34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway Hosts 6th Free Legal Clinic to Assist New Arrivals (Chicago, IL) — Following five successful legal clinics to help new arrivals apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Employment Authorization, 34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway again joined forces with the Chicago Federation of Labor, local labor unions, and colleagues on Saturday to continue and expand the critical effort to provide a direct pathway to employment and job training.

Partners included the Chicago Federation of Labor, Unite Here Local 1, AFL-CIO, IUOE Local 399, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Laborers’ Local One, SEIU Local 1, SEIU State Council, SEIU Local 73, SEIU HCII, LIUNA Local 1, Jobs with Justice, Alderman Andre Vasquez, and 1st District Police Councilwoman Jamie Brown.

With support from hundreds of volunteers, this coalition helped complete hundreds of applications for new arrivals applying for work authorization and temporary protected status over the past three clinics.

“I’m so proud of the six successful legal aid clinics our team has organized to help new arrivals in our community,” said 34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway. “Working with the Chicago Federation of Labor expanded our impact to put people on a path toward work authorization and employment, and I’m grateful for their partnership.”

“Every worker deserves a path to dignified work. We welcome asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants into our movement. The only way to stop the race to the bottom on wages and safety is to band together and ensure every worker is empowered on the job,”said Bob Reiter, President of the Chicago Federation of Labor. “We are proud to partner with a coalition of unions and community partners to assist asylum seekers through this important step on their journey to making Chicago home.”

USCIS announced that nationals of certain countries, including Venezuela, who arrived by July 31, 2023 would be eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

TPS allows an applicant to stay in the United States for a set amount of time and apply for a work authorization. TPS eligibility also requires that the individual has not left the country since their date of entry, are not inadmissible under immigration law, and have not been charged with a serious crime.

This was the sixth free legal clinic hosted by Alderman Bill Conway. This effort began October 14 at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) to support residents of the Parthenon Guest House shelter in Greektown. Additional clinics were held in the Loop on November 11 and December 9, and with the Chicago Federation of Labor on January 27, March 9, and May 11.

Saturday’s clinic was provided at no cost to taxpayers or new arrivals. It is a first step in assisting migrants on the path to employment and with future job training and career fairs hosted by the Chicago Federation of Labor.

34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway Hosts 6th Free Legal Clinic to Assist New Arrivals

Related Articles

Responses