Tahirih Justice Center

Today on #HumanRightsDay, Tahirih’s Anna Katharina Dechert had the pleasure to speak at the Harris County, TX Commissioners Court about a new resolution, introduced by Lesley Briones, highlighting fundamental human rights, including asylum and migration. Today and every day, Tahirih affirms the human rights of all people that allow them to live in safety and with dignity.

We are thrilled to announce that our very own Payal Sinha will serve as Tahirih's Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement starting in January! Payal currently serves as the Managing Attorney in our San Francisco Bay Area office where she has excelled in building partnerships with law firms, corporations and community partners to ensure Tahirih's clients receive high quality representation and support. As Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement, she will work to strengthen and support Tahirih's pro bono network nationwide. Congratulations, Payal, on this new role!

Disabled survivors of gender-based violence face unique challenges in accessing equal rights and justice, particularly within the U.S. immigration system. As we recognize International Day of Persons with Disabilities this week, Tahirih emphasizes the importance of ensuring that survivors with disabilities seeking asylum have the tools, resources, and support to live in safety and with dignity. #IDPWD Read our new blog post examining the intersections of disability, gender-based violence, and immigration: https://lnkd.in/e-sPa9KY

We are overwhelmed with gratitude to everyone who gave generously on #GivingTuesday. You’ve shown what’s possible when a community comes together for a cause. Your support directly helps create lasting, meaningful change for immigrant survivors – THANK YOU. If you haven’t had a chance to give yet, it’s not too late! We’re so close to our goal and your donation can help us get there. It takes $20,000 to litigate one case against harmful immigration policies and provide a survivor with essential legal representation. Donate today: https://lnkd.in/eBavGbff

This #ThankfulThursday, we want to recognize Natara Williams, a longtime supporter who has served on the Tahirih Houston Local Advisory Council since 2009! Natara is the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Trace Midstream II, a Quantum Energy Partners portfolio company and is currently a member of the Advisory Committee for the Tahirih Justice Center. Natara earned her Juris Doctor degree from Duke University School of Law and has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in International Business and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Stetson University. Natara shared, “I support Tahirih for its commitment to fighting for human rights and the dignity of all people particularly the most vulnerable of our society.” Thank you, Natara, for your commitment to Tahirih's mission serving immigrant women, girls, and all survivors of gender-based violence!

Recently, our Tahirih Greater DC office participated in a community outreach event in partnership with the DC Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA). We connected immigrant residents in Washington, D.C. with important legal resources and social services support. Thank you for your partnership, MOLA, and for supporting our immigrant neighbors!

Update: We have raised more than $12,500 of our $20,000 goal! There's still time to give! Help us meet our goal this #GivingTuesday so we’re prepared to defend the rights of all immigrant women, girls, and survivors of violence! Every gift makes an impact on the lives of immigrant survivors like Maria. https://lnkd.in/eBavGbff

One of my defining characteristics is that I am the eldest daughter of immigrants. It's a responsibility that comes with a lot of anxiety, perfectionism, cultural code-switching skills, and a sometimes overreaching tendency for caretaking. But being a child of refugees has also made me who I am today. And I also know that me and my three sisters won the freaking lottery by being born here. It's a gift I don't take for granted. So today, on Giving Tuesday, I'm asking for you to write a check, Venmo some bread, Pigeon carrier whatever you can spare for an organization near to my heart... Tahirih Justice Center When it comes to immigration reform, President-Elect Donald Trump has promised the following: -Mass deportation of undocumented immigrants -Building huge detention camps with thousands of border agents -Expel anyone suspected of being tied to a criminal organization without court hearings or any form of legal due process -Rollback of all forms of refugee and asylum protections No matter what your politics, this is what he has said his administration will do. And this list fills me with rage. As a board member at Tahirih, I know with certainty what this means: Families will be separated. Victims of violence will be turned away at the border. Women and children will suffer. I genuinely believe we are at a critical moment in history to stand up for the rights of immigrant and refugee women and children. And Tahirih is prepared to deliver. Your support will go towards helping to protect and expand the legal avenues for asylum and immigration that exist, hiring additional lawyers, expanding their policy team, defending victims from wrongful arrest or deportation, and communications support to counteract the anti-immigrant rhetoric of our times. The next generation of refugees and immigrants who will build the future of our country can't wait. Not for our love and compassion. Not for our actions. And not for our support. Let's show them who we are.  Give here: https://lnkd.in/gzWQp-Gq #GivingTuesday #Donate #ImmigrantRights

This #GivingTuesday, we are asking for support from everyone who wants to see stable and secure futures for immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. It takes $20,000 to litigate a case against a harmful immigration policy and provide a survivor with the legal representation they need. Will you help us reach our goal? Contribute here: https://lnkd.in/eBavGbff

All women and girls deserve to live in safe homes and communities. But far too many immigrant women and girls experience violence both in their home countries and in the United States. Today on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we're sharing the story of our client Mariela.* Because of ongoing changes to U.S. asylum policy, she is still seeking safety and stability for her family. Through all the violence and obstacles that Mariela has faced, her determination and hope that she can build a life of safety and dignity for herself and her children has never wavered. That gives us hope too that together we can give immigrant survivors like Mariela the future that they deserve. #NoExcuse #16Days #EndGenderBasedViolence