
Celebrating our Employment Partners
Our Employment team works with clients one-on-one to search for opportunities that fit their skill set, practice interview questions, and help with transportation to and…
Nebraska Immigration and Workforce Summit Highlights Significant Workforce Shortage
Over 220 attendees from across the state gained valuable insights into fostering inclusive workplaces and a Nebraska community.
Introducing CIRA: A New Chapter for ILC+REC
In 2022, Immigrant Legal Center and Refugee Empowerment Center merged. After many meetings, feedback sessions, research, reflection, and effort, we’re excited to announce that our…
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