campaigns & Coalitions
Working in coalition and on campaigns with directly impacted people and other partners is central to ILAP’s theory of change.
Bringing the information we gather from our legal practice and outreach work across Maine to the table, we work with other advocates to build a more just and humane immigration system on the federal level and to create and protect rights for immigrants on the state and local levels. We are proud to be members of advocacy coalitions here in Maine as well as nationally, bringing our unique perspective and expertise into the national arena.
ILAP is a proud member of the following campaigns and coalitions:
End SIJS Backlog Coalition
The End SIJS Backlog Coalition is a national group of directly impacted youth and allied advocates. The Coalition exists to educate Congress, relevant administrative agencies and the public about the harmful impacts of visa caps on vulnerable immigrant children, and to advocate for an end to the backlog. We aim to center the voices and experiences of SIJS backlog impacted youth, whose stories are the heartbeat of our work and best illustrate how ending the backlog can restore the purpose of the statute — realizing permanent legal protection in the United States for immigrant children who have survived abuse, abandonment and neglect.
Evacuate Our Allies
Evacuate Our Allies is a coalition of trusted human rights, religious, and refugee organizations working alongside veterans and frontline civilians to relocate, welcome, and support the resettlement of as many at-risk Afghans as possible.
Fairness to Freedom
Fairness to Freedom: The Campaign for Universal Representation believes that everyone facing deportation and its devastating consequences needs access to high-quality, independent legal representation, regardless of whether they can afford it. The campaign, launched by the Vera Institute of Justice and the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) and supported by 200+ endorsers, seeks to pass the Fairness to Freedom Act to establish a universal right to federally funded representation for anyone facing deportation.
Let Asylum Seekers Work
Let Asylum Seekers Work is a national campaign calling for urgent congressional action to reduce the amount of time asylum seekers must wait before being eligible to apply for work permits. Specifically, the campaign encourages support for the bi-partisan House Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act, introduced by Representative Chellie Pingree, which would allow people who have pending asylum applications in the U.S. to access work permits after 30 days, as opposed to the current 180-day waiting period.
Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition
The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (MIRC) is the convener of a unique, statewide network of 85 organizations, a majority of which are led by people of color – representing diverse ethnic communities across our state. All coalition member organizations are working to create and support programs and policies that promote immigrant inclusion and integration. MIRC represents member organizations that include immigrant constituency groups, advocacy groups, direct service organizations and grassroots community organizations.
TPS – DED Administrative Advocacy Coalition
The TPS-DED Administrative Advocacy Coalition calls on U.S. administrations to broadly & boldly use blanket protections Temporary Protected Status & Deferred Enforced Departure to safeguard human life, to keep families united, to build a strong U.S. economy and communities, and to promote a U.S. foreign policy rooted in upholding human rights for all.
Welcome With Dignity
The #WelcomeWithDignity Campaign brings together organizations, activists, asylum seekers, advocates, and our community to transform the way the U.S. receives and protects people forced to flee their homes to ensure they are treated humanely and fairly.
