(Washington, DC) – Today, in celebration of National Citizenship Day, Mayor Muriel Bowser highlighted her commitment to protecting immigrant residents’ rights and helping more District residents realize their dream of becoming American citizens. This year, the Mayor increased funding for the Immigrant Justice Legal Services (IJLS) grant program to $3.5 million, and today, announced 24 grantees.
“Together, in the District, we’re giving more immigrants in our community a fair shot at citizenship,” said Mayor Bowser. “This represents our unwavering commitment to upholding our DC values and protecting the rights of our neighbors; it’s an example of how we can work together as a community and use our local resources to break down barriers to citizenship, inclusion, and opportunity.”
In her FY22 Fair Shot Budget, Mayor Bowser allocated an additional $1 million towards the IJLS grant program, bringing the total amount awarded to community and private organizations that offer legal services and programs to immigrants living in Washington, DC, from $2.5 million to $3.5 million. Additionally, the number of programs funded increased from 20 to 24, with four new grantee organizations. Since launching the program in 2017, Mayor Bowser has continually invested in the program, which has become a national model for protecting the rights of immigrants.
The IJLS grant program offers legal services and resources to immigrant residents and their family members. The program complements other community grant programs run by the various constituent service offices and the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants. Mayor Bowser’s IJLS program also assists residents by offering courses related to the importance of knowing one’s rights. The program targets, but it is not limited to, Green Card holders, torture survivors, survivors of domestic violence, Dreamers, TPS holders, community members who want to become American citizens, residents detained by the federal immigration or customs enforcement, and people wishing to make emergency preparedness plans with their families.
The following organizations and programs will receive funding for FY22:
- African Communities Together (ACT) African Communities Together (ACT) – DC Immigration Legal Program
- American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Research Institute American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Research Institute – Legal Services for Arab and Muslim Residents of Washington, DC
- Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center Immigration Legal Services for the District’s Asian Pacific Islander Immigrant Community
- Asylum Works – Low Bono Legal Access Initiative
- Ayuda: Community Legal Interpreter Bank
- Ayuda: Consultation and Representation Expansion Program
- Bread for the City - Legal Representation for Immigrant Survivors Project
- Briya Public Charter School - Immigration Legal Services and Education for the Briya Public Charter School Community
- Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition – DC Detained Immigrant Representation Program
- Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) – Immigrant Justice Legal Outreach and Services
- Casa Ruby – Bienvenid@s
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: Immigration Legal Services
- DC Affordable Law Firm: DC Comprehensive Immigration Legal Services Project
- DC Volunteer Lawyers Project - Representation & Legal Advocacy for Immigrant Families (RELIEF)
- Empowerment Legal Services - Empowerment IJLS Project
- Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), Inc. - Access to Justice: Free Immigration Legal Services for Unaccompanied Immigrant and Refugee Children in Washington, DC
- Latin American Youth Center: LAYC Immigrant Justice Program
- Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia: Immigrants’ Rights Legal Services Project
- Many Languages One Voice (MLOV) - Legal Justice for Immigrants, Asylum Seekers and TPS Holders
- Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International: TASSC Legal Services Program
- Trabajadores Unidos de Washington DC: Adult Workers Immigration Legal Services Resources Project
- US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants: USCRI DC Children’s Legal Services
- Whitman-Walker Health - De Colores (DC) Legal Access Initiative
- Your Ethiopian Professionals Network (YEP) - YEP African Immigrants Justice Legal Services