FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Migliozzi, media@freedomforimmigrants.org
LOS ANGELES — Freedom for Immigrants (FFI) today announced its new mission statement and theory of change, setting forth a new direction for the abolitionist organization centered around its plans to organize alongside community members detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), follow the direction of directly impacted leaders, and more meaningfully support the movement for Black liberation as the group pursues intersectional strategies to tackle the immigration enforcement and criminal prison systems as one.
“We’re thrilled to be stepping into this new chapter at FFI as we fight alongside our community for an unflinching vision of abolition that is both intersectional and rooted in radical love,” said Laura Hernández, executive director of FFI. “Our struggle is one of collective care, abundance, and interdependence; of actively creating a world in which Black, Indigenous, and People of Color can not only live in safety, but thrive and lead dignified lives.”
To pursue its new mission, FFI developed a theory of change to guide its future work. Anchored by five principles, the theory of change encompasses a guiding set of strategies and values ranging from organizing philosophy to internal practices intended to combat problematic nonprofit structures.
“We’ll take an intersectional approach to building power with and investing in the leadership of incarcerated Black and Brown organizers,” continued Hernández. “We know 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 attain true collective freedom. 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.”
FFI also publicly released today its three-year Strategic Plan. Covering fiscal years 2025-2027, the plan serves as a blueprint to restructure, and eventually grow, the FFI team to fit its new vision of growing a resilient organization that is truly led by currently and formerly incarcerated leaders. New programming and fundraising benchmarks converge around four main pillars: centering directly impacted people; centering Black liberation; working alongside the movement to end criminal incarceration; and restructuring and resourcing the organization to support its new theory of change.
The new mission and plans are the culmination of FFI’s “chrysalis” period, in which staff paused much of its external work shortly after the organization marked its 10th anniversary. The FFI team turned its focus inward to reflect on the lessons learned from its previous decade of impact and strategize about the future role and values of the organization.
FFI’s new mission statement and theory of change can be read in full here.
The Strategic Plan can be read in full here.
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Freedom for Immigrants is an abolitionist organization working to end immigration incarceration by organizing with and following the leadership of currently and formerly incarcerated immigrants. We’re building a future in which all people can move freely and thrive. Learn more at www.freedomforimmigrants.org/.