San Diego County has always been a place of hope, opportunity, and encounter, and our legacy has always been one of welcoming those who come to our door, regardless of where they’ve come from. Our diverse, vibrant community has prided itself on treating people with dignity and respect, and has shared a deep and rich binational connection with its neighboring Mexican city, Tijuana.
The San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, a project started by Alliance San Diego in 2007, seeks to continue fostering our region’s values by defending the civil and human rights of immigrants and refugees, educating and empowering immigrants and refugees on their rights and the resources available to them, and countering the myths and untruths made about immigrants and refugees.
CONSORTIUM ORGANIZATIONS
2-1-1 San Diego. 2-1-1 San Diego’s mission is to serve as a nexus to bring the community (organizations) together to help people efficiently get appropriate services, and provide vital data and trend information for proactive community planning.
ABA Immigrant Justice Project. The Immigration Justice Project (IJP) of San Diego seeks to promote due process and access to justice for indigent immigrants and asylum-seekers through the provision of high-quality pro bono legal services for individuals appearing before the San Diego immigration court and in subsequent appeals as needed. The focus of the IJP is on serving both detained and non-detained individuals. The IJP implements the EOIR Legal Orientation Program (LOP), administered by the Vera Institute of Justice, at the Otay Mesa detention facility and serves as appointed counsel for detainees through the National Qualified Representative Program (NQRP) who are determined to be mentally incompetent in immigration court. The IJP also operates a Pro Bono Program that recruits, trains and mentors volunteer attorneys to represent men and women in immigration court proceedings who would otherwise lack representation.
Alliance San Diego. A community empowerment organization that builds coalitions to promote justice and social change.
Alianza Comunitaria. A coalition of human rights groups, student groups, and community members in North San Diego County that provides a free alert system to community residents who are often targets of law enforcement excessive use of authority.
Alliance for African Assistance. For over 25 years, Alliance for African Assistance has worked to provide assistance here in the United States and abroad to refugees, internally displaced persons, immigrants, those seeking asylum, victims of torture and war, distressed women and children and altogether those suffering from economical hardship.
American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLU). National legal organization advocating for individual rights on a broad array of issues affecting individual freedom in the United States.
American Immigration Lawyers Association — San Diego Chapter. The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.
American Friends Service Committee. Quaker organization founded in 1917 that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service.
American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties. The vision of the American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties is to be the most trusted community service organization in education, preparation and response to natural disasters and human emergencies.They serve more than 3.6 million people and cover nearly 10,000 square miles in San Diego and Imperial Counties as well as American Samoa. The American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties provides food and shelter in emergencies, assists members of our armed forces and their families, teaches lifesaving skills and more. All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people.
Anti-Defamation League San Diego Regional Office. The San Diego Regional Office has been serving the San Diego and Imperial Counties since 1978. Our office strives to keep the community safe through Education, Protection, and Investigation.
Aguilas del Desierto. Volunteer group that does search and rescue operations in the desert and mountainous regions of the border between the United States and Mexico.
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. Founded in 1992, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO, is the first and only national organization of Asian Pacific American (APA) union members. Since its founding, APALA has played a unique role in addressing the workplace issues of the 660,000 APA union members and as the bridge between the broader labor movement and the APA community.
The Bail Project - San Diego. The Bail Project is an unprecedented effort to combat mass incarceration at the front end of the system. The Bail Project pays bail for people in need, reuniting families and restoring the presumption of innocence. Because bail is returned at the end of a case, donations to the Bail Project can be recycled and reused to pay bail two to three times per year. In San Diego, the Bail Project works to pay the bond for immigrants who are going through Operation Streamline proceedings.
Border Angels. Border Angels is a non-profit organization that advocates for human rights, humane immigration reform, and social justice with a special focus on issues related to the US-Mexico border. Border Angels engages in community education and awareness programs that include guided trips to the desert to place water along migrant crossing routes as well as to the border to learn about the history of US-Mexico border policy and experience the border firsthand. Border Angels also works to serve San Diego County’s immigrant population through various migrant outreach programs such as Day Laborer outreach and a free legal assistance program. Border Angels works to dispel the various myths surrounding immigration in the United States and to bring back justice and truth.
California Immigrant Policy Center. The Policy Center seeks to inform public debate and policy decisions on issues affecting the state’s immigrants and their families in order to improve the quality of life for all Californians.
Casa Familiar. Casa Familiar’s vision is to organize and empower residents in San Ysidro and South San Diego to take an active role in their communities by engaging them in the civic, sustainability and quality of life issues affecting our region.
Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego. Faith-based community service ministry of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego that advocates for a just society on behalf of the poor and promotes self-determination for all.
The Center. The mission of The San Diego LGBT Community Center is to enhance and sustain the health and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV communities by providing activities, programs and services that create community; empower community members; provide essential resources; advocate for civil and human rights; and embrace, promote and support our cultural diversity.
Christ Ministry Center. Christ United Methodist Ministry Center is an ecumenical, non-profit faith-based urban ministry agency of The United Methodist Church (UMC). CMC’s purpose is to: provide a nurturing environment for worship, religious education and fellowship for religious congregations in the advancement of religion and ministry; provide a base of operations for charitable and community non-profit* organizations engaged in public benefit ministries; especially relief of the poor, distressed and underprivileged; create and maintain a mechanism to harness the resources of existing non-profit* charities and churches in the San Diego area which enables them more efficiency and effectiveness in helping the helpless.
City of San Diego Human Relations Commission. City commission that conducts and promotes activities that foster mutual respect and understanding; and protects basic human and civil rights.
Council on American-Islamic Relations. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CSA San Diego County. CSA San Diego County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. We have decades of experience as advocates for fair housing and in mediating tenant/landlord issues, and we continue to do so today. Other issues CSA addresses include: hate crime prevention, civil rights of first generation immigrants, human trafficking, youth education, and voter education.
Detainee Allies. Detainee Allies is a grassroots org working with and for people who are in immigrant detention.
Employee Rights Center. Legal service organization that educates employees about their rights and advocates for them as needed.
Espacio Migrante. Espacio Migrante is a bi-national non-profit organization that works in both the Tijuana and San Diego region. Their mission is to protect the Human Rights of migrants and refugees, empowerment of migrant communities, the betterment of their quality of life, research on the migration phenomenon and consciousness raising about these issues within our society.
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego. First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego is a welcoming congregation based in San Diego, CA with a South Bay campus in Chula Vista. The mission of First UU is to create community, nurture spiritual growth, and act on our values to help heal the world.
Global Immersion Project. The Global Immersion Project is a peacemaking training organization that exists to renovate and activate the US American Church as an instrument of peace. Join the Everyday Peacemaker movement and mend the divides in our families, communities and world.
Immigration Center for Women and Children (San Diego). The Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC) is a non-profit legal organization providing affordable immigration services to underrepresented women and children in California. ICWC strives to provide security and stability for children who are abused, abandoned or neglected and for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes.
Immigration Lawyers Acting in the Community. ILAC is a new organization formed to help provide new and young attorneys with the support and mentorship they need to grow professionally in the field of immigration law. Membership is free. In return, attorneys volunteer their time at naturalization and DACA workshops.
Indivisible San Diego Persist. Inspired by the national Indivisible movement, Indivisible San Diego Persist is a grassroots group dedicated to resisting the Trump agenda in America's Finest City. We are a non-partisan, 100% volunteer organization.
Interfaith Justice Coalition. The Interfaith Justice Coalition is a moral movement grounded in faith and social justice, committed to our shared values to create a San Diego County where all people can achieve their full potential in an environment of harmony, safety, equality, and justice.
International Rescue Committee (IRC). One of the first to respond, one of the last to leave. For 75 years, the International Rescue Committee has been a leader in humanitarian relief.
Jewish Family Services of San Diego. Strengthen the individual, enhance the family, protect the vulnerable, with human services based on Jewish values.
Justice Overcoming Boundaries. To nurture and develop grass roots community leaders, empowering them with the tools, skills and support they need to shape public policies that affect them, their families and their communities.
Karen Organization of San Diego. The Karen Organization of San Diego is committed to educational and social enhancement of various ethnic minority groups from Burma who reside in San Diego, California.
Labor Council of San Diego & Imperial Counties. Represents more than 192,000 union workers in the region and advocates for an economy with more jobs, better jobs and better lives for all workers in the region – union and non-union.
Legal Aid At Work. Legal Aid at Work advances justice and economic opportunities for low-income people and their families at work, in school and in the community. The San Diego Workers’ Rights Clinic provides free and confidential information to workers about their legal rights.
MAAC Project. Since MAAC’s beginnings in 1965, its focus has remained constant: To help individuals and families create the lives they want and deserve.
M.E.Ch.A at CSU San Marcos. MEChA is a student organization founded in 1969 that promotes community engagement, political participation, culture, and history. We encourage Chicanx’s to further their education at colleges and universities and to increase their community involvement. As well as strive for educational, economic, and political equality for all Chicanx’s with the purpose of ensuring the self-determination of all Chicanx’s. Create awareness of issues that are affecting the Chicanx community by holding events and collaborating with other on and off-campus organizations to do so and extend our services to the community with our highest capacity for the benefit of La Raza.
M.E.Ch.A of San Diego State University. Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A.) is a student organization that promotes higher education, cultura, and historia.
Muslim American Society Public Affairs and Civic Engagement -- San Diego (MAS PACE San Diego). MAS PACE is a division of the Muslim American Society (MAS) organized as a civic and educational organization. Its primary purpose is to conduct public relations, educate and mobilize the American Muslim community to participate in public affairs and civic activities on a non-partisan bases, and to energize a new generation of community activists.
National Latino Research Center at CSU San Marcos. The mission of the National Latino Research Center (NLRC) at California State University San Marcos is to promote scientific and applied research, training, and the exchange of information that contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the rapidly growing U.S. Latino population. The NLRC’s local and national projects have explored topics such as cultural competency in public agencies, migrant health, environmental justice, educational equity, civic engagement, and community development.
North County Immigration Task Force. The NCITF is a group of advocates, organizations, leaders and community members who work together to empower and voice the needs of our community, to advance immigrant rights in North County, San Diego.
Oceanside Human Rights Council. Community college based human rights organizations that educates and advocates on behalf of immigrants and other community members in Oceanside.
Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. The Partnership for the Advancement of New American’s (PANA) mission is to promote the fair treatment and equitable inclusion of refugee communities using organizing to achieve collective impact and policy change.
Refugee Health Alliance. The Refugee Health Alliance strives to provide comprehensive and compassionate humanitarian medical aid to refugees in need. It is an extensive network of providers, volunteers and students who travel to Tijuana everyday to provide medical care at several of the refugee shelters throughout the city.
Safe Harbors Network. Safe Harbors Network is a 501c3 charity dedicated to creating bed capacity for immigrant asylum-seekers and refugees. Safe Harbors recruits, screens and trains a network of congregations, individuals, organizations and homes who partner with Safe Harbors to provide temporary emergency shelter beds for asylum seekers and refugees. Safe Harbors keeps immigrant families together!
San Diego Border Dreamers. Through advocacy, San Diego Border Dreamers hopes to promote and advance the civil and human rights of ALL immigrants.
San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association. Formed in 1979, with a handful of Latino attorneys, San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association (SDLRLA) has grown to represent over three hundred Latino and Latina lawyers practicing in San Diego County. SDLRLA is one of 18 affiliate bar associations of the California La Raza Lawyers Association, which serves several thousand Latino lawyers practicing in the State of California. SDLRLA’s purpose is to advance the cause of equality, empowerment and justice for Latino attorneys and the Latino community in San Diego County through service and advocacy. They are dedicated to promoting diversity on both the bench and bar. SDLRLA supports law students with mentorship programs and scholarships.
SEIU United Service Workers West — San Diego. SEIU United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) represents more than 45,000 janitors, security workers, airport service workers, and other property service workers across California. The mission of SEIU-USWW is to lead the way to a more just and humane society; building power for all service workers by developing member leadership and activism, winning strong contracts, organizing unorganized service workers, building political and community power, and engaging in direct action that demonstrates strength and determination to win.
Somali Bantu Association of America. Founded in 2009 as a resource for refugee families seeking to adjust to their new lives in the United States, the Somali Bantu Association of America (SBAOA) educates, serves, and organizes cultural and life-skill training programs in an effort to promote self-sufficiency among the individuals and families comprising not only the Somali Bantu community, but all East African refugees in and around City Heights including Somalis, Congolese, Burundian, Ugandan, Sudanese and other immigrants. Our clients include men and women, children and seniors, and our services are offered free of charge.
South Bay People Power. South Bay People Power is a non-partisan, proactive group of residents of San Diego County who live near the US-Mexico international border. SBPP is dedicated to promoting policies and practices that reflect the values of justice, fairness and civil rights and to encourage civic engagement among all members of our diverse community.
Southern California Immigration Project. Southern California Immigration Law Project is a public interest nonprofit organization dedicated to providing pro bono and low bono legal services to victims of human and civil rights violations and educating the public about Female Genital Mutilation, a global health issue which can have devastating physical, psychological and social consequences for women and girls.
Survivors of Torture, International. Survivors of Torture, International is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for survivors of politically motivated torture and their families who live in San Diego County.
Unitarian Universalist Refugee & Immigration Services. Provides affordable, trustworthy legal immigration counseling, representation, and resettlement services to marginalized immigrants and refugees; and provides educational advocacy to the larger community.
United Domestic Workers. UDW is a union for homecare workers, by homecare workers, We look after loved ones in our families, or we care for community members who need our assistance. Many of us left paid, full-time jobs to do this work, and we frequently work more hours than we are paid for. Together, we are building a stronger and more powerful presence and voice for caregivers at the legislative level.
United Taxi Workers of San Diego. A multi-ethnic membership-based organization formed in January 2010 immediately following the taxi drivers’ strike of December 2009. High lease prices, harassment by law enforcement and public transportation officials, and a generally languishing taxi industry necessitated better self representation and organization among drivers. Striking drivers appointed leadership and formed UTWSD. Since then UTWSD has lead the charge in effectuating real change for taxi drivers here in San Diego.
Unite Here Local 30. The hotel and hospitality workers’ union in San Diego. We represent 4,500 hotel, gaming, and food service workers throughout San Diego County.
Universidad Popular. Universidad Popular is a community education initiative that promotes civic participation in the community. Universidad Popular helps connect community members with resources to become citizens and information about voting, helps provide meeting space for north county community members, and runs various programs for the community, including Cultivando Liderazgo, Cultivando Dignidad, and Homie Up.