The Crucial Role of Grassroots Social Organizations in Advancing Immigrant Legal Protections and Reshaping Immigration Policy

Author(s)

Isabella Reynolds, University of San DiegoFollow

Faculty Mentor(s)

María Plascencia

Publication Date

Summer 8-8-2025

Disciplines

American Studies | Ethnic Studies | Immigration Law | Legal | Legal Studies | Nonprofit Studies | Social Justice | Social Work

Description, Abstract, or Artist's Statement

This research project examines how grassroots social organizations contribute to the advancement of immigrant legal protections and shape immigration policy, with a particular focus on formerly incarcerated migrants in California. I focus on case studies and the personal experiences of organizers from Homies Unidos, Border Angels, and other organizations that operate near the San Diego–Tijuana border region. The study illustrates how these groups provide essential services, mental health support, and community-based initiatives for vulnerable and formerly incarcerated immigrants. By conducting oral histories and ethnography as methods for preserving emotional labor and shared memory, this research challenges prevailing narratives that criminalize undocumented youth and marginalized populations, and sheds light on the structural inequities embedded in immigration enforcement. The analysis underscores the importance of collective action, intersectional frameworks, and collaborative policy reform that acknowledges the intersectional realities shaped by race, gender, sexual orientation, and legal status. Through interviews with organizational representatives, this project features firsthand accounts of how migrant justice advocates combat detention, trauma, and systemic barriers that hinder access to justice and liberation.

The project findings illustrate how community organizations serve as indispensable connectors between migrants and safety net resources, which advances humane immigration progress through interdisciplinary outreach, sustainable healing techniques, and reimagined systems. The study argues that transformative immigration reform depends on inclusive, adaptable, and comprehensive strategies that honor migrants’ humanity and promote equitable access to citizenship and social integration. Furthermore, this research contributes to ongoing conversations about immigrant justice by demonstrating how local advocacy and coalitions can influence legislative outcomes and promote systemic improvements rooted in compassion, equity, and increased access to citizenship.