Dear friends of IDP,
Next year will mark my tenth year as part of the Advisory Board for the Immigrant Defense Project. I have been a lawyer representing survivors of intimate partner violence and human trafficking for over fifteen years and have seen how the rigid categorization of people as “good” or “bad” masks the complexity of each of us as humans. I first connected with IDP to shed greater light on the systemic violence survivors and their loved ones’ experiences in the criminal to deportation pipeline. There is no question that the immigration system of double punishment harms survivors, especially survivors with criminal legal system contacts who are low-income, LGBTQ, Black and/or brown. I see this reality in my work every single day.
Like many other lawyers and advocates, for years, I’ve relied on IDP’s numerous resources to advocate for my clients. From Supreme Court and Circuit Court practice advisories, trainings on the immigration consequences of Family Court proceedings, Know Your Rights community education materials in multiple languages and more, IDP is an indispensable partner that elevates my legal practice. I also look to IDP for innovative policy and legislative solutions and best practices for talking about the need to end criminalization.
My work on the Board has given me an inside look at IDP over the last ten years. IDP is a small organization with an outsized impact. Their work, from litigation that narrows harsh immigration consequences of convictions to kicking ICE out of New York State courts, has made life better for survivors. For over 25 years, the organization has consistently advocated for principled changes that allow immigrants the safety and stability they need to thrive. IDP’s staff take the organization’s mission seriously and work incredibly hard. I’ve seen that the organization stretches every last cent out of its limited resources. This year alone, IDP has:
