Immigration and Social Justice Service Organizations

Service organizations working to further immigration, human rights, and belonging. Resources on the topics of immigration, child detention, climate migration, history, and trauma.

Action Center on Race and Economy

A campaign hub for organizations working at the intersection of racial justice and Wall Street accountability

Águilas Del Desierto

Volunteers in San Diego trying to find missing migrants in the desert

Alianza Americas

Mission to bring about a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable way of life for Latino immigrant communities living in the United States and across the Americas.

Alianza Nacional de Campesinas

Organizing for equity and justice for women farmworkers

Al Otro Lado

Legal support

American Academy of Pediatrics

(trauma to children 3/13/17)

American Immigration Council

History, economics, humanitarian protection, business, workforce, etc. US Citizen Children Impacted by Immigration Enforcement.

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

American Immigrant Representation Project (AIRP) with Immigration Justice Campaign

American Red Cross

Migration and Refugee Crisis

America's Voice: Immigration Reform

Amnesty International

Amnesty International

Annunciation House

Accompanying migrants at border

Art and Resistance Through Education (ARTE)

Youth Development, Human Rights, Arts Education

Ascentria Care Alliance Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program

Asian Americans Advancing Justice: Asian Law Caucus

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Civic Engagement Fund

The ASPIRA Association

nfo@aspira.org serving Puerto Rican and other Latino youth

Asylum-Seekers Sponsorship Project

An extension of the Sanctuary Movement to help refugees and migrants not go to prisons and detention centers

Border Network for Human Rights

To facilitate education, organizing and participation of marginalized border communities for human and civil rights

Border Servant Corp

(Peace Lutheran Church) Las Cruces, NM

Californians Together Championing the Success of English Learners

2/4/18 Support of Immigrant and Refugee Students "Trainer of Trainers" Workshop

Casa Camino Real

A bookstore, art gallery and community resource center in the borderland region of New Mexico operated by Denise Chávez. Article (2020) in New Mexico Magazine.

Casa de Maryland

Advocacy group with resources

Catholic Charities

High-quality legal consultation, referral and representation

The Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC)

Center for Constitutional Rights

Resources for Resistance https://ccrjustice.org/resources-resistance

Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS)

https://www.democracynow.org/2018/6/15/lawyer_jeff_sessions_attacks_on_migrant

Center for Global Development

Violence, Development and Migration Waves: Evidence from Central American Child Migrant Apprehensions - research paper 7/27/17)

Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)

3/1/18 report "Our Children's Fear: Immigration Policy's Effects on Young Children"

Center for Victims of Torture

Dedicated to healing survivors

Centro Presente

Boston Community organization

Civil Rights Project (Proyecto Derechos Civiles)

Research from UCLA (law enforcement policy effect) ; (Immigration Enforcement Policy: Its impact on Teaching and Learning) https://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/integration-and-diversity/u.s.-immigration-enforcement-policy-and-its-impact-on-teaching-and-learning-in-the-nations-schools/EMBARGOED-Immigration-enforcement-on-schools.pdf

Colibrí­ Center for Human Rights

Working to end migrant death and related suffering on the US–Mexican border

¡Colorín Colorado!

A bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners. Featured Resource School Registration: ELLs and Immigrant Students

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Coursera for Refugees

Free online courses for refugees

Cosecha

Non-violent movement organization

Cuenca Los Ojos

Translates in English to "watershed of the springs" and newsletter Ciénago translates to wetlands. Dedicated to protect, restore, and rewild the arid border grasslands.

Detained Migrant Solidarity Committee

And (community bond fund) Fronterizo Fianza Fund https://www.fianzafund.org/f

Detention Watch

Immigration Detention 101: US is world's largest immigration detention system. History: https://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org/issues/detention-101

Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services

DMRS Family based immigration services, legal clinic

The Door

Youth empowerment, funding for young immigrants

Dream Defenders

To make powerful change come to Florida

End Immigration Detention of Children

(Roadmaps to end child detention August 2018) https://idcoalition.org/roadmaps/; (6/26/18) https://endchilddetention.org/news/end-child-detention-in-the-us/; (comparative report 22 countries child immigration detention June 2018) http://next-gen-index.org/coming-soon/NextGen-Index-Comparative-Report-June-2018.pdf; http://endchilddetention.org/artwork/; http://endchilddetention.org/mariane-quintao-testifies-at-the-un-human-rights-council/; https://endchilddetention.org/global-map-of-action/united-states/; (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9SPaEGJpLQ; (Nov.2017) Youth Ambassador video artwork https://endchilddetention.org/world-childrens-day-hayats-story/; (end child detention short video Mariane Quintao) https://www.facebook.com/endchilddetention/videos/1811451245608239/ 2015 There are Alternatives to unnecessary immigrant detention) https://idcoalition.org/publication/there-are-alternatives-revised-edition/

Every Campus a Refugee (ECAR)

An initiative that calls on every campus around the world to host and assist a refugee family on campus

Families Belong Together

Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project

Arizona legal services

Fortify Rights with US Holocaust Memorial Museum

(2017) report "They Tried to Kill Us All" Atrocity Crimes against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State, Myanmar

http://www.fortifyrights.org/downloads/THEY_TRIED_TO_KILL_US_ALL_Atrocity_Crimes_against_Rohingya_Muslims_Nov_2017.pdf

Freedom for Immigrants (formerly CIVIC)

(short history of immigration detention) https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/detention-timeline/; (glossary of immigration terms) https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/terminology/; (alternative accompaniment program) https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/alternative-accompaniment-program/

Fresh Ed

Music education

Global Humanitarian Forum

Did research on displacement of 135 million people by 2045 due to land degradation and desertification

Global NextGen index

(August 2018) Index ranking government treatment of migrant children ; (June, 2018) protecting the next generation http://next-gen-index.org/coming-soon/NextGen-Index-Comparative-Report-June-2018.pdf

Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program

www.harvardimmigrationclinic.org; also Immigration Initiative at Harvard

Hearts & Homes for Refugees

Nonprofit grassroots humanitarian organization

Here To Stay

Tool kits, resources, DACA questions, etc.

HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society)

Founded in 1881 originally to assist Jews fleeing pogroms now assists non-Jewish refugees and works to counter hatred, bigotry, and xenophobia.

Human Rights First

Protecting refugee families

Human Rights Watch

You Don't have Rights Here: hrw.org; I Still Need You: The Detention and Deportation of CA Parents (2017) https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/uscaliforniaimmigration0517_web.pdf

Humane Borders / Fronteras Compasivas

Faith-based group which maintains a system of water stations in the Sonoran Desert on routes used by migrants making the perilous journey here on foot

Initiative for Child Rights in the Global Compacts

Child migration

Immigrant Defense Project

Immigrant Justice Corps

Immigrant Justice Project (City Bar Justice Center)

Access to justice by leveraging the resources of NYC legal community

Immigration Justice Campaign

Oppose the Detention of Children and Families an initiative of American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association, and American Immigrant Representation Project

Informed Immigrant

Inter-Agency Working Group to End Child Detention

A Global Alliance to End Child Immigration Detention; 5/15/18 Child Rights http://www.iawgendchilddetention.org/uncategorized/child-rights-experts-call-on-member-states-to-end-child-immigration-detention-there-are-alternatives/; (short video with Mariane) https://www.facebook.com/endchilddetention/videos/1811451245608239/

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

Autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS) to protect human rights

International Detention Coalition: Human Rights for Detained Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants

Free course and many resources, tool kit in English and Spanish. Annual Report: July 2017-June 2018 ; (12/20/18) Global Compact https://idcoalition.org/news/interview-silvia-gomez-on-the-global-compact/; (7/11/18 Global Compact for Safe Orderly and Regular Migration) https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/sites/default/files/180711_final_draft_0.pdf; There are Alternatives: Africa (to detention) https://idcoalition.org/publication/atd-africa/ – http://idcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Briefing-Paper_Never-in-a-childs-best-interests_June-2017.pdf; http://idcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/EL-MODELO_ENGLISH-WEB_FINAL-2.pdf; http://idcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Briefing-Paper_Never-in-a-childs-best-interests_June-2017.pdf

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Psychosocial Centre

International Migrants Day

12/16/16 Discussion with experts on migrants rights

International Organization for Migration

(The UN Migration Agency). Migration and Climate Change (2018) https://www.iom.int/migration-and-climate-change-0?utm_medium=email&utm_source=actionkit; (Senegal's migrant returnees become storytellers 10/11/18) http://www.ipsnews.net/2018/10/senegals-migrant-returnees-become-storytellers/ (migrant deaths remain high 2/6/18) https://www.iom.int/news/migrant-deaths-remain-high-despite-sharp-fall-us-mexico-border-crossings-2017

International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)

Mobilizes legal resources to advocate for refugees and displaced people to find pathways to safety

International Rescue Committee (IRC)

High-quality, low-cost immigration legal services and citizenship assistance in 23 cities across the United States

Justicia for Migrant Workers (J4MW)

Based in Toronto, Canada

Kids In Need of Defense (KIND)

Legal rights

Law at the Margins

Lawyers for a Good Government

Fighting for democracy, justice, and the future of our nation

Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center

LGBTI persons in Immigration Detention

2016 pamphlet

Lions Write

Building social impact initiatives focused on immigrant integration, employment, access to technology, and education

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)

MALDF

Latino Legal Voice

Mediterranea Saving Humans

Italian humanitarian boat which rescues migrants at sea

Mercy Corps

Quick facts: What you need to know about the Syria crisis

MigrantRights.org

Global migration stories series

The Migrant Trail

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

Supporting Vulnerable Students in Stressful Times; Supporting Marginalized Students - https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/diversity/social-justice/supporting-marginalized-students-in-stressful-times-tips-for-educators

The National Immigration Forum

National Immigrant Justice Center

National Immigration Law Center (NILC)

(8/28/18 webinar) Winning in the States Initiative webinar Defending Safe Spaces in Schools https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/WITS-implementing-defending-safe-spaces-in-schools-PPT-2018-08-28.pdf; (DACA update 8/3/18) https://www.nilc.org/issues/daca/; (webinar 4/17/18) Public Charge, DACA, & Other Immigrants’ Rights https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/viewRecording/922067333786212099/1904184105152843523/lynnditchfield@gmail.com?registrantKey=7926328037708074251&type=ATTENDEEEMAILRECORDINGLINK, DACA update 1/1/18 (you tube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkz5AVY4Loo&feature=youtu.be; DACA student testimonies - https://www.nilc.org/issues/daca/daca-fifth-anniversary-stories/; webinar 9-7-17 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3ZXEIyLZ5M&feature=youtu.be; pdf of webinar power point https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Field-Call-9.7.17-ppt.pdf

The National Korean American Service and Education Consortium

Formed to protect progressive voice and full participation of Korean and Asian Americans

The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Email: nnirr@nnirr.org

National Temporary Protected Status TPS Alliance

Nation Swell Aid at the Border

Nationwide Resources

Emergency funds for COVID-19 and more

New Sanctuary Coalition

An immigrants' rights organization based in NY

No More Deaths / No Más Muertes

PIVOT The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization

Planet Syria Blog

Presente.org

(Dream Act) http://calltodream.org/

Project Lifeline

Legal and medical professionals unite launching open letter campaign around safety of migrant children and unaccompanied minors

Psychotherapy Action Network

Pamphlet to help immigrant parents separated from children

Pueblo Sin Fronteras

NGO to aid migrants and refugees on the move- caravan from Honduras

RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)

Refuge Coffee Company

Coffee-related job creation, job training, social networking, and commerce

RefugePoint

Help refugees find lasting solutions through self-reliance, resettlement, and other pathways to safety such as family reunification and labor mobility opportunities

Sanctuary Caravan

Working with asylum seekers and refugees fleeing violence and persecution

Sanctuary Restaurants

The Sanctuary Restaurants Movement spearheaded by restaurateurs with support from Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) and Presente, envisioned a different world where communities protect each other

Santa Fe Dreamers Project

Provides free legal services to immigrants and runs the Trans Gender Parole Project; video (2019) How to Support Migrants, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp-kghT3U6A

Somos Un Pueblo Unido

New Mexico group dedicated to building community

Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative (SIDI)

Pro-bono legal representation to detained immigrants in Deep South (volunteers needed) - connected to SPLC; (legal case detention center conditions forced labor) https://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/01_-_complaint.pdf

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)

(2018 video) One year after Charlottesville: Ten ways to Fight Hate https://www.splcenter.org/one-year-after-charlottesville; (2017 pdf.) https://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/com_ten_ways_to_fight_hate_2017_web.pdf; SPLC Hate in the White House- February https://www.splcenter.org/hate-white-house-%E2%80%94-february, exposing the alt-right anti-immigrant organizations (CIS and FAIR) https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/02/14/jessica-vaughan-staffer-anti-immigrant-hate-group-center-immigration-studies-cis-testify

Stop Notario Fraud

Protect yourself and know your rights

Tech Crunch

Enabling refugees to become entrepreneurs in host countries

Unitarian Universalists Service Committee

United We Dream

(12/18/20) DACA is Back - resources to apply and financial aide, etc.

UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) UN Refugee Agency

Children on the Move: Data Brief Key Facts and Figures (2018) ; Unaccompanied Minors: Humanitarian Situation at the US Border; International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families: Convention on the Rights of the Child (Nov. 2017 No. 3 & No. 4) http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CMW/Shared%20Documents/1_Global/CMW_C_GC_3-CRC_C_GC_22_8361_E.pdf,http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CMW/Shared%20Documents/1_Global/CMW_C_GC_3-CRC_C_GC_22_8361_E.pdf, Mariane Quintão Testifies at Session on UN Compacts (June 2017) https://endchilddetention.org/mariane-quintao-testifies-at-the-un-human-rights-council/; What was Syria Like Before the War? https://searchingforsyria.org/en/what-was-syria-like-before-the-war/; Women on the Run - http://womenonthe.run/; (7/11/16 Refugee or Migrant?) http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/latest/2016/7/55df0e556/unhcr-viewpoint-refugee-migrant-right.html;(downloadable reports - Oct. 2015) Brian Hansford Senior Public Infor Officer hansford@unhcr.org 202 243 7623, Chris Bolan, Public Info Officer: bolan@unhcr.org http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/refugees.html, Global Trends: World at War (2014) - Forced Displacement (2015) download http://www.unhcr.org/556725e69.html, http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/statistics/unhcrstats/576408cd7/unhcr-global-trends-2015.html; Guidelines on Determining the Best Interests of the Child: http://www.unhcr.org/4566b16b2.pdf; Field Handbook for Implementation of UNHCR BID Guidelines 2011: http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4e4a57d02.pdf

US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

Advancing the rights and lives of those who have been forcibly and voluntarily uprooted

Voces de la Frontera

YES! Youth Empowered in the Struggle Grassroots organization in Wisconsin

Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)

(also see Teacher Guides Resource List) Advocacy for Human Rights in the Americas (resources and fact sheets); (6/15/20) Beyond the Wall: Borders Should Not Be Barriers to Human Rights video; with the Sheller Center for Social Justice resources for attorneys representing asylum seekers from Central America: Annotated Table of Contents Project; (10/22/18) Central American Caravan; advocacy for human rights; (10/12/18 Archbishop Oscar Romero Declared a Saint - Honoring his call for justice) ; (8/28/18 National shame: The Trump Administration's Separation and Detention of Migrant Families) https://www.wola.org/analysis/national-shame-trump-administrations-separation-detention-migrant-families/;(asylum seekers 8/2/18) https://www.wola.org/analysis/come-back-later-challenges-asylum-seekers-waiting-ports-entry/; (protest letter to Sessions - July 2018) https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Asylum-2018-To-AG-Sessions-Asylum-Claims-July-2018.pdf; (Venezuela's migration -July 2018) https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Final-VZ-Migration-Report-Final.pdf; (zero tolerance report) https://www.wola.org/analysis/wola-report-zero-tolerance-policy/; https://www.wola.org/; (resources) https://www.wola.org/beyond-wall-resources-tools/; https://www.wola.org/analysis/fact-sheet-united-states-immigration-central-american-asylum-seekers/; (wall) https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Border-Wall-Factsheet.pdf; (asylum seekers) https://www.wola.org/analysis/fact-sheet-united-states-immigration-central-american-asylum-seekers/ (myths about migration) https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Migration-Factsheet.pdf. (Why Central Americans are fleeing) https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Families-Fleeing-Factsheet.pdf; Refugees and Migrants https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/declaration; (10/27/17 Tracking Historic Human Rights cases in El Salvador) https://www.wola.org/analysis/tracking-el-salvadors-progress-historic-human-rights-cases/

Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights

A volunteer-based group of community members (in Michigan) committed to advocating for immigrant rights, sends out alerts about ICE and CBP operations and raids, and changes in immigration law

Winning in the States

(8/28/18) webinar Defending Safe Spaces in Schools https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/WITS-implementing-defending-safe-spaces-in-schools-PPT-2018-08-28.pdf

Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic Yale Law School

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights

Champion for rights and best interests of unaccompanied immigrant children

Attribution

The resource list was compiled by Lynn Ditchfield with contributions from:

  • Cheri Cluff
  • Victoria Dryfoos
  • Camila Fernandez
  • Shari Geistfeld**
  • Marissa A. Gutierrez-Vicario
  • Julie Huff**
  • Naomi Ostwald Kawamura
  • Rebecca A. McCarthy
  • Roslyn Sue Le Mesurier
  • Kendra Mills
  • Guy Michel Telemanque
  • Others

** - Special thanks

Funds to help support granted in part by:

  • Mass Cultural Council (MVLCC)
  • Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowship