Legal Impact of Executive Orders Related to Immigration

The executive orders signed on January 27, 2017 created many questions and confusion about changes to the country’s immigration policy.  Cleveland Legal Aid continues its work with and for immigrants, refugees and people of all religions to ensure their rights under the law are protected.  The summary below highlights key changes resulting from the recent executive orders:

• There is a temporary suspension for 120 days on refugees entering the United States for resettlement.
• Refugees from Syria are indefinitely barred from entering the country.
• Citizens of seven countries - Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen – cannot enter the country for 90 days.
• The administration has clarified that individuals from the seven affected countries who are lawful permanent residents (LPR) of the United States will be allowed to re-enter the country as long as there is no significant information indicating that they pose a serious threat to public safety and welfare. However, this group may experience difficulties with re-entry.  Therefore, if you are a LPR from one of the seven affected countries, you may want to avoid travel outside the United States until there is more information on how the executive orders are being implemented.

Legal Aid is one resource for those with immigration law problems who reside in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula Counties.  We provide free legal assistance to low income U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and non-citizen victims of crime, including domestic violence and human trafficking, in civil legal matters.

Legal Aid serves clients in any language.  When calling Legal Aid, tell us what language you speak and an interpreter will be provided.  Legal Aid offers specific intake lines in the following languages:

• English: 888-817-3777
• Spanish: 216-586-3190
• Arabic: 216-586-3191
• Mandarin: 216-586-3192
• French: 216-586-3193
• Vietnamese: 216-586-3194
• Russian: 216-586-3195
• Swahili: 216-586-3196

Other organizations that provide immigration law assistance are:

• Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services, 216-939-3769
• American Immigration Lawyers Association, Immigration Lawyer Search, ailalawyer.org
• International Institute of Akron, 330-376-5106
• American Civil Liberties Union, aclu.org, 212-549-2500