CCR is providing legal support and criminal defense to the protesters who engaged in civil disobedience (CD) as part of the New Sanctuary Movement’s (NSM) on-going campaign around immigrant rights.

In January 2010, National Sanctuary Movement’s leader and one of the founders of Families for Freedom (an organization of non-citizens directly impacted by the detention and removal system), was detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency when he reported for his supervised release. NSM decided to engage in several days of planned civil disobedience. CCR provided legal support and workshops on the consequences of arrests. The trainings involve meeting with individuals interested in engaging in civil disobedience to provide general legal advice regarding the consequences and what to expect throughout the process.

Two days of civil disobedience took place in January, and in total nineteen clergy and community members were arrested. CCR provided a legal support hotline during the days of action, as well as had attorneys on the ground to work with activists and answer legal questions. The community members who were arrested are to appear in summons court in early March 2010. CCR will represent them, with assistance from members of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG).