Justice Action Center

New JAC staff alert! ✨ A huge welcome to Brandon Galli-Graves, the newest addition to our legal team as Staff Attorney. Brandon joins JAC following an Immigrant Justice Corps fellowship on RAICES’ federal litigation team, where his work centered on holding the government accountable for harm inflicted on immigrants and pursuing systemic change. Brandon has been counsel in tort suits against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and private prison companies; in Texas v. DHS supporting the defense of parole pathways for individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela; and family separation litigation. He received his JD from BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School. Outside of work, you'll find Brandon rock climbing, mountain biking, playing music, and spending time with his wife and young daughter. Curious about the rest of the team? Meet them all at https://lnkd.in/ejFjN7Ky 👐

Last week, our communications team flew to Washington, D.C., for an immigration convening led by America's Voice! There, we strategized and exchanged ideas with other communicators in the movement, such as the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE, National Immigration Law Center, FWD.us, Estrella del Paso (formerly Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services, Inc.), CHIRLA, & many more ✨ We’re feeling re-energized and clear-eyed about the fight to come and the storytelling power needed to weave a world that will keep us ALL safe 👐 As our Deputy Director Adela de la Torre said during one of the panels, “The practice of hope is what we need to bring with us every single day. Hope means fighting. Hope means being engaged.” More takeaways to come, but thank you again to the amazing AV team for all their organizing!

“I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders.” —Alejandro Advance Parole allows DACAmented folks to lawfully re-enter the U.S. after temporarily traveling abroad. Here’s what Border Advocacy Training Project participants had to say to folks considering Advance Parole 👇 Deciding to apply and finding the right opportunity can look different for everyone, and we know that it can be a worrisome process for loved ones and family members. But as Dulce says, there are organizations—such as JAC, Immigrant Defenders Law Center, and many others—and other DACAmented people who will support you through what can be a transformative experience! Learn more about our Border Advocacy Training Project: bit.ly/JACxBATP 👐 #AdvanceParole #DACADreamer #Immigration

New JAC staff alert! ✨ A huge welcome to Hillary Li, the newest addition to our legal team as Counsel. Hillary joins JAC as an impact litigator and policy advocate dedicated to immigrant justice. She is the daughter of Chinese immigrants and grew up in Oregon, nurtured by the generational teachings and incredible food of both her parents and grandparents. She moved across the country to attend college in the South, where she stayed for more than a decade, including when completing law school at the University of North Carolina. The radical organizing and vibrant diversity of the South, especially in the face of consistent state oppression, inspired Hillary to focus her legal career on fighting for the communities that raised her. Over the last seven years, she has litigated immigrant justice and voting rights cases in Georgia, advocated for the abolition of immigration detention in front of Congress, and represented countless clients who continue to motivate her every day. Outside of work, Hillary is often running or hiking on nearby trails, lifting weights, reading and dabbling in creative writing, and spending time with her husband and their two precious cats. Curious about the rest of the team? Meet them all at https://bit.ly/3Wj2kV6

“After 30 years of not being in Mexico, I feel very, very excited!” — Maricela “I feel like I’m in my country.” — Dulce “I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders.” — Alejandro Four DACA recipients return to Mexico on Advance Parole after decades in the U.S. Through JAC and Immigrant Defenders Law Center's Border Advocacy Training Project, Alejandro, Berenice, Dulce, and Maricela learned about the U.S.-Mexico border and volunteered at a migrant shelter in Tijuana, conducting surveys and assisting with CBP One applications. During the day-long trip, they connected over similarities and differences in their migrant journeys and experienced the transformative power of travel through Advance Parole. For some, it was an opportunity to see family members they hadn’t seen in years. 👐 Learn more about this project: https://lnkd.in/eM97wjpu #AdvanceParole #DACADreamer #Immigration

New JAC staff alert! ✨ A huge welcome to Leila Chreiteh, the newest addition to our communications team as the Digital Manager. Leila (she/her) joins Justice Action Center as a seasoned digital communications strategist who believes effective storytelling is key to building a better, more progressive future. A Georgia native and graduate of Agnes Scott College, she discovered her love of digital campaigning for social good upon founding a nonprofit focused on refugee resettlement on her college’s campus. Over the last seven years, Leila has honed her ability to meaningfully connect causes to their supporters across many different industries, including disability advocacy, immigration law, political campaigning, and tech entrepreneurship. Leila graduated with honors from ASC with a self-designed Human Rights major and independent research focused on the linguistic, legal, and theoretical frameworks of power and oppression. Outside of work, you’ll find Leila reading, quilting, birding, or gardening with her wife and their three cats, four chickens, and an ensemble of wild critters. Curious about the rest of the team? Meet them all at https://lnkd.in/edZtg3P8

#SCOTUS overturning 'Chevron' has widespread implications across several issue areas. What does this mean for the immigrant rights movement? Read our explainer to find out ⬇ : https://lnkd.in/gKPMpxfj

Rico, a #DACA recipient, advocate with the Oregon Worker Relief Fund, city counsel, and college program director, leaves the United States for the first time in 20 years on advance parole. During his educational trip, Rico volunteered at a Tijuana migrant shelter and participated in a Know-Your-Rights presentation. The trip led Rico to reflect on how the immigration system creates barriers to safety. He shared, "My hope is that we can really feel that sense of community at the border in the U.S. so that we aren't dehumanizing people, [...] and that we stop looking at immigration from a punitive perspective and more from a humanitarian perspective." If you are a DACA recipient interested in advance parole, or know someone who might be, there are organizations such as ours (Justice Action Center and Immigrant Defenders Law Center) and many others that can offer support. Contact [email protected] for more information! #HomeIsHere #ImmigrantYouth #ExpandDace #ProtectImmigrants

🚨BREAKING🚨 President Biden's unconscionable executive order today embraces extremist talking points, encourages anti-immigrant rhetoric and violence, and will further endanger the lives of people seeking safety. “Being able to access legal protection when fleeing persecution should not be subject to an arbitrary cap based on the number of people suffering and seeking refuge at our doors on a given week. All people deserve a chance at safety. Unless his Administration reverses course, President Biden will have blood on his hands.”—Karen Tumlin JAC's full statement ➡ https://lnkd.in/dDc64AZW

✨ JAC is growing! ✨ We're currently hiring for the following positions ⤵ 1. Staff Attorney (Legal Department) 2. Counsel (Legal Department) 3. American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Fellowship: Narrative Research Specialist (Communications Department) Learn more about these roles and how to apply at https://lnkd.in/gr66qUsY. (And of course, please feel free to share with your networks!)