23rd Annual Human Rights Awards Program Book

THIS IS A CRITICAL MOMENT to bolster our work to defend
immigrants and people seeking asylum in the United States. Our country’s
obligation to uphold values of human rights must extend to people at our
borders who are seeking refuge. Inaction increases the risk of racist policies
that have long plagued the U.S. immigration system becoming further
entrenched. We must work together to protect the rights of immigrants and
asylum seekers, regardless of their race or country of origin, to ensure that
all people have access to the safety, protection, and stability that they need
to thrive.
In the face of mounting challenges, this past year, NIJC:
• Litigated and won a lawsuit against ICE to end racial profiling in mass
raids and traffic stops;
• Collaborated with civil rights leaders to condemn violence against
Haitians at the border and to end Title 42 expulsions that target Black,
Brown, and Indigenous people;
• Launched a universal representation pilot program with the Cook County
Public Defender and partner organizations that created an infrastructure
to reduce racial disparities in the immigration system and ensure
immigrants have access to counsel;
• Helped to secure legal status for thousands of families, LGBT individuals,
asylum seekers, survivors of human trafficking, and survivors of crimes.
For more than three decades, NIJC staff and pro bono attorneys have ensured
human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees, and
asylum seekers through a unique combination of direct services, policy reform,
impact litigation, and public education. NIJC partners with more than 2,000 pro
bono attorneys from the nation’s leading law firms and provides legal services
to 10,000 people each year. The Human Rights Awards is NIJC’s signature event.
Thanks to your support, many people and families will continue to have access
to life-changing legal services and programs that protect their rights.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH NIJC
TO ADVANCE JUSTICE FOR ALL!
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