Our Work
Policy Advocacy
At Justice in Motion, we fight for policies that protect migrants' human rights, ensure fair treatment for workers, and reunite families.
Through our advocacy, we push for laws and policies that create just systems in which migrants can live free of abuse and have full access to justice.
In the face of overwhelming legal and practical barriers, many migrants who suffer labor exploitation, human rights abuses, and human trafficking are powerless to pursue justice after they leave the U.S. Migrants seeking protection from persecution or abuse also have the right to safely pursue legal status in the U.S.
Our comprehensive approach to advocacy not only seeks remedies to stop and prevent abuse but also works to ensure that migrants have full access to the rights and opportunities available to them.
What We Do
Working with Congress
We influence lawmakers to shape policies that uphold the dignity and rights of migrants by:
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Providing evidence-based data and legal insights to support critical policy reforms.
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Leveraging the expertise of our Legal Action team and the Justice in Motion Defender Network to influence legislation.
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Securing funding for agency efforts to protect the rights of migrants.
Engaging with Federal Agencies
We provide technical assistance to government officials to ensure that agencies enforce rules, investigate abuses, and fulfill their responsibilities to protect migrants. Our efforts include:
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Advocating for policy changes that eliminate harmful regulations.
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Reviewing and shaping new government policies to prevent migrant exploitation.
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Holding agencies accountable for enforcing fair labor and immigration standards.
Educating U.S. and Foreign Government Officials
We provide training and technical assistance to U.S. and foreign government officials in Mexico and northern Central America. This training strengthens their ability to assist unaccompanied children and migrants seeking humanitarian protection and prevent migrant labor exploitation.
Our Policy Priorities
Justice in Motion’s current priorities are to protect the rights of temporary foreign workers (H-2 visa holders), maintain migrant access to humanitarian protections (such as asylum and special status for children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned) and prevent migrant family separation policies.
Protecting Temporary Foreign Workers
To prevent human trafficking and exploitation, we collaborate with both U.S. and foreign governments by:
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Strengthening legal protections within U.S. visa programs to safeguard workers’ rights.
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Providing support and education to foreign governments to understand temporary foreign work programs, the rights of workers under these programs, and the resources available to address recruitment or employment abuses that contribute to labor trafficking for temporary workers, such as the H-2 or J-1 visa programs.
Defending the Right to Seek Protection
We work to uphold the rights of asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors by:
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Advocating for policies that protect the legal right to seek asylum.
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Ensuring access to fair hearings, legal representation, and safe processing procedures.
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Pushing for protections that uphold the dignity and safety of unaccompanied minors, ensuring they are not subjected to harmful detention.
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Fighting to prevent separation of migrant families at the U.S. borders. We also work to ensure the U.S. government fulfills its obligations under the Ms. L settlement.
Impact Stories
Stopping Harmful Asylum Legislation in Congress
When anti-asylum legislation gained traction in Congress, Justice in Motion’s Policy Advocacy team sprang into action. Working closely with a coalition of allies, we educated lawmakers, amplified the voices of impacted communities, and built momentum to push back – preserving critical protections for people fleeing violence and persecution.
Defending the Right to Seek Asylum at the Border
In response to a proposed rule by the Biden administration that would have severely limited fair access to asylum at the U.S. southern border, Justice in Motion mobilized quickly. Our Policy & Advocacy team submitted expert comments and galvanized support from numerous advocate groups to push back. Several damaging policies were halted or significantly weakened – helping ensure that the right to seek safety remained a reality during the Biden administration.
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