Advocacy
The Legal Clinic advocates for policies at the local, state, and national levels that support the health and well-being of immigrant communities.
TLC Advocacy Committee
The volunteer-led TLC Advocacy Committee convenes once a month to determine which advocacy efforts TLC will support.
Hawaiʻi Coalition for Human Rights
TLC is part of this recently established coalition of nonprofits, county agencies, and others who serve immigrants and migrants from the nations comprising the Compact of Free Association (COFA), which meets monthly to advocate for fair policies and resources. HCIR and TLC collaborate closely with several of our U.S. congressional delegates and with State legislators, such as those who form the Filipino Legislative Caucus, to craft and support pro-immigrant bills. For more information, visit the HICIR website.
National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA)
TLC is also a member of the NPNA network, one of the largest and most respected immigrant advocacy organizations in the United States. NPNA provides technical training on citizenship requirements, Department of Justice (DOJ) accreditation of legal assistants, and advocacy-related matters. Under NPNA’s guidance, TLC succeeded in bringing the City & County of Honolulu into a national “Cities for Citizenship” network.
TLC has joined NPNA and the Vera Institute of Justice in advocating for Universal Representation. The goal of this federal legislative campaign is to “guarantee the universal right to legal representation for individuals whose life, liberty, or ties to the community are at risk in the immigration system”. For more information, visit the campaign website.
Recent Advocacy Wins
The 2022 Hawaiʻi State legislative session was a tremendous success for immigrants and migrants across the islands. Under the leadership of the Filipino Legislative Caucus and the Hawai’i Coalition for Immigrant Rights, The Legal Clinic and other advocates passed several pro-immigrant bills, including limited purpose IDs, temporary permits for foreign-trained nurses, and significant funding to re-establish immigrant resource centers. Budget items were also approved, such as $1.2 million for legal services for low-income residents, including funding for immigration legal services, and more for the state to expand language access services. Mahalo nui loa to everyone who submitted testimony in support of these bills!