#GivingTuesday 2020
Over the past ten years, NMILC has stood up to protect the rights of our immigrant communities.
When immigrants thrive, we all thrive. That is why NMILC’s programs address the historical marginalization of these communities by:
Providing legal services to build safety and economic stability in immigrant communities.
Mentoring legal professionals from historically marginalized communities.
Connecting clients to community partners and local organizing and advocacy efforts.
Advocating for policies that support immigrant integration.
Supporting immigrant entrepreneurs and building assets in the immigrant community.
From the onset of the pandemic, our staff quickly shifted our services to an online model to make sure every immigrant survivor of violence we represented was able to apply for relief. We also screened and assisted hundreds of New Mexicans to become citizens. This was especially important in a year where the voices of immigrant communities were more important than ever in the electoral process.
This year was also our first year supporting legislation that passed during the 2020 New Mexico Legislative Session. With the help of many partners and community members, we provided legal analysis and advocacy on Senate Bill 137, which removed state regulatory barriers based on citizenship and immigration status which prevented many hardworking and passionate New Mexicans from pursuing their professions and occupations.
We envisioned a very different 2020, but the strength and commitment from our community of supporters and our clients has brought us closer to our vision of equity and justice.
What’s at stake:
Throughout a global pandemic and constant political uncertainty, the demand for our services, as well as the technical and legal support we provide to our community partners, has never been greater, nor have the stakes been so high.
When immigrants thrive, we all thrive.
Maintaining economic stability during the global health crisis has been difficult for many, but for undocumented immigrant families it is nearly an impossibility. An estimated 19.8 million immigrants in the U.S. are “essential workers,” working in critical industries, such as health, infrastructure, manufacturing, service, food, and safety. This includes 74% of undocumented workers.
Social distancing measures have made it more difficult to process required documentation and have resulted in delays in court proceedings and hearings as person-to-person interaction has transitioned virtually, especially for those in rural New Mexican communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has also increased rates of intimate partner violence. As a result of stay-at-home orders and attempts to limit the spread of the virus, many survivors were required to stay home with their abusers and had limited access to services.
COVID-19 has devastated immigrants detained in Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) prisons. Since the onset of pandemic, more than 6,600 detained individuals have tested positive for the virus. All of New Mexico’s immigrant prisons have had COVID-19 outbreaks.
Under the Trump administration, programs available to immigrant youth are limited. Even after the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Trump administration improperly rescinded DACA this past June, effectively fully restoring the program, the Department of Homeland Security issued a memo excluding first-time applicants, while also reducing protected status from two years to one.
We know that even with a smooth transition to the next presidential administration, our work remains just as vital and important. Expert sources estimate that it will take years to undo the inhumane federal immigration policies implemented over the past four years.
How you can join us:
While this year has been tough, we know that when we come together we are stronger! We continue to see how our partner organizations, community members, clients, friends, and family have shown up for our community.
We invite you to join us in our work! Consider donating, volunteering, or sharing about NMILC’s mission and programs with your community.
Please donate today! Your contributions make a huge impact on our work! Some of our main programs, like detention and citizenship programs, are not supported by specific grant funding sources. Help us continue to advocate for all migrants in detention by making a contribution today!
Every donation receives a sticker!
Unrestricted funding from supporters like YOU helps us proactively advocate and work towards our shared vision of a world in which all people -- regardless of immigration status --can achieve their full potential and are treated with dignity and respect. Unrestricted donations allow us to adapt and respond to the immediate needs of immigrant communities.
