A Year of Unprecedented Challenges

Since January 2025, immigrant children and youth across the Garden State have been forced into the shadows and continue to face impossible situations.

Some examples of recent federal anti-immigrant actions targeting those we serve include:

Unaccompanied children who turn 18 are being summoned to ICE check-in appointments, with some leaving detained or fitted with ankle monitors.
The new One Big Beautiful Bill Act has imposed egregious immigration application fees, designed to dismantle the path to due process, and making immigration relief more inaccessible for countless families.
More young people, including more than half of NJCIC's active waitlist, are being drawn into removal proceedings. Immigrants, even young children, are not entitled to a lawyer at government expense. If they can't afford a lawyer, they must go forward alone.
Unaccompanied children as young as 14 in ORR custody are being pressured to "voluntarily depart" the U.S.
In New Jersey alone, more than 3,200 people have been arrested by ICE since January 20, 2025, which is tearing families apart and increasing fear across our communities.

The challenges and harm continue to grow.

And yet, we head into the New Year with continued resolve.

At NJCIC, we are fighting back with innovative, community-centered legal services, like our Rapid Response Initiative (RRI). Launched this year, RRI provides urgent representation to youth at high risk of deportation including youth in ICE detention, youth with removal orders, and youth aging out of eligibility for relief. It is one of many ways we are working to ensure young immigrants in New Jersey can reach the other side of this moment, out of harm's way, and toward the better future they see for themselves.

This critical work is made possible by the generosity of supporters like you, who stand up for what is right. Thank you for your care and commitment.

Ways Your Solidarity Helps Us Fight Back

Your gift today will help us fight back and start 2026 strong, directly fueling our work by helping us:

Cover essential immigration application fees so that no family has to choose between seeking justice for their child and paying for food or rent.
Create a child-friendly space at the NJCIC office to ensure that children and youth feel safe and supported during meetings with their attorneys and legal teams.
Enhance the impact and reach of our new legal programs designed to serve the most vulnerable populations. In addition to the RRI, we provide holistic, legal representation and wraparound support, through NJCIC's medical-legal partnership known as Florecer, and our educational-legal partnership with the Jersey City Public School District called Beacon.

Thank you for standing with young immigrants when it matters most, and for being a part of our community!

Note: This fundraising platform's tip option is entirely voluntary and helps us avoid paying platform fees. Whether you choose to tip or not, our organization fully receives your donation. However, if we remove the option to tip, each donation would incur a fee. Please understand why we keep this option part of the payment process, allowing our small but mighty team to fundraise with minimal overhead and focus more on our mission. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and makes a real difference in our community!

NJCIC's 2025 End of Year Giving Campaign

Help NJCIC fight back and start the new year strong!