Our Story
More than a decade ago…
Shortly after graduating from the UNM School of Law, Jennifer Landau was awarded a two-year Equal Justice Works fellowship to help address the lack of legal services for low-income New Mexicans facing deportation. Hosted by Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services of El Paso, the fellowship exposed Jenny to the harsh reality for many immigrants in New Mexico: there were no options for people facing deportation who could not afford a private attorney.
When the fellowship came to an end, Jenny set up shop in a corner office of Enlace Comunitario to continue her work, supported by Enlace, El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos, the Jesuits of Albuquerque, and Encuentro. One year later, Jenny met Megan Jordi, another young attorney passionate about preventing deportations primarily due to lack of counsel. Together they moved into the office of El CENTRO and Encuentro, formed an advisory group, and incorporated with the generous support of the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty as fiscal sponsor. The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center was born.
NMILC has come a long way since our modest beginnings in 2010. Now a staff of over 50, our services, mission, and vision have expanded to encompass a wide-range of legal issues affecting low-income immigrants. With each new project, we stay committed to our founding principle of operating as a social justice organization committed to working with, rather than for, low-income immigrant groups across the state. Today, as in the years of our founding, we partner with local community organizing groups to ensure our programs are responsive to emerging needs in the community.
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We envision a vibrant New Mexico where all people—regardless of immigration status—can achieve their full potential and are treated with dignity and respect.
