Acacia Center for Justice

We are proud to work with organizations across the country like the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project to defend the rights of unaccompanied kids like Sergio. Explore organizations like them and over 100 others hiring lawyers now at https://lnkd.in/e_zdxEcu

Our immigration system is setting up unaccompanied children to fail. Immigration cases are complex, even for lawyers to navigate. Without access to legal representation, kids are expected to navigate their own case, stay on top of meetings and deadlines, and understand complex legal jargon in another language. All of this on top of the often traumatic experience of fleeing their home in the first place. They need compassionate lawyers in their corner. If this work speaks to you, we welcome you to explore legal job openings in our Unaccompanied Children Program at https://lnkd.in/e_zdxEcu

Check out our latest blog post, where our Director of Development reflects on the importance of providing legal representation to unaccompanied children, and her experiences with our partner, Casa Cornelia Law Center ▶️ https://lnkd.in/epxEd2k7

Join us tomorrow for the DC launch of Sarah Towle's book, Crossing the Line, at Busboys and Poets📘 Join Sarah in conversation with asylum seekers to hear testimonies of the harrowing journey people must take to seek safety in the US. #welcomewithdignity #immigrationisahumanright #saveasylum #nohumanisillegal

Looking for your next job? Want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of unaccompanied children? Explore all of job listings from organizations within our Unaccompanied Children Program this month at this link: https://bit.ly/3XLoHom Get fresh links to your inbox every month when you sign up for our newsletter at https://lnkd.in/e_zdxEcu Curious about the organizations? Follow the organizations hiring near you this month: East Coast organizations hiring now: ➡️ Catholic Charities of Baltimore ➡️ Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) ➡️ The Door - A Center of Alternatives ➡️ International Rescue Committee ➡️ CWS Lancaster ➡️ Amica Center for Immigrant Rights ➡️ Legal Services of New Jersey Southern organizations hiring now: ➡️ Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project ➡️ Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) ➡️ RAICES ➡️ JUSTICE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS West Coast organizations hiring now: ➡️ New Mexico Immigrant Law Center ➡️ Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) ➡️ Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project ➡️ Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) ➡️ UFW Foundation ➡️ International Rescue Committee ➡️ Immigration Center for Women and Children ➡️ Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Remote organizations hiring now: ➡️ International Rescue Committee ➡️ Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

This Independence Day let's reflect on the words of Emma Lazarus, who saw the bright promise of the U.S. and urges us all to live up to our ideals of welcome, freedom, and safety for all.

In honor of Disability Pride Month ♿ 🌈 we're highlighting a very special program. Swipe to learn more about NQRP, and how Acacia is working to defend people with mental health disabilities in immigration detention 💚🌱 - Photo 1: Disability Heritage Month Program Spotlight: NQRP (National Qualified Representative Program) Photo 2: What is NQRP? In honor of Disability Pride Month, we’re spotlighting one of our programs: the National Qualified Representative Program (NQRP). Unlike in criminal cases, where defendants have a right to an attorney, people in immigration court must often defend themselves. NQRP provides appointed legal representation for people in immigration detention who cannot represent themselves due to a serious mental health disabilities. Photo 3: How did NQRP come about? A class-action lawsuit, Franco-Gonzalez v. Holder, forced this change. Jose Franco Gonzalez was one of many people with a mental disability held in immigration custody without representation, who were often deported without ever having their needs recognized. Our partners at UCLA CILP sued, leading to Franco’s release, and eventually a settlement that would establish protections for people in his position. Today he is thriving in his community, and NQRP is serving people just like Franco. Photo 4: Why is NQRP so important? The U.S. immigration system is rooted in legacies of ableism & eugenics. Disabled people face many barriers in the immigration process, from applying for asylum to abuses in immigration detention. NQRP gives some people in immigration detention, many of whom have suffered persecution because of their mental disabilities, a fighting chance at accessing the legal protections that they need to find safety in this country. Acacia works with a network of over 40 highly skilled legal service providers to defend people through NQRP nationwide. #disabilitypride #disabilitypridemonth #immigration #NQRP #disabilityrights #immigrationrights

Applications for Immigrant Justice Corps Justice Fellowship are opening this month! Justice Fellows receive the training, support, and hands-on experience to set their career up for success. Subscribe to our newsletter at acaciajustice.org/lifeline to stay up to date about upcoming deadlines, stories from Fellows, and FAQs.

As part of our Unaccompanied Children Program, Asylum Clinic Kansas City works to provide know your rights training, legal support and more to unaccompanied children. Asylum Clinic KC aims to provide as many free legal consultations as possible to immigrants in the Kansas City community, as well as pro bono representation as capacity permits to diminish the number of people navigating the complex immigration system unaided. Explore their work at https://lnkd.in/ee3_uXrT.

Last month, we gathered over a hundred immigration attorneys and advocates in New Orleans for a series of trainings to more effectively defend people in immigration detention⚜️ We closed out the trainings with a second line 🎺 🎷check out our blog to read more about the history of this NOLA tradition 🎵 ▶️ https://bit.ly/4eHYKMK Thank you to Jennifer de Haro from RAICES, Carolina Luna from Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN), Teresa Reyes-Flores from ISLA Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy, and Irene Gong & Lizbeth Velásquez from El Pueblo for sharing your experiences with us 🌱 Thank you to Soul Brass Band for leading our main line 🥁 #immigration #neworleans #NOLA #neworleansjazz #jazz #brassband #immigrationjustice #migraresamar #nohumanisillegal