News

In this month’s newsletter, you’ll learn about:

• 2025 Annual Report
• Thank you to small businesses and organizations
• Fight ignorance, not immigrants lawn signs
• 3rd annual New Americans New Beginnings fundraising event
• January and February graduates
• Volunteer attorneys needed 
• Volunteer spotlight

We want to express our gratitude to the businesses and organizations near and far who stepped up during these times of crisis when our immigrant and refugee community needed us the most. Read more about the support we have received from businesses near and far and how you can be part of these efforts here.

PBS News Hour | Minnesota continues to deal with the fallout from the monthslong federal immigration crackdown. Even though the number of agents in the state has dwindled, many immigrants in Minnesota say they remain fearful.

Learn about volunteering for the International Institute of Minnesota in this question and answer series with our dedicated volunteers. Today, meet John, a business lawyer who volunteers as a guest speaker in Business Pathway classes, workshops and at our Small Business resource fair. He also offers consultations to students to help them understand legal implications of different aspects of their businesses.

Spectrum Noticias | El padre de un niño de cinco años detenido por agentes de inmigración en Minnesota niega haber abandonado a su hijo, como asegura el gobierno federal.

One tourism commercial convinced Mimi that Minnesota was where she belonged, so at age 20 with an infant less than one-year-old, she packed her things to head north. Mimi now works as a director at an assisted living facility and has eight children, most of whom are young adults working in the healthcare field or studying to enter it soon.

With her 91-year-old father in the audience, Claudia proudly walked across the stage and accepted her LL.M. (Master of Laws) from Mitchell Hamline School of Law last May. In 2024, Claudia received her green card and now dreams of becoming a citizen in four years. Even at the age of 61, she is always looking ahead.

Coraima added to her list of accomplishments since moving from Ecuador when she officially became a U.S. citizen last October, joining her husband and infant daughter. As she looks ahead to life after school, Coraima plans to spend more time with her daughter.

Christian Science Monitor |The Trump administration is advocating in court for a novel interpretation of U.S. law in order to arrest and detain refugees in Minnesota, challenging decades of bipartisan policy on refugee treatment.