Introducing the new FFI: A message from FFI Executive Director Laura Hernández
September 3, 2024
Dear friend,
Today, I’m filled with joy to introduce to you the new Freedom for Immigrants (FFI)!
When I began this journey as FFI’s Executive Director a year ago, I understood that much needed to change in order to ensure our organization’s work was consistent with my own experiences and beliefs.
Our team agreed change was necessary, and together, we embarked on a transformative process we affectionately called “chrysalis.”
I’m happy to report we are now emerging from our “cocoon” with bold plans to restructure FFI and re-center our work around our communities and an expansive vision of abolition.
To us, abolition means love, collective care, abundance, and interdependence. It means actively creating a world in which Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color can not only live in safety, but thrive and lead dignified lives. A world in which everyone enjoys their fundamental right to freedom of movement!
To reach this vision, we’re going to organize alongside our incarcerated comrades. We’ll disrupt and agitate the detention machine from inside the house.
Crucially, we’ll follow the leadership of directly impacted people. After all, those of us who have suffered oppression first-hand are the real experts in this struggle.
And we’ll take an intersectional approach to building power with and investing in the leadership of incarcerated Black and Brown organizers. We know immigration detention is an outgrowth of the racist mass prison system, and as someone who’s been incarcerated by both the prison system and ICE, I know in my heart we’ll need to tackle these systems as one in order to reach true collective freedom.
The bottom line is this: When Black people are free, we will all be free. That's why we’ll work to support and follow the leadership of Black abolitionists and leaders fighting the criminal injustice system.
So, what does all of this mean?
For starters, we’ll eventually be launching organizing work, as well as advocacy at the intersection of the prison and immigration systems in order to prevent more people from being transferred to ICE, among other exciting new programs.
It also means we’ll be winding down some of our existing programs to make room for this new growth. We’re making internal shifts to ensure our work is focused, sustainable for our staff, and adaptable to the ever-changing needs of directly impacted people.
To help bring our vision to life, we’ve also crafted a three-year strategic plan. This plan provides a clear blueprint for how we’ll continue to build an organization that is resilient and truly led by currently and formerly incarcerated people.
You can read our full mission statement and theory of change here, and our strategic plan here.
And don’t forget — we’ll be holding a town hall on September 10 where I’m looking forward to talking about the future with supporters like you. RSVP for the 6pm ET session here and the 6pm PT session here.
You’ll often hear me say, “We need to move with the movement.” What this really means is that we need to be ready to adapt our strategies to the unique and ever-changing needs of the community.
I’m confident the new FFI sets us up to do exactly that!
Onward,
Laura Hernández
Executive Director
Freedom for Immigrants
Photo by Joyce Xi.