Shalyn “Shay” Fluharty is Executive Director of Americans for Immigrant Justice. Immediately prior to joining AI Justice, Shay served as an attorney consultant at Fordham University School of Law, where she led the Feerick Center for Social Justice’s national effort to expand access to counsel for mothers, fathers, and children who seek asylum. Shay has over fifteen years of experience …
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 …
Yon jwèt ki ap tann danjere: Pwoteksyon Azil Kontinye yap fache
Pa gen repo pou mechan an Apre retounen soti nan Tijuana, mwen te santi mwen te gen yon bon konpreyansyon sou eta aktyèl la nan pwosesis azil la nan fwontyè a. Nan yon egzanp sou ki jan bagay sa yo chanje lannwit lan, Depatman Homeland Sekirite Sosyal (DHS) te anonse yè swa ke li ta ka kontinye ak Pwotokòl Pwoteksyon …
Avoka Jistis AI yo reflete sou tan yo nan fwontyè a: Konklizyon panse yo
Adonia Simpson, Direktè Pwogram Defans Fanmi AI Justice, ak Jessica Shulruff Schneider, Direktè Pwogram Detansyon AI Justice, reflechi sou eksperyans yo ofri kòm volontè sèvis legal nan tout fwontyè Ameriken-Meksik. Nou retounen nan Miami Madi maten, e nou toujou ap travay sou eksperyans lan. Kòm ekip la Al Otro Lado te pwomèt, nou te vin “veteran” apre 12 èdtan, ede …
Avoka Jistis AI yo reflete sou tan yo nan fwontyè a: Jou 4
Adonia Simpson, Direktè Pwogram Defans Fanmi AI Jistis la, ak Jessica Shulruff Schneider, Direktè Pwogram Detansyon AI Justice, reflete sou eksperyans yo ofri kòm volontè sèvis legal nan tout fwontyè Ameriken-Meksik. 4 jou a te kòmanse bonè pou nou, 7 am, men anpil imigran, ki gen anpil valiz ak pitit yo, te rive anvan lajounen te kraze nan El Chaparral, …