COVID-19 I.E. Resource (Guide English) - Text 'RESOURCES' to 797979 to get the list of resources available to the immigrant community for the of IE
Coronavirus Guia de Rescursos para IE (Español) - Envíe 'RECURSOS' al número 797979 para obtener una lista de recursos para la comunidad inmigrante en el IE.
History
In 2008, Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Rutilio del Riego convened Immigrant leaders in the Inland Empire Region. His call was to unify leaders in the region to begin organizing collectively with a unified message of justice for immigrants. These meetings lead to the creation of the Justice for Immigrants Coalition of Inland Southern California (JFIC). Near the end of 2015 we began a process to assess our progress, identify key opportunities and threats and to identify our capacity needs through a process of strategic planning. We also adopted a new name -- Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice to better reflect our regional and unique identify.
Over the years we have been influential in advocating for the rights of all immigrants. Major victories include advocating for the passage of the California Trust Act (AB 4), which limits cooperation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement. Supporting immigrant youth in their fight for DACA, an executive action that protects immigrant youth from deportation. We supported the statewide push for Driver Licenses for All (AB 60), which has provided over 1 million drivers licenses to undocumented Californians. More recently, we successfully advocated for the passage of a series of laws that would protect immigrants under the new federal administration, including the California Values Act (Sb 54).
We have continued to grow in strength and depth. We have evolved into a dynamic, diverse, and prominent coalition--engine for justice and change in the Inland Region and California. Currently, over 40 grassroots, community, faith-based, legal service, and workers rights organizations are part of the Coalition.
The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice is a project of Inland Congregations United for Change Inc, a 501(c)(3) organization.
Staff
Our team is composed of highly skilled, competent and passionate professionals and volunteers
Javier Hernandez, Director
Javier Hernandez is an immigrant and queer leader fighting for immigrant rights in the Inland Empire (IE). Javier believes that justice for immigrant communities includes addressing all the intersections that are crucial to the undocumented identity such as health, poverty, criminalization, and other disparities that keep the undocumented marginalized. He has advocated and taken direct action...
Lyzzeth Mendoz, Community Engagement and Policy Associate
Lyzzeth Mendoza was born and raised in the Inland Empire, acquired a Bachelor's degree in American Studies and Public Relations from California State University of Fullerton. As a person of faith with a strong desire for social justice, Lyzzeth has been active in immigrant rights, public policy, and advocacy for over eight years. Lyzzeth has gathered community organizing and community engagement...
Aidé Arana, Capacity Building Coordinator
Aidé Arana was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco. She has lived in the City of Corona for 19 years. She attended Norco Community College where she was able to obtain three Associate Degrees. She then transferred to the University of California Riverside where she obtained a B.A. in Sociology Law and Society. She served as Outreach Coordinator at Providing Opportunities Dreams and...
Jennaya Dunlap, Deportation Defense Coordinator
Jennaya Dunlap was raised in Southern California, and has lived in the Inland Empire for most of the past 15 years. She grew up in Southern California in an abusive home, leading her to find refuge and support in the local immigrant community as a teenager. As she became aware of the systemic abuses and injustice faced by immigrants, especially in communities of color, the fight for justice and...
Lizbeth Abel, Immigrant Detention Coordinator
Lizbeth (Castillejos) Abeln was born in Chiapas, Mexico. She was raised in Bloomington, CA and later moved to Orange County to pursue her Bachelors Degree in Political Science at the University of California, Irvine. Lizbeth has advocated for immigrant rights in higher education and also in her community, where she has served as the Southern Region Coordinator for the California...
Mario Perez, Immigrant Justice Fellow
Mario Perez was born in Mexico City and arrived to the United States when he was five years old. As previously detained immigrant that is directly impacted by the broken U.S. immigration system, Mario is passionate about sharing the plight that the immigrant community faces. His current goal is to provide humanitarian, legal, and emotional support to people detained or being released from...
Campaigns
Here are some of the campaigns that IC4IJ is proudly leading! Message us today to get involved!
Undocumented Californians contribute billions of dollars to California’s economy, yet more than a million lack access to affordable health care coverage. Health care is a human right and providing health coverage to everyone – regardless of immigration status – is the right thing to do. Join us in fighting for #Health4All because a health care system that excludes anyone, hurts everyone.
It is estimated that there are 300,000 undocumented individuals living in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. With those living in San Bernardino County with only having access to restricted Medi-Cal (Emergency Medical).
Our goal is to continue increasing health access for everyone. We are currently working on the following campaigns:
In 47 other counties in California, non-emergency care services are provided for adult undocumented immigrants, according to the report titled “Coverage of Undocumented Immigrants.” San Bernardino County is 1 out 11 counties in California that does not have a county safety net program that covers undocumented adults. There are various existing state programs that provide undocumented adults with significant coverage. In other counties the coverage is available for services like prenatal care, breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment, HIV/AIDS related treatments, emergency situations, STD screenings and treatment and family planning services.
#Health4All SB 974
Health4All Act removes an eligibility barrier to full-scope Medi-Cal for low-income undocumented adults. SB 974 builds on the gains California has made and takes the Golden State one step closer to universal coverage. Ensuring that everyone has access to health care, regardless of their immigration status.
The rural community of Adelanto, California, is home to an immigration detention facility, a county jail, a state prison, and a neighboring federal prison that together hold an overwhelming 9,965 people—almost one third of the city’s total population. With the unrealistic belief that prison building would revitalize the community, Adelanto struck a lousy deal that failed to make the city live up to its slogan of “Unlimited Possibilities.” Instead, the community suffers from a dearth of jobs, persistent low median income, an unhealthy prioritization of jails over schools, political scandal, and a populace that has come to view the local prison economy as a blight and a drain. To make matters worse, while the city continues to teeter on the edge of bankruptcy, large private prison corporations rake in millions of dollars in revenue from federal contracts secured by Adelanto. On July 1, 2015, one of the most profitable private prison corporations, The GEO Group (GEO), finished expansion of the Adelanto Detention Facility (ADF), making it the largest adult immigration detention center in the United States with the capacity to imprison 1,940 men and women.
The Adelanto Detention Facility currently houses our immigrant community that is currently waiting for their immigration court hearing. While in detention our individuals have suffered from mistreatment, inadequate healthcare, overuse of solitary confinement and even death. There has been 6 deaths since ADF began its operations in 2011.
Press
IC4IJ has been recognized by the local press for positive contributions to the community.
CBS
New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/opinion/letters/detainees-abuse
Orange County Register
UCR Today
Press Enterprise
Daily Bulletin
San Bernardino Sun
INovember 10, 2015:
Inland region reacts as Obama plan is readied for Supreme Court
November 6, 2015:
Protesters gather at Adelanto facility
September 14, 2015:
SAN BERNARDINO: Immigrant rights group launches petition against city clampdown on street vendors
July 17, 2015:
IMMIGRATION: Confusion, panic as some immigrants must return invalid work permits
June 4, 2015:
IMMIGRATION: More back legal path for undocumented residents
May 1, 2015:
Heated debate over immigration makes its way back to Murrieta
April 11, 2015:
IMMIGRATION: Parents fighting for kids to stay in U.S.
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