Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice) is proud to announce that Ian Ross has been elected as President of its Board of Directors for a two-year term, effective July 1, 2024. Ross is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP where he represents corporations, directors, and officers, as well as professional service and accounting firms, in commercial and securities litigation, professional …
One Year of SB 1718
On May 10, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law SB 1718, a sweeping law targeting Florida’s immigrant community. Its harmful measures impacted families, the hospital and medical care industry, and businesses throughout Florida. Immigrants and families were afraid to seek routine and emergency medical care, drive with valid out-of-state licenses, and travel with undocumented members of the community. U.S. employers with …
Reflecting on AI Justice’s Impact in 2023
We are proud to have served 10,056 clients from 83 countries in 2023. As we strive to have a greater impact in 2024, we are deeply grateful for your continued support and hope that you will join us for another year protecting of the rights of our immigrant community. Who are our clients? 100% of our clients are low-income based …
A New Year’s Resolution from our New Executive Director
It is an honor to write to you as the new Executive Director of Americans for Immigrant Justice. After nearly a decade at the Texas-Mexico border, I join AI Justice committed to building an America that celebrates the contributions of individuals who immigrate to the United States and to welcoming them with dignity. As I look towards 2023, I long …
Sharing News About My Retirement: Note from Co-Founder and Executive Director Cheryl Little
When Sisters Catherine Cassidy, Maureen Kelleher and I began planning for Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC) in 1995, we never dreamed it would become a relatively large, nationally recognized organization. All of you reading this letter played a role in strengthening our ability to stand strong in the storm of ever-changing immigration laws and policies aimed at stripping away immigrants’ …
Shameful Treatment of Haitians
Published September 27, 2021 Statement from Cheryl Little, Co-founder and Executive Director My first job after graduation from law school was at the Haitian Refugee Center where I learned firsthand the extent of the discrimination against Haitians. Since then, the shameful treatment has only escalated. For decades U.S. policy impacting Haitian asylum seekers has created an almost insurmountable barrier for …
Child Clients Still Face Insurmountable Challenges
Published August 26, 2021 For most of 2020, children arriving alone at our border were expelled in violation of a federal law requiring that they have their day in court before removal. On February 2, 2021 the Biden administration reversed that directive and our local ORR facilities are once again filling up with children in need of legal services. Below are …
Detention Numbers Must Be Reduced
In recent months, our Detention team has seen a marked change in the number and types of immigrants detained locally and nationwide. In January 2021, the Biden administration inherited a record low number of 14,195 people in immigration detention, in large part due to Trump’s closing of the border following COVID-19. Fast-forward almost 6 months later, and over 27,000 persons have …
Janet R. McAliley
Former Member, Miami-Dade County School Board Janet McAliley was a former member of the Miami-Dade County School Board. She was first elected to the School Board in 1980 and was subsequently re-elected three times, serving for four terms until 1996. Among her many accomplishments during her tenure was helping an undocumented high school student secure status so that she could …
Un juego de espera peligroso: las protecciones de asilo continúan siendo erosionadas
Sin descanso para los malvados Después de regresar de Tijuana, sentí que entendía bien el estado actual del proceso de asilo en la frontera. En un ejemplo de cómo las cosas cambian de la noche a la mañana, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) anunció anoche que continuaría con sus Protocolos de Protección de Migrantes (MPP), donde algunos solicitantes de …