FLORIDA IMMIGRATION LAW AND JUSTICE CENTER’S HISTORY

Welcome to our story. We’re happy to share it with you.

Our History: A Story of Helping and Learning

Our history dates back to 2008 when United Methodist Cooperative/Suncoast in Pinellas County and Church and Community Connections in Osceola formed a program that formally became the non-profit Central Florida Justice For Our Neighbors in 2011. Due to a series of challenges, the organization ceased operations in 2014. That same year, in South Florida, an original Just Neighbors founder, Janet Horman, began serving clients through South Florida Justice For Our Neighbors, a program hosted by Branches, another Florida UMC Conference Outreach Ministry.

In 2017, South Florida Justice For Our Neighbors separated from Branches and sought to revive the non-profit incorporation of Central Florida Justice For Our Neighbors. In the next two years, under the guidance of National Justice For Our Neighbors, the efforts started in Central and South Florida and combined their strengths to become Florida Justice For Our Neighbors.

Today, Florida Justice For Our Neighbors is known as the Florida Immigration Law and Justice Center (Florida ILJ). Over the years, we have been dedicated to assisting immigrants and refugees in navigating the complexities of the U.S. immigration system. Our mission has always been to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality legal support, regardless of their location. With the advent of advanced video conferencing technology, we are now able to make our services more accessible than ever before.

Our Roots: The Birth of Justice for Our Neighbors Network

Immigration Law & Justice Network began as the Justice for Our Neighbors network and grew out of the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s (UMCOR) long commitment to refugees and immigrants. Since UMCOR’s founding in 1940, refugee ministry has been at the heart of its work, guided by Christian values of hospitality to people seeking refuge.

Strengthening Connections: The Post-IRCA Era

After the passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), UMCOR began strengthening its connections with local United Methodist congregations on immigration issues, sending information and alerts, conducting workshops, and speaking out about immigration at church events—all for the express purpose of better enabling congregations to understand and respond to the needs and concerns of immigrants.

Just Neighbors: A Practical Response to Legal Challenges

One of the projects funded by UMCOR was Just Neighbors. Several pastors and attorneys of the United Methodist Church founded Just Neighbors in 1996 to develop a practical response to the legal challenges that immigrants with limited financial resources face in the United States. The organization set out to provide accurate and reliable information and services to the local immigrant community. Today, Just Neighbors continues to offer volunteer-centered legal clinics, compassionate and expert legal counsel, while engaging in outreach to foster mutual understanding between immigrants and the larger community in which they live.

Growth and Transformation: The Emergence of Immigration Law and Justice Network

Based on the Just Neighbors model and with their support, UMCOR established Justice for Our Neighbors in 1999, now known as Immigration Law and Justice Network, which has grown to a network of 19 sites with more than 200 attorneys and staff members, many more volunteers, and supporting over 50 clinics to serve thousands of clients annually.