Reimagining Immigrant Justice
in Arizona

In 2023, we celebrated a remarkable triumph as our clients, Farshid & Sima, were granted asylum after fleeing Iran following their conversion from Islam to Christianity. This incredible achievement illustrates the power of community.

‍Jessica’s journey to the U.S. is one she does not wish upon anyone. “Everything I suffered on the journey from my country to the United States was very heavy.”

Paola is from Mexico and moved to the U.S. in 1986 when she was five years old. Paola explains, "I consider myself to be an American, but just don't have the documents to prove it."

Patient is a democracy rights activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After numerous politically motivated arrests and beatings and the murder of his mother, Patient and his family fled the DRC in 2016.

Originally from Oromia, Sena, a Black Muslim womxn, is the chief of staff at the Arizona Coalition for Change. Within the last 3 years, Sena has made her mark in Arizona.

Jovana is Phoenix born and raised. She has been organizing and fighting with her community against the injustices in the immigration and criminal system since 2007.

Ylenia is proudly from Orizaba, Veracruz, México. Growing up she would spend her summers in Veracruz with her grandmother who is indigenous to the land.

Diana immigrated to the US from Mexico as an infant. She would describe herself as an artist, a daughter of immigrants, “and basically the first person to make a life” in the U.S. from her family. Growing up in a working-class family she was often left alone.

Miros is a dreamer, not only because she has Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) a status awarded to undocumented youth known as Dreamers, but also because she is someone who imagines a just world for her community.

Joe is from Durango, Mexico; he came to the U.S. At nine years old. He has lived in the U.S. for more than 50 years. Growing up he always had an artistic spirit, he loved to spend time drawing and imagining new ideas.

Bertica was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The beauty of the island was her first inspiration for becoming an artist.

Oliverio was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico. He is a multimedia artist whose practice includes painting, music, murals, mosaic art, films, and photography, being a teaching artist and a scholar of the ancient Mesoamerican cultures.

"Like any human being we are always looking for a way to survive and protect our loved ones, our newborns, our children."

Karla is the Liberation Project Coordinator at Trans Queer Pueblo, an autonomous LGBTQ+ migrant community of color in Arizona.

"I truly believe in the American vision, where we welcome whoever wants to come here—and bring their identity with them."

“So often decisions are made without the story of us — but our story is POWERFUL, our community's voice is POWERFUL.”

"My commitment to social justice and to immigrant rights is deeply rooted in my own family's stories."

"I stand with my Phoenix community and fight to ensure we are all seen, loved, and valued in America."

Astrid immigrated when she was 19 with her three-year-old daughter fleeing domestic violence.

Elsa is a mother and activist who has been working toward immigrant rights within her community.

Ricardo migrated from Mexico in 1991 when he was about 21 years old.

Tarteel is a Sudanese-American organizer, poet, activist, and social media content creator passionate about racial justice and humanitarian activism.

Since 2010, Sonia* has been fighting for her right to stay in the US with her two daughters, and in March 2024, she finally won!

Teodora was born in Puebla, Mexico. She is a passionate mother and grandmother, as well as a tireless activist.

Robyn grew up in Arizona from the age of two believing she was American. Only in high school, when she tried to get a social security card and an ID to work, did she learn that she was “illegal.”

Farshid is a man of many talents and interests. He holds a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Tehran, Iran, has co-authored four nursing books in his native tongue of Farsi, and is currently working to obtain his nursing license here in Arizona.

Dusenge is a second-generation refugee, both she and her parents were born in refugee camps in Africa, in Congo and Tanzania, respectively. 

Diego is a Phoenix native with proud Mexican-American heritage. He specializes in graphic design, photography, and digital strategy, expertly combining these skills to create intentional storytelling and branding.

Iris is a lesbian, mestizo woman, with roots from the Ch'orti Maya people. She was born in a town called Morales, Izabal in the country of Guatemala.

Jose was born in Mexico City and raised in the state of Guerrero. Here is where he spent his youth vibing to Mexican rock bands like Caifanes and El Tri. ¡Que Vivan Los Rockeros! (Long live the rockers!)

For the last fourteen years, Felix has been growing his craft; he creates balloon decorations, altars, and more, primarily for religious celebrations in his Yoruba faith. For him, this creative process is like therapy, he gets absorbed in his designs and forgets about the rest.