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22 Vetted Immigrant Rights Orgs Saving Latinx Lives

With a new rash of mass deportations in the U.S. this week, the images and videos of children getting separated from their parents at the US-Mexico border have caused many Americans to lose faith, not just in our current administration, but in America itself. I empathize with this temptation, but we cannot lose faith in immigrant justice. When we lose faith in immigrant justice, we turn our backs, not just on the makers of the crisis, but on those working diligently to restore dignity to immigrant lives and their families. The untold truth is that there are countless people working to free asylum seekers from border prisons and they are calling on us for help. So I put together a list of vetted organizations and law firms that are doing what they can to advance family reunification, detention center release, legal aid, and education. Set some time aside, see what speaks to your heart, and commit to one of the many ways you can save immigrant lives and reunite families. These actions work! And this is your chance to take part. And when you finish reading this, I encourage you to share this with your social networks. People want this information, and it’s my honor to provide it. (Also note that all these organization have social media channels. Follow them to stay up to date with first-hand updates from the ground.)

LEGAL SERVICES, REUNIFICATION, BAIL BONDS, and SHELTER

ACLU Border Rights Center  –  Texas

In their own words: “Defending civil liberties in the state of Texas is a constant battle, but a rewarding one. We will continue to work daily in the courts, legislatures and in the community to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. The ACLU Border Rights Center defends the rights of border communities under the US Constitution.”   BE A PORT OF ENTRY MONITOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN SCHOOLS DONATE VOLUNTEER CALL CONGRESS SIGN A PLEDGE SIGN A PLEDGE  

Al Otra Lado (To The Other Side)  –  San Diego and Los Angeles, CA & Tijuana, BCS, Mexico

In their own words: “We are a bi-national, direct legal services organization serving indigent deportees, migrants, and refugees in Tijuana, Mexico. The bulk of our services are immigration-related. However, the needs of the people we serve are diverse, so we also coordinate with attorneys and non-legal professionals in a range of areas such as family law, labor law, criminal law (particularly post-conviction relief), and employment law. We also assist families with aspects of reunification in Mexico when it has been determined by U.S. authorities that it is in the best interest of the child to live with his or her parent in Mexico. We work with non-custodial deported parents to ensure their rights as parents are protected in the United States family court system.”   VOLUNTEER DONATE SUCCESS STORIES CONTACT  

Annunciation House  –  El Paso, Texas

In their own words: “From its beginnings, Annunciation House has sought to serve the poorest of the poor in our El Paso-Juarez border community. Over the years, we’ve come to understand that many of the most vulnerable are people from south of the border, who can’t receive services from most established social agencies. They can be identified by their undocumented immigration status and the poverty, injustice, and oppression that are so much a part of their reality. These migrants and refugees have become the primary constituency of Annunciation House.”   SHORT TERM VOLUNTEER 2-12 MONTH VOLUNTEER DONATE  

American Gateways  –  Texas

In their own words: “American Gateways has served the Central Texas immigrant community since 1987. Founded as the Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA), we began as a dedicated group of volunteers working to serve increasing number of refugees fleeing war in Central America. Since then we have grown to provide a broad range of immigration legal services to low-income individuals and families throughout the region. Our new name reflects our expanded services and our objective of promoting the rights of our clients through every portal of immigration relief.”   VOLUNTEER & WORK OPPORTUNITIES DONATE LEGAL SERVICES  

Border Angels (Ángeles de la Frontera)  –  Texas

In their own words: “We assist immigrants on the road to citizenship by providing free and low-cost legal assistance, as well as encouraging English language education and a comprehensive understanding of American culture, society, and legal system. Border Angels is dedicated to serving individuals whose lives have been affected by injustice and oppression, and choose to direct much of our services at highly vulnerable populations, such as day laborers and migrant workers. Our outreach work within the migrant community of San Diego County has encouraged many people to apply for residency and/or citizenship when possible, and has brought awareness and education materials to countless migrants as to life within the United States, and vital rights, laws, and resources to be aware of.”   LEGAL SERVICES VOLUNTEER DONATE CONTACT  

De Anda Law Firm  –  Laredo, Texas

In their own words: “De Anda Law firm has been practicing Law for over 40 years, focusing on trial litigation involving commercial disputes, civil rights and immigrant rights in defense of families in need, and legal consultation services for private and public clients. We are committed, lifelong fighters for underserved communities and immigrants, and have successfully represented asylum seekers as well as confronted racist militias operating in Texas in court. Our office is 100 feet from the US Mexico Border in Laredo Texas. Lead counsel Ricardo De Anda was one of the first Latino graduates of Stanford Law School and is a longtime member of the board of the Texas ACLU. He grew up in Laredo TX where he currently lives and works.” *Currently taking family separation cases pro-bono.   LEGAL SERVICES DONATE CONTACT   

Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services  –  El Paso, Texas

In their own words: “Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services, Inc. (DMRS) is the only full-service immigration legal aid clinic serving low-income immigrants and refugees residing in the southwestern United States. A ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, DMRS began providing legal services in 1987 to Central and South America refugees fleeing their war-torn countries and undocumented immigrants needing legal assistance resulting from the passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act or 1986, which offered legal resident status to undocumented immigrants and agricultural workers within the United States.”   VIDEO DONATE CONTACT CONTACT  

The Fronterizo Fianza Fund  –  Texas & New Mexico

In their own words: “The Fronterizo Fianza Fund is a community bond (fianza) fund based in El Paso and serving Far West Texas and New Mexico. Many detained migrants have no chance to be released while they wait the months or years until their trial. When someone does receive a bond, they are often way out of reach for most families, ranging anywhere from $1500-50,000. We believe no one should be held in a cage, no matter their status. Abuse, despair, hyper-exploitation, and due process violations are inherent to detention. While people remain detained simply because they can’t pay for their freedom, we will work with them and their families to pay bonds, support people inside, and navigate the long and confusing road to freedom.”   SUCCESS STORIES DONATE VOLUNTEER & FUNDRAISE CONTACT  

Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project  –  Arizona & Nationwide

In their own words: “The Florence Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal service organization providing free legal and social services to adults and unaccompanied children in immigration custody in Arizona. Although the government assists indigent criminal defendants and civil litigants through public defenders and legal aid attorneys, it does not provide attorneys for people in immigration removal proceedings. As a result, an estimated 86 percent of the detained people go unrepresented due to poverty. The Florence Project strives to address this inequity both locally and nationally through direct service, partnerships with the community, and advocacy and outreach efforts.”   VOLUNTEER DONATE SUCCESS STORIES  PARENTAL RIGHTS TOOLKIT FAQs CONTACT  

Immigrant Families Together + Every. Last. One  –  New York, NY (HQ) & Nationwide

In their own words: “Immigrant Families Together is a network of Americans committed to rapid response unification of families separated by the ‘zero tolerance’ policy. We have mobilized to help parents currently detained through the following immediate actions: 1) Raising of bond funds through coordinated crowdfunding and individual giving in order to post bond for parents separated from their children at the US/Mexico Border. 2) Paying bonds and providing pro bono legal representation when possible to fulfill all legal responsibilities while awaiting trial so that they may be with their children. 3) Arranging safe transportation from state of detention to the city where children are currently in foster care. 4) When needed, finding longterm housing in the destination city while they await trial. 5) Connecting parents in cities with resources in order to sustain them during the process of being unified with their children. 6) Working with local organizations and government to expedite the process of achieving full custody of their children while they await trial. 7) Providing food, housing and medical assistance when needed to our families.”   SO MANY WAYS TO DONATE! GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED EVERY.LAST.ONE CAMPAIGN  CONTACT  

KIND (Kids In Need of Defense)  –  Washington DC (HQ) & Nationwide

In their own words: “Founded by Angelina Jolie and the Microsoft Corporation, KIND helps unaccompanied children wherever they are. Unaccompanied children are five times more likely to gain U.S. protection if they have an attorney representing them in immigration proceedings. The United Nations found that 60 percent of children who came to the U.S. in 2014 qualified as potential refugees. KIND protects unaccompanied children who enter the US immigration system alone to ensure that no child appears in court without an attorney. We achieve fundamental fairness through high-quality legal representation and by advancing the child’s best interests, safety, and well-being.”   DONATE OR FUNDRAISE VOLUNTEERING & INTERNSHIPS POLICY EDUCATION  #SILENCEDVOICES CAMPAIGN CONTACT  

Las Americas  –  El Paso, TX

In their own words: “Founded in 1987, Las Americas is a homegrown non-profit dedicated to serving the legal needs of low income immigrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, victims of crime, and families seeking reunification. Las Americas’ attorneys and staff are committed to providing legal representation to those who otherwise would not be able to afford it. The El Paso port-of-entry sees the second highest number of people crossing into the United States by land, second only to San Diego. Since our inception, Las Americas has provided representation to more than 30,000 low-income immigrants in El Paso. Las Americas’ clients come from all over the world, and our staff has helped clients from countries as far as Burma and Cameroon.”   SUPPORT DOMESTIC ABUSE SURVIVORS LEGAL DEFENSE FUND DONATE & FUNDRAISE  VOLUNTEER CONTACT  

National Immigrant Justice Center  –  Chicago, IL, Goshen, IN, and Washington, DC

In their own words: “Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is dedicated to ensuring human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. NIJC provides legal services to more than 10,000 individuals each year and maintains a success rate of 90 percent in obtaining asylum for those fleeing persecution in their home countries. NIJC and its pro bono attorneys have been on the vanguard of federal impact litigation and advocacy, setting positive precedents for those seeking human rights protections within our borders. Since its founding three decades ago, NIJC has been unique in blending individual client advocacy with broad-based systemic change.”   LEGAL SERVICES SUPPORT LGBTQ+ IMMIGRANTS RESEARCH  DONATE HOST AN INFO SESSION BE AN AMBASSADOR INTERN CONTACT  

RAICES  –  Texas & Nationwide

In their own words: “Founded in 1986 as the Refugee Aid Project by community activists in South Texas, RAICES has grown to be the largest immigration legal services provider in Texas. With offices in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, RAICES is a frontline organization in the roiling debate about immigration and immigrants in the world. As an organization that combines expertise developed from the daily practice of immigration law with a deep commitment to advocacy, RAICES is unique among immigration organizations. A diverse staff of 130 attorneys, legal assistants, and support staff provide consultations, direct legal services, representation, assistance and advocacy to communities in Texas and to clients after they leave the state. In 2017, RAICES staff closed 51,000 cases at no cost to the client. Our advocacy and commitment to change are driven by the clients and families we serve every day as our attorneys and legal assistants provide legal advocacy and representation in an immigration system that breaks apart families and leaves millions without pathways to legal status.”   LEGAL & SOCIAL SERVICES VOLUNTEER DONATE  FUNDRAISE MORE WAYS TO GIVE CONTACT  

Tahirih Justice Center (for women and girls)  –  offices in Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, San Francisco, CA, Atlanta, GA, Houston, TX, serving nationwide

In their own words: “Tahirih Justice Center stands alone as the only national, multi-city organization providing a broad range of direct legal and social services, policy advocacy, and training and education to protect immigrant women and girls fleeing violence. Our clients receive culturally sensitive, trauma-informed legal representation from the start to the finish of a case. Many of our clients have obstacles to safety and stability that can’t be remedied in immigration courts alone. We meet these needs by offering holistic services—providing wrap-around social services case management and representation in family court, where we are able. To increase the number of women and girls we protect, we rely on help from attorneys in our Pro Bono Network. Together, we maintain a 99% litigation success rate, despite the complex nature of our cases. We accept cases that others have deemed “unwinnable” and proudly pioneer in uncharted areas of the law.”   LEGAL SERVICES SOCIAL SERVICES DONATE  VOLUNTEER FUNDRAISE ADVOCATE CONTACT  

The Young Center For Immigrant Children Rights –  offices in Chicago, Houston, Harlingen, and San Antonio TX, Los Angeles, CA, Phoenix, AZ, New York, NY, and Washington, DC, serving nationwide

In their own words: “The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights protects and advances the rights and best interests of immigrant children according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and state and federal law. The Young Center is a champion for the best interests of children who arrive in the United States on their own, from all corners of the world. We serve as trusted allies for these children while they are in deportation proceedings, advocating for their best interests, and standing for the creation of a dedicated children’s immigrant justice system that ensures the safety and well-being of every child.The Young Center’s goal is to change the immigration system so that children in immigration proceedings are recognized as children, and best interests are made a part of the decision making process.”   BE A CHILD ADVOCATE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES DONATE  FUNDRAISE BE A CORPORATE SPONSOR CONTACT  

ADVOCACY NETWORKS, PUBLIC EDUCATION, and ORGANIZING

Detention Watch Network – Washington, DC & Nationwide

In their own words: “Immigration detention is a key component of the United States’ immigration enforcement apparatus. By focusing primarily on immigrant incarceration, Detention Watch Network aims to remove one of the drivers of mass deportations while also addressing the broader role of incarceration and criminalization in U.S. society. DWN’s core purpose is to bring together complementary strategies for a multi-pronged approach to ending detention, including organizing, advocacy, litigation, direct service, research and communications. DWN provides a space for networking and information sharing as well as for sharing analysis and expertise on shifting government policies. Building the capacity of members through training and peer-exchange is an important aspect of DWN’s work. The Network’s theory of change posits that a paradigm shift from an emphasis on punishment and deportation to one that promotes dignity and freedom must take place in order for us to achieve our vision.”   GET INVOLVED NATIONWIDE PARTNERS DONATE CONTACT  

Families Belong Together – U.S.-Mexico Border & Nationwide

In their own words: “Families Belong Together includes nearly 250 organizations representing Americans from all backgrounds who have joined together to fight family separation and promote dignity, unity, and compassion for all children and families. Led by the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Women’s Refugee Commission, MomsRising, FWD.us, United We Dream, People’s Action, ACLU, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, MoveOn and others, the coalition has raised millions of dollars for immigrant children and families, mobilized hundreds of thousands of people in all 50 states to take action, and helped to reunite thousands of families. Families Belong Together continues its work to permanently end family separation and detention, seek accountability for the harm that’s been done, and immediately reunite all families who remain torn apart. ”   SIGN THE PLEDGE DONATE SUPPORT THE AID CARAVAN  SOCIAL MEDIA RESOURCES CONTACT  

Grassroots Leadership – Austin, Texas (HQ), Charlotte, NC, and Las Vegas, New Mexico

In their own words: “Families Belong Together includes nearly 250 organizations representing Americans from all backgrounds who have joined together to fight family separation and promote dignity, unity, and compassion for all children and families. Led by the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Women’s Refugee Commission, MomsRising, FWD.us, United We Dream, People’s Action, ACLU, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, MoveOn and others, the coalition has raised millions of dollars for immigrant children and families, mobilized hundreds of thousands of people in all 50 states to take action, and helped to reunite thousands of families. Families Belong Together continues its work to permanently end family separation and detention, seek accountability for the harm that’s been done, and immediately reunite all families who remain torn apart. ”   PROGRAMS VOLUNTEER DONATE RESEARCH CONTACT  

Immigration Advocacy Network – Nationwide

In their own words: “The Immigration Advocates Network (IAN), a program of Pro Bono Net, is dedicated to expanding access to immigration legal resources and information through collaboration and technology. IAN was created in 2007 by leading immigrants’ rights organizations, to increase access to justice for low-income immigrants and strengthen the capacity of organizations serving them. We create our own tools, build platforms for others, and work with partners to harness the power of technology and collective action to better support immigrants and their advocates.”   CURRENT PROJECTS DONATE LEGAL DIRECTORY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES RESOURCES FOR LAWYERS LATEST NEWS    

SOCIAL SERVICES ON MIGRANT ROUTE and FOLLOWING RELEASE

South Texas Human Rights Center – South Texas, US-Mexico Border

In their own words: “The South Texas Human Rights Center is a community-based organization in Falfurrias, Texas dedicated to the promotion, protection, defense, and exercise of human rights and dignity in South Texas. Our mission is to end death and suffering on the Texas-Mexico border through community initiatives.”   WATER STATION PROJECT SEARCH AND RESCUE SERVICES RECOVERY AND IDENTIFICATION VOLUNTEER DONATE CONTACT  

Miles4Migrants – Nationwide

In their own words: “Miles4Migrants is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity formed in September 2016. Our goal is to use donated frequent flyer miles and money to book flights that bring refugees to their new homes and reunite families separated by conflict and persecution. At present, travel for incoming refugees accepted by the United States government is purchased by the State Department itself, with the refugee then subject to a repayment plan. As a result we have concentrated, for the time being, on helping with travel to countries that do not have such restrictions. If we are able to determine special cases where we can make an impact for US-bound travel we will do so.”   SERVICES SUCCESS STORIES DONATE MILES  CONTACT   If you know of any organizations we should add to this list, feel free to share it on the new Peace Made Public Facebook group, or contact me on my Facebook Page. And please share this post with the links below. You can also subscribe with the form below for more peace advocacy resources, education, and inspiration.

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Tyler Batson
Tyler Batson
https://thepeaceimpact.com/
Peace is the new success.

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