A Proud Member of Arizona’s Immigrant Community

This land we call Phoenix was inhabited by Native nations for centuries, including the O'odham Jewed, Akimel O'odham (Upper Pima), and Hohokam. All of us, except members of these Native nations and descendants of formerly enslaved people, are immigrants—whether we arrived days, years, or decades ago.

A room full of guests listening to a local immigrant tell their story

Our immigrant community is vast

Arizona’s immigrant community is bigger, brighter, and stronger than many people realize.

275,000

There are 275,000 undocumented immigrants in Phoenix alone.*

1 in 8

1 in 8 Arizona residents migrated from another country.

1 in 6

1 in 6 is a native-born U.S. citizen with at least one immigrant parent.

Immigrants are our friends, neighbors, colleagues, family members, and selves.

*Arizona Immigration Council, "Fact Sheet, Immigrants in Arizona," August 6, 2020

PLAN’s role in the community

We envision an Arizona where all immigrants and their families are safe, welcome, and valued. And we work in solidarity with our local immigrant community to reimagine justice in Arizona.

  • Keeping Arizona families together

  • Centering immigrant voices

  • Creating opportunities for connection

  • Sharing knowledge, building power

Learn about our programs
A panel of three immigrant speakers sitting behind a table

Celebrating and uplifting immigrant voices

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Farshid and Sima surrounded by family and friends outside the immigration courthouse.
Our Impact

Farshid & Sima's Story

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.
Read more
Jessika in a red hat and red scarf smiles for the camera in front of a blank wall
Remembering Our Roots

Jessica: Missing Her Guatemalan Traditions

‍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.”
Read more
Paola sits and smiles for the camera in front of desert plants
In Our Own Words

Paola: Raised in the States

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."
Read more
Patient telling his story at a podium during PLAN's storytelling event
In Our Own Words

Patient: Having Faith in Yourself

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.
Read more
Sena telling her story at a podium during PLAN's storytelling event
In Our Own Words

Sena: Oromo & Proud

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.
Read more
Jovana smiles for the camera in front of desert plants
In Our Own Words

Jovana's Labor of Love

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.
Read more
Ylenia smiles for the camera in front of a blank wall
Remembering Our Roots

A Tattoo on Ylenia’s Soul

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.
Read more
Diana's artwork
In Our Own Words

Diana Amé: Healing Through Art

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.
Read more
Miros speaking at a storytelling event
In Our Own Words

Miros: The Migrant Butterfly

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.
Read more
Joe's sculptures
In Our Own Words

Joe: Moving Forward Through Art

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.
Read more
Berticia's paintings on display at PLAN's storytelling event
In Our Own Words

Bertica: Finding Beauty in Creation

Bertica was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The beauty of the island was her first inspiration for becoming an artist.
Read more
Oliverio speaks about his art with an attendee at PLAN's storytelling event
In Our Own Words

Oliverio: Immigrating For Love

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.
Read more
Gladis walks with a friend down a sidewalk in Mexico
Remembering Our Roots

Gladis: Living Her Values to Pay it Forward

"Like any human being we are always looking for a way to survive and protect our loved ones, our newborns, our children."
Read more
Karla poses for a selfie in front of a rainbow pride flag and a trans pride flag
Remembering Our Roots

Karla : Finding Strength in Community

Karla is the Liberation Project Coordinator at Trans Queer Pueblo, an autonomous LGBTQ+ migrant community of color in Arizona.
Read more
A young Ahmed smiles for the camera with an adult family member
Remembering Our Roots

Ahmed, Loudly and Proudly Libyan-American

"I truly believe in the American vision, where we welcome whoever wants to come here—and bring their identity with them."
Read more
Liz with her family posing in front of the red mountains in Sedona, Arizona.
Remembering Our Roots

Liz Luna, PLAN Board Member, Uplifting the Voices of Mixed Status Families like Hers

“So often decisions are made without the story of us — but our story is POWERFUL, our community's voice is POWERFUL.”
Read more
Erin sitting in a chair and smiling for the camera
Remembering Our Roots

Board President, Erin Scharff, In Her Words

"My commitment to social justice and to immigrant rights is deeply rooted in my own family's stories."
Read more
Rekha with her family
Remembering Our Roots

Our Executive Director, Rekha's, Immigration Story

"I stand with my Phoenix community and fight to ensure we are all seen, loved, and valued in America."
Read more
Felix wearing a tan baseball hat and tan polo shirt
Resilience

Felix

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.
Read more
Jose wearing a black trucker hat and a black tshirt
Resilience

Jose Luis

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!)
Read more
A selfie of Iris wearing a blue shirt and a sun hat
Resilience

Iris

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.
Read more
Diego sitting wearing a black button down and smiling for the camera
Resilience

Diego

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.
Read more
Dusenge smiles in front of greenery
Resilience

Dusenge

Dusenge is a second-generation refugee, both she and her parents were born in refugee camps in Africa, in Congo and Tanzania, respectively. 
Read more
Farshid wearing a suit
Resilience

Farshid

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.
Read more
Robyn smiling in front of a cactus
Resilience

Robyn

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.”
Read more
Teodora tabling for Trans Queer Pueblo at an event
Resilience

Teodora

Teodora was born in Puebla, Mexico. She is a passionate mother and grandmother, as well as a tireless activist.
Read more
Sonia and her lawyer holding up her green card, smiling.
Our Impact

Sonia's Thirteen Year Fight

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!
Read more
A woman with leopard print hijab smiling
In Our Own Words

Tarteel in her own words

Tarteel is a Sudanese-American organizer, poet, activist, and social media content creator passionate about racial justice and humanitarian activism.
Read more
A man with a brown shirt
In Our Own Words

Ricardo in his own words

Ricardo migrated from Mexico in 1991 when he was about 21 years old.
Read more
A woman with a black shirt with a white bow smiling
In Our Own Words

Elsa in her own words

Elsa is a mother and activist who has been working toward immigrant rights within her community.
Read more
A woman with a pink shirt smiling
In Our Own Words

Astrid in her own words

Astrid immigrated when she was 19 with her three-year-old daughter fleeing domestic violence.
Read more
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Arizona’s vibrant immigrant community

It’s time to change the narrative surrounding immigrants in Arizona. Get to know some folks in our local community.

View all
Read more stories
Farshid and Sima surrounded by family and friends outside the immigration courthouse.
Our Impact

Farshid & Sima's Story

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.
Read more
Jessika in a red hat and red scarf smiles for the camera in front of a blank wall
Remembering Our Roots

Jessica: Missing Her Guatemalan Traditions

‍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.”
Read more
Paola sits and smiles for the camera in front of desert plants
In Our Own Words

Paola: Raised in the States

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."
Read more
Patient telling his story at a podium during PLAN's storytelling event
In Our Own Words

Patient: Having Faith in Yourself

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.
Read more
Sena telling her story at a podium during PLAN's storytelling event
In Our Own Words

Sena: Oromo & Proud

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.
Read more
Jovana smiles for the camera in front of desert plants
In Our Own Words

Jovana's Labor of Love

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.
Read more
Ylenia smiles for the camera in front of a blank wall
Remembering Our Roots

A Tattoo on Ylenia’s Soul

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.
Read more
Diana's artwork
In Our Own Words

Diana Amé: Healing Through Art

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.
Read more
Miros speaking at a storytelling event
In Our Own Words

Miros: The Migrant Butterfly

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.
Read more
Joe's sculptures
In Our Own Words

Joe: Moving Forward Through Art

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.
Read more
Berticia's paintings on display at PLAN's storytelling event
In Our Own Words

Bertica: Finding Beauty in Creation

Bertica was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The beauty of the island was her first inspiration for becoming an artist.
Read more
Oliverio speaks about his art with an attendee at PLAN's storytelling event
In Our Own Words

Oliverio: Immigrating For Love

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.
Read more
Gladis walks with a friend down a sidewalk in Mexico
Remembering Our Roots

Gladis: Living Her Values to Pay it Forward

"Like any human being we are always looking for a way to survive and protect our loved ones, our newborns, our children."
Read more
Karla poses for a selfie in front of a rainbow pride flag and a trans pride flag
Remembering Our Roots

Karla : Finding Strength in Community

Karla is the Liberation Project Coordinator at Trans Queer Pueblo, an autonomous LGBTQ+ migrant community of color in Arizona.
Read more
A young Ahmed smiles for the camera with an adult family member
Remembering Our Roots

Ahmed, Loudly and Proudly Libyan-American

"I truly believe in the American vision, where we welcome whoever wants to come here—and bring their identity with them."
Read more
Liz with her family posing in front of the red mountains in Sedona, Arizona.
Remembering Our Roots

Liz Luna, PLAN Board Member, Uplifting the Voices of Mixed Status Families like Hers

“So often decisions are made without the story of us — but our story is POWERFUL, our community's voice is POWERFUL.”
Read more
Erin sitting in a chair and smiling for the camera
Remembering Our Roots

Board President, Erin Scharff, In Her Words

"My commitment to social justice and to immigrant rights is deeply rooted in my own family's stories."
Read more
Rekha with her family
Remembering Our Roots

Our Executive Director, Rekha's, Immigration Story

"I stand with my Phoenix community and fight to ensure we are all seen, loved, and valued in America."
Read more
Felix wearing a tan baseball hat and tan polo shirt
Resilience

Felix

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.
Read more
Jose wearing a black trucker hat and a black tshirt
Resilience

Jose Luis

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!)
Read more
A selfie of Iris wearing a blue shirt and a sun hat
Resilience

Iris

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.
Read more
Diego sitting wearing a black button down and smiling for the camera
Resilience

Diego

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.
Read more
Dusenge smiles in front of greenery
Resilience

Dusenge

Dusenge is a second-generation refugee, both she and her parents were born in refugee camps in Africa, in Congo and Tanzania, respectively. 
Read more
Farshid wearing a suit
Resilience

Farshid

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.
Read more
Robyn smiling in front of a cactus
Resilience

Robyn

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.”
Read more
Teodora tabling for Trans Queer Pueblo at an event
Resilience

Teodora

Teodora was born in Puebla, Mexico. She is a passionate mother and grandmother, as well as a tireless activist.
Read more
Sonia and her lawyer holding up her green card, smiling.
Our Impact

Sonia's Thirteen Year Fight

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!
Read more
A woman with leopard print hijab smiling
In Our Own Words

Tarteel in her own words

Tarteel is a Sudanese-American organizer, poet, activist, and social media content creator passionate about racial justice and humanitarian activism.
Read more
A man with a brown shirt
In Our Own Words

Ricardo in his own words

Ricardo migrated from Mexico in 1991 when he was about 21 years old.
Read more
A woman with a black shirt with a white bow smiling
In Our Own Words

Elsa in her own words

Elsa is a mother and activist who has been working toward immigrant rights within her community.
Read more
A woman with a pink shirt smiling
In Our Own Words

Astrid in her own words

Astrid immigrated when she was 19 with her three-year-old daughter fleeing domestic violence.
Read more
Category
5 min read

Blog title heading will go here

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros.
Read more
Category
5 min read

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros.
Read more
Category
5 min read

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros.
Read more
Category
5 min read

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros.
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros.
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Working in solidarity with local immigrant-led organizations

We develop meaningful relationships with local immigrant-led organizations that share our commitment to social and immigrant justice.

Learn more about our work with partners

Made stronger through the support of local businesses

Businesses play an important role in the immigrant community. Roughly 20% of all businesses are immigrant-owned.

We’re deeply grateful to all the businesses that supported PLAN’s work in 2023.

The Cactus Circle: our community of monthly donors

PLAN has been a community effort since day one. From the initial idea to the ongoing dollars that fuel our work, we wouldn’t exist without the passion and vision of dedicated community members.

The Cactus Circle, our community of monthly donors, provides sustainable support that helps make our work possible.

Support your local immigrant communities by joining the Cactus Circle.

Donate today

“I’m a PLAN monthly donor because I know that my donation will help advocates protect the rights of our immigrant communities—communities that are an important part of Arizona.”

Monthly donor who support Phoenix Legal Action Network

Brenda Munoz Furnish