The Power of Community

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Alabama has seen a dramatic rise in ICE enforcement in our communities. The popular narrative is that ICE is only going after “criminals” (which itself is a dog whistle we know is applied inconsistently based on people's race, class, and presentation) – but the reality is that people being taken are workers, parents and caregivers, neighbors and community members. ICE is not making our communities safer – certainly not for immigrants, and not for anyone else either.  What they are doing is tearing apart families, and making entire communities live in paralyzing fear.

Every day, families in Alabama face the devastating impact of ICE detentions. Parents are taken suddenly, often without due process, leaving children and spouses without support or income. The Alabama Rapid Response Mutual Aid Fund exists to meet these urgent needs—covering legal representation, emergency travel, childcare, and other essentials.

By giving to the Alabama Rapid Response Mutual Aid Fund, you can help ensure that families facing sudden ICE detentions have the resources they need to fight for their rights and stay together. 

The Stories Behind the Movement

One father, fully compliant with his ISAP supervision program, was seized from his own front yard while his preschool-aged child looked on in terror. 

This family will forever be impacted by state violence.

A survivor of human trafficking and labor exploitation with a valid work permit was pulled from her car and detained, despite her protected status, and spent a week in harsh conditions before Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ACIJ) and a volunteer attorney secured her release. Her brother, also a victim of labor exploitation, was tricked into appearing at an ISAP office, then put in detention, leaving his wife and children with no income.

In cases like these, access to legal help and emergency funds can make the difference between prolonged detention and family reunification.

Donate Here to AL Rapid Response Mutual Aid Fund

A Fighting Chance

When someone is detained, they have to request a hearing to be granted (or denied) the opportunity to pay a bond and return home to work, support their families, and contribute to their communities while they await their court date.  If they don't request bond, or if they can't pay the bond they are given, they can remain incarcerated for weeks or months (sometimes even years)

under terrible, inhumane conditions.

Detained people are not provided with a public defender.  While it's possible to request a bond hearing and petition for a bond without the help of a lawyer, it's extremely difficult and has much lower chances of success.

According to the Fair Fight Bond Fund, people who are bonded out of detention are five times more likely to secure a lawyer to fight their case, and people who have a lawyer are twice as likely to win their cases.  People released through bond who also have an attorney are TWENTY times more likely to win their case.  Winning their case means getting to stay and return home to their families, jobs, and communities.

As ACIJ has been in touch with the families of people detained by ICE in the past few months, far and away the most pressing need they've expressed has been for funds to help secure a lawyer.  Most lawyers charge $300-500 for just an initial consultation to review someone's case, let alone the actual legal work to follow. 

On average, a family might pay a total of $1500-15000 in legal fees for a lawyer to manage their immigration case start to finish, and that doesn't count bond, if they're eligible, which is typically $1500 at minimum, but can be much higher (at the discretion of the judge).

Donate Here to AL Rapid Response Mutual Aid Fund