Nephtalie Jacques

National Hotline Manager | She/her/hers

Nephtalie Jacques manages Freedom for Immigrants’ National Immigration Detention Hotline, a nationwide hotline connecting immigrants in detention to their family, resources, and abuse documentation support at no cost to them.

As the National Hotline Manager, Nephtalie oversees FFI’s hotline team and civil rights complaints submissions, as well as expands the hotline’s reach to support and empower those inside detention. She works to foster collaboration between detained leaders and FFI’s broader organizing and advocacy efforts. Nephtalie has over five years of experience of advocacy, community organizing, and litigation support on systemic issues around criminal justice reform, children’s rights, and direct services to people in immigration detention. Nephtalie is a proven and dedicated leader and advocate driven by her relentless passion for justice. With her unique blend of technical expertise and profound compassion, Nephtalie is an invaluable force for good in the fight for human dignity, equality, and social change. 

Nephtalie’s expertise spans litigation support, client management, and community outreach/engagement. Her work is guided by a deep sense of empathy and strategic insight, with a focus on empowering individuals, amplifying the voices of those often silenced, and creating lasting, positive change. Prior to joining FFI, Nephtalie was a County Organizer for Florida Rising, training volunteers to engage the public in local, state, and national elections. She also has experience as a Senior Litigation Advocate at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a Youth Justice Fellow with the National Juvenile Justice Network and an intern with American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In every position she’s held, Nephtalie brings her dedication to breaking down barriers and championing human rights for all. To her, abolition is not just about closing down prisons and detention facilities, but about creating systems and structures that prioritize care, rehabilitation, and the holistic well-being of people. To achieve that goal, we must address the root cause of racial inequalities that permeate every aspect of society, from education and health care, to carceral systems.

Nephtalie is passionate about mentoring youth, facilitating group discussions, and designing programs that empower individuals to become change-makers. Through her work on the “Keep Her Safe” report, which documents Black girls' experience with school resource officers in Miami-Dade County, she enjoyed training the co-authors on how to advocate for themselves and how to organize to make change. Nephtalie continuously seeks ways to build a more inclusive and just society. 

One of Nephtalie’s guiding beliefs is: “Everyone has a platform, whether it’s one person, five, or millions. I hope you choose to use it to make the world a little safer and better for others.” As a Haitian immigrant, she will always be grateful for her family’s resilience, sacrifice, and love. Their unwavering support has shaped who she is today, instilling in her a lifelong commitment to advocate for those who face adversity. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering at her local church, hiking, and walking with her dog, Piper.