California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance
Mission
The California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance (CIYJA) seeks to establish a progressive and diverse immigrant youth-led organizing effort in the state of California through the development of community-based undocumented immigrant youth organizations. CIYJA is invested in supporting educational, organizing, and advocacy efforts by the member organizations for the enhancement and improvement of the lives of immigrant youth and their families in California. |
History
CIYJA was conceived in January of 2011, born out of the need for statewide organizing infrastructure to support local immigrant youth-led, community-based organizing. Since 2011, the affiliated organizations of CIYJA have increasingly come together to engage in a number of campaigns locally and statewide to advance the rights of immigrants in California. For example, CIYJA’s affiliated organizations played a key role in the achievement of the “California Dream Act,” which enabled financial aid for undocumented students in California. Similarly, we have been and continue fighting to defeat anti-immigrant policies and practices like 287(g) and Secure Communities. CIYJA was also a part of the push for the TRUST Act, as well as for legislation to provide driver’s licenses for all undocumented immigrants in the state. |