Immigrants and refugees are our family, neighbors, classmates and friends — and are an integral part of our region. They should be welcomed and treated with dignity and respect. 

The San Diego immigrant Rights Consortium (SDIRC) prioritizes its advocacy work within the San Diego immigrant, asylee, and refugee community. SDIRC advocates for policies that advance the human and civil rights of immigrants and refugees on the local, statewide and federal levels, to advance SDIRC’s mission of advocating for the rights of immigrants and refugees, educating and activating immigrant and refugee communities to advance civil and human rights and develop leaders, and connecting immigrant and refugee communities to services and aid. 

SDIRC has worked with partners on many advocacy projects, including Welcoming San Diego, California Immigrant Day, and on the federal level as a partner of the Southern Border Communities Coalition.

We should treat immigrants and refugees the way we’d want ourselves and our families to be treated, and as a community uphold our values of diversity, inclusion and respect. While the Trump administration has employed the most insidious policies and actions against communities, there has been a long history of injustice and abuse in the immigration system. Immigrants and refugees deserve to have their rights respected and protected, just like we all do. A key component of this is making sure the immigrant and refugee community know their rights, and are aware of the resources available to them. 

The San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium (SDIRC) is committed to engaging, educating and activating immigrant and refugee communities as partners in advancing civil and human rights. SDIRC partners with local and statewide organizations to host events and lend expertise on immigration policy and issues, offer support, education and outreach on the latest news regarding immigration policy, know-your-rights presentations, and citizenship through naturalization application workshops.

Everyone wins when we foster safe and healthy communities for all by celebrating the rich diversity and cultural heritage of our immigrant and refugee communities, and empowering them to thrive. 

The San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium (SDIRC) strives to assist immigrant and refugee communities with services that aid and empower them. SDIRC does this by providing free-to-low-cost legal services through its partners. 

SDIRC also assists immigrant & refugee communities with services and programs such as the Borderlands Get Free Fund, advocacy work around immigrant detention, and continued support with the One California State Funding project.

Strengthening the impact and reach of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Coalition (SDIRC) is critical to the consortium’s success. SDIRC dedicates time to coalition development in the form of trainings, general meetings, planning, recruitment, strategic planning and communications training.

SDIRC also works in building regional ties for collaboration with neighboring coalitions, including the Coalición Pro Defensa del Migrante, and Resilience Orange County. SDIRC also works to develop regional capacity and advance pro-immigrant policy in its work with its partners at the California Immigrant Policy Center.

In the spirit of strengthening and empowering local community leaders, SDIRC also works to develop advocates, empowering them to become future board members, and beyond.