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NOTE: This website is under construction. We will have more information and resources posted soon.
Who are we?
The Immigrant Justice Network is a collaborative formed in 2006 with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the Immigrant Defense Project of the New York State Defenders’ Association, the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers’ Guild, and the Washington Defender Association's Immigration Project to advocate on behalf of noncitizens facing unjust immigration penalties as a result of being entangled with the criminal justice system. IJN members are amongst the foremost immigration advocacy and defense organizations with expertise in the intersection between the immigration and criminal justice systems. IJN works alongside other national networks, such as the Detention Watch Network, the Rights Working Group, and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, who also address similar and related issues.
Mission Statement
The Immigrant Justice Network works to build an organized effort to eliminate unjust immigration penalties for immigrants entangled in the criminal justice system and to end the criminalization of our immigrant communities.
Vision
The Immigrant Justice Network seeks to:
- Lessen the impact of immigration consequences of crimes;
- Heighten awareness of these issues in the media and in the public so that people understand how government policies and actions are continuing to criminalize immigrant communities;
- Encourage more social justice organizations and networks, such as immigrant rights, juvenile justice, and criminal justice groups to incorporate these issues into their own work; and
- Establish and build upon existing relationships with key players within the criminal and juvenile justice advocacy community.
The Problem
A backlash against immigrants from powerful forces within our government and society has accompanied the steady increase during the past two decades in the number of immigrants who reside in the United States. While this backlash caused concern prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks, federal and state governments in the post-911 world have targeted enormous resources on our immigrant communities in ways that previously were unimaginable. This backlash is evident in both the enactment of sweeping new laws and their overly-aggressive implementation that have steadily eroded immigrants’ human and civil rights and liberties, and the continuing introduction in Congress of similar ill-conceived measures. Read more...
What IJN Does to Address the Problem
Legislative Advocacy
Advocates for fairer laws and policies relating to deportation of noncitizens facing unjust immigration penalties, specifically to:
- Narrow the definition of “aggravated felony” under immigration law to reflect common sense, proportionality, and the American system of justice and not mandate life exile for an overly broad range of offenses nor target minor violations of the law.
- Restore a sense of fairness and balance to the U.S. system of justice so that people have a fair day in court and judges are given back their power to hear cases and make individual determinations.
- Ensure that rules are not changed in the middle of the game, the punishment fits the crime, common sense and our system of checks and balances are restored.
Defends against the expansion of current unjust deportation laws and the erosion of due process protections and civil liberties found in legislative proposals, such as the criminalization and deportation of youth noncitizens as a result of alleged gang affiliation and activity.
Public Education
IJN uses its’ expertise in the intersection between the immigration and criminal justice systems to share information and provide support to groups that are affected by these highly complex issues. For example, it conducts Deportation 101 Trainings to highlight the intersections between these two systems while tying them to other social justice movements.
Outreach/Organizing/Collaborating
IJN builds relationships with other social justice organizations and networks, such as the juvenile justice and criminal justice coalitions, to inform them of the intersections of their work with the immigration system and to encourage them to incorporate our issues into their own work.
Media and Messaging
IJN provides support to organizations and networks on how talk about these highly complex issues in the media, the general public, and other forums, while also proactively getting more media to cover these issues so that the public and legislators are increasingly aware of what is happening to noncitizens and the American system of justice.
IJN Projects
IJN Projects
SENTENCED HOME
 In spring 2007, IJN promoted Sentenced Home, a PBS documentary on the plight of Cambodian refugees who each made rash decisions as young teenagers and as a result have been deported or are facing deportation without any opportunity to have a second chance to stay in this country. In anticipation of its’ national broadcast on Independent Lens on May 15, 2007, IJN coordinated and participated in various community outreach events featuring free screenings of the film throughout the country. IJN created many of the Sentenced Home resource materials and helped shape the panels and the discussions at the screenings.
Sentenced Home Action Toolkit – click here
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions About Detention and Deportation – click here
What Really is an Aggravated Felony and Why is the Definition Overbroad? – click here
How immigrants are being denied a fair day in court – click here
To learn more about criminal immigration issues, campaigns, and actions go to our members’ and allies’ websites:
Immigrant Legal Resource Center – www.ilrc.org
The Immigrant Defense Project – www.immigrantdefenseproject.org
The National Immigration Project – www.nationalimmigrationproject.org
Detention Watch Network
www.detentionwatchnetwork.org - Detention Watch Network (DWN) is a national coalition of organizations and individuals working together to reform the immigration detention and deportation system so that all who come to our shores receive fair and humane treatment. DWN members work collaboratively through committees and projects to educate the public, share materials and best practices, and advocate for change.
The Rights Working Group
www.rightsworkinggroup.org - The Rights Working Group (RWG) is a national coalition dedicated to ensuring the U.S. Government will put into practice America’s fundamental values of liberty and justice. RWG’s strength grows from its diverse membership, which brings together over 200 grassroots organizations from over 30 states with 25 top-level national organizations in fields spanning civil rights, civil liberties, human rights, immigrant rights, faith-based, social services, legal services, advocacy and more.
South East Asia Resource Action Center - www.searac.org
Families for Freedom – www.familiesforfreedom.org
Hate Free Zone – www.hatefreezone.org
Homies Unidos – www.homiesunidos.org
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