National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR)

Results: In 1986, a diverse group of grassroots community groups and faith, labor and civil rights leaders who met during the campaign for immigration reform—that would eventually give us the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, or IRCA—formed the National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights. While the compromise bill provided welcome legalization for millions of undocumented, it also set in place the criminalization of undocumented immigrant workers and the growing militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border, that we have continued to fight ever since. At the time, our movement also worked on the refugee issues of the day: hundreds of thousands of Central American and Haitian refugees fleeing repression, war and violence in their homelands. And so we became the network for “immigrant and refugee” rights. From the onset we were grounded in the defense of the rights of all immigrants and refugees. We were also very clear that immigration and immigration policy were not just “domestic” issues, but were framed and affected by global geo-politics: We further recognize the unparalleled change in global political and economic structures which has exacerbated regional, national and international patterns of migration and emphasize the need to build international support and cooperation to strengthen the rights, welfare and safety of migrants and refugees. While we have revisited our Mission Statement several times over the years, these core elements have remained in place and our program, which has evolved over the years, continue to reflect this mission. NNIRR is values-driven. We are centered by a human rights framework, respect and support for migrant leadership, and the commitment to challenge racism and xenophobia in all its manifestations. We take action with global partners to build a strong international migrants’ rights movement. We support and lift up the local organizing for migrant rights, and bridge the local work to national and international migrant rights advocacy spaces so that impacted communities can represent their constituencies that are bearing the brunt of policy consequences. 35+ years is a long time, but we continue to be inspired by the collective commitment of groups and individuals who have travelled this road with us. While these are values and tasks that are typically not “popular” or “fundable”, and progress is often slow, we have every basis to remain hopeful and determined, and we recommit ourselves to take on the daunting challenges in the days, months, and years to come.

Target demographics: Our constituents include immigrant and refugee community members, advocates, activists and organizations; immigrant rights supporters; and allies among the faith, labor, women’s rights, environmental, civil rights and civil liberties sectors. The main targets of our activities and functions are those directly involved in a variety of roles within immigrant and refugee communities. Our constituents are diverse, the majority are immigrants or first and second generation members of immigrant communities.

Geographic areas served: National with offices in Oakland, CA & El Paso, TX

Programs: The organization provides grassroots organizational and individual members, partners, media and the public, information on immigration policy and related developments through its website, electronic and mail communications, organizing, conferences, meetings and publications. Online communications regularly benefits more than 20,000 individuals and organizations. NNIRR facilitates national and regional conversations on human rights, immigration policy, international migrants rights and intersectional issues of migration and climate, gender, labor and racial justice. NNIRR conducts conferences, meetings and consultations, capacity building with grassroots groups, and publish online media statements, blogs, analyses and commentaries on immigration policy issues. The organization also leads research on issues related to its main concerns and publishes analyses and commentaries on issues such as immigration policy, enforcement, border policy, trade policy, human rights, migration and development, and climate and migration.