Making immigrants’ voices heard in the debates that affect their lives

The Haas, Jr. Fund is committed to advancing immigrants’ rights and engaging immigrants as equal and active members of our society. We recognize that immigrants play an essential role in our nation’s economic and cultural life, especially in California—and that without basic rights, immigrants cannot become integrated as responsible members in our communities. We support bringing together diverse groups—immigrant rights, business, labor, civil rights, faith organizations, and others—to pursue a shared vision for improving communities.

The Fund invests in litigation, education of the public, policy analysis and organizing to create a strong movement with a shared agenda for broad immigration reform. We are particularly focused on earned legalization, in which undocumented immigrants can advance toward legal status through education and work. We are also interested in reunifying families by reducing long waiting periods and immigration backlogs. We work to bring immigrants’ voices to bear on the policies that affect their lives.

Over the past five years (2003-07), the Fund has made grants totaling more than $13.6 million to support immigrant rights. ( see chart )