News
Here you can read the latest press from all of our Projects, and find out about the tremendous work we’re doing every day.
Each of these stories represents lives changed for the better, and we are so proud of our staff for their dedication to the people they serve.
UJC AND CLEARY GOTTLIEB FOIA LITIGATION OBTAINS DOCUMENTS ON USCIS BLANK SPACES POLICY
Today, the Urban Justice Center’s Domestic Violence Project (DVP) released internal U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) records revealing the rushed implementation and devastating impact of USCIS’s “no-blanks” policy, which purports to empower USCIS to reject U-visa petitions, among other immigration applications, solely because they contain blank answer fields.... Over the past nine months, USCIS has utilized the no-blanks policy to reject properly-filed U-visa petitions for trivial and nonsensical reasons, such as when the “middle name” field in a U-visa petition is left blank because the crime victim has no middle name.
Street Vendors Call On City To Lift Cap On Permits
Brooklyn Paper
According to Mohamed Attia from the Urban Justice Center, as many as 20,000 people may be selling food and other goods in the streets of the five boroughs — legally or illegally. “The city has failed in regulating street vending. The city has failed in supporting street vendors, the most marginalized small businesses in our city didn’t get any support before COVID, during COVID or after COVID,” Attia said.
Tapped-Out Tenants Take Charge as Landlords Pursue End Runs Around Eviction Moratorium
The City
Harassment “has really heightened throughout the pandemic since the court system has not been an avenue that has been accessible,” said Marika Dias, tenant attorney and director of the Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center.Street vendors march from Brooklyn to Manhattan calling for end of NYC permit cap
AM NY
According to Mohamed Attia from the Urban Justice Center, while vendor permits are capped at 4,000, there could be as many as 20,000 people selling food and other goods in the streets of the five boroughs. “The city has failed in regulating street vending, the city has failed in supporting street vendors, the most marginalized small businesses in our city didn’t get any support before COVID, during COVID or after COVID,” Attia said. “Intro. 1116 will be the first step in the right direction… It is only one step in a very long road.”Tapped-Out Tenants Take Charge as Landlords Pursue End Runs Around Eviction Moratorium
The City NYC
Harassment “has really heightened throughout the pandemic since the court system has not been an avenue that has been accessible,” said Marika Dias, tenant attorney and director of the Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center. “There are without a doubt landlords who are trying to find other pathways that are less costly and fit with their business plans.”
Ohio Anti-Trafficking Operation Harms Sex Workers
The Sex Workers Project at the Urban Justice Center condemns the arrest and detainment of sex workers, including individuals potentially experiencing trafficking, as part of Operation Autumn Hope.
