Resources
We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.
Albert Einstein
Germany
1. AMERICAN IMMIGRATION LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
http://www.aila.org
Mission and Goals
The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members
2. AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/about/our-mission
Honoring our Immigrant Past, Shaping our Immigrant Future
The American Immigration Council works to strengthen America by shaping how America thinks about and acts towards immigrants and immigration and by working toward a more fair and just immigration system that opens its doors to those in need of protection and unleashes the energy and skills that immigrants bring.
Our Vision
The Council believes that immigrants are part of our national fabric, bringing energy and skills that benefit all Americans. We envision an America that values fairness and justice for immigrants and advances a prosperous future for all.
3. GOVERNMENT LINKS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:
https://www.uscis.gov/ (English)
https://www.uscis.gov/es (Español)
U.S. Department of State
https://www.state.gov/
Where you can find additional information for sources of free and low-cost legal services:
U.S. Department of Justice
https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers
The U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review has a Legal Orientation Program and Pro Bono Program which contains a list of free legal service providers (organized by state) that can be found at . . .
Appleseed South Carolina Legal Justice Fund
https://www.scjustice.org/what-we-do/immigration/
SC Appleseed works to safeguard all immigrants’ rights, collaborating with state agencies to ensure that no unnecessary hurdles prevent immigrants from realizing the protections afforded by our laws. We also provide education and advocacy to our state’s legislative delegations on immigrants’ rights and the need for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level.
SC Appleseed gives special attention to the plight of immigrant children, who in many cases are here through no decision or effort of their own, but under current law have no path to citizenship and its benefits. These efforts include advocating for policy improvements through the Children’s Justice Act Task Force, a committee of the Children’s Law Center at USC School of Law, and providing training to the South Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has material in English and Spanish that focuses on people’s rights. A Know your Rights pamphlet can be found in English at:
https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights
https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/derechos-de-los-inmigrantes
National Immigration Law Center (NILC): Know Your Rights at Work
Sources of Information about immigration law and policy
AFSC: American Friends Service Committee:
https://www.afsc.org/key-issues/issue/defending-immigrant-rightsg
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action.
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.
https://cliniclegal.org/issues
The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., was established in 1988 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to support a rapidly growing network of community-based immigration programs. CLINIC’s creation enabled Catholic organizations to get the necessary training and institutional support to help meet that need. The network includes faith-based institutions, farmworker programs, domestic violence shelters, ethnic community-focused organizations, libraries, and other entities that serve immigrants. Agencies in the network employ about 2,300 accredited representatives (link to DOJ accreditation page) and attorneys who, in turn, serve hundreds of thousands of low-income immigrants each year. CLINIC and its affiliate agencies represent low-income immigrants without regard for their race, religion, gender, ethnic group or other distinguishing characteristics.
Detention Watch Network
https://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org/
Detention Watch Network (DWN) is a national coalition building power through collective advocacy, grassroots organizing, and strategic communications to abolish immigration detention in the United States
Fair Immigration Reform Movement
http://www.fairimmigration.org
Since 2000, FIRM has been the meeting place and united voice of the dynamic grassroots movement advocating for comprehensive immigration reform and the civil rights of immigrants in America.
The Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) is a project of the Center for Community Change, a national organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income people and people of color. FIRM is led by its member organizations and brings leaders together across lines of race, issues, and geography to multiply their power. FIRM is dedicated to organizing and building grassroots power and leadership
Farmworker Justice Fund
http://www.fwjustice.org
Farmworker Justice is a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower migrant and seasonal farmworkers to improve their living and working conditions, immigration status, health, occupational safety, and access to justice.
HIAS: Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
http://www.hias.org
HIAS rescues people whose lives are in danger for being who they are.
- We protect the most vulnerable refugees, helping them build new lives and reuniting them with their families in safety and freedom.
- We advocate for the protection of refugees and assure that displaced people are treated with the dignity they deserve.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
http://www.ilrc.org
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit resource center that provides immigration legal training, technical assistance, and educational materials, and engages in advocacy and immigrant civic engagement to advance immigrant rights.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
http://lirs.org/
LIRS works to protect and embrace refugees, migrants, and children seeking a new life in America. Having carried out this work for more than eight decades, LIRS and our national network of service providers are uniquely equipped to provide holistic, trauma-informed, and age-appropriate care to the vulnerable individuals we serve.
National Conference of State Legislators
http://www.ncsl.org
Since 1975, NCSL has been the champion of state legislatures. We’ve helped states remain strong and independent by giving them the tools, information, and resources to craft the best solutions to difficult problems. We’ve work to sharpen the skills of lawmakers and legislative staff in every state. And we do it every day.
National Council of La Raza
http://www.nclr.org
Since 1968, Unidos US—formerly known as NCLR—has remained a trusted, nonpartisan voice for Latinos. We serve the Hispanic community through our research, policy analysis, and state and national advocacy efforts, as well as in our program work in communities nationwide. And we partner with a national network of nearly 300 Affiliates across the country to serve millions of Latinos in the areas of civic engagement, civil rights and immigration, education, workforce, and the economy, health, and housing.
National Immigration Forum
http://www.immigrationforum.org
We bring together moderate and conservative faith, law enforcement and business leaders to weigh in with media and policymakers in support of practical and commonsense immigration, citizenship, and integration policies. The Forum helps Americans advocate for the nation they seek for their children; a nation of laws and a nation of grace.
National Immigration Law Center
http://www.nilc.org
Established in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is one of the leading organizations in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of immigrants with low income.
National Immigration Project of the National Lawyer’s Guild
http://www.NationalImmigrationProject.org
The National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG) is a national non-profit organization that provides technical assistance and support to community-based immigrant organizations, legal practitioners, and all advocates seeking and working to advance the rights of noncitizens.
Refugees International
http://www.refintl.org
Refugees International advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises. We are an independent organization and do not accept any government or UN funding.
UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
http://www.unhcr.org
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people.
United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
http://www.refugees.org
To protect the rights and address the needs of persons in forced or voluntary migration worldwide and support their transition to a dignified life.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
http://www.usccb.org/mrs
The work of the Conference is rooted in three general mission goals and organized into three key areas of responsibility.
- To act collaboratively and consistently on vital issues confronting the Church and society
- To foster communion with the Church in other nations, within the Church universal, under the leadership of its supreme pastor, the Roman Pontiff
- To offer appropriate assistance to each bishop in fulfilling his particular ministry in the local Church
World Relief
http://www.worldrelief.org
Our expertise gained in aid and development work gives us the ability to not only meet the immediate needs of the vulnerable but implement programs that lead to sustainable growth and development—transforming once vulnerable regions into thriving communities. World Relief works in 20 countries, has 20 U.S. offices, and serves over 7 million vulnerable people each year.