Junta for Progressive Action

One-day Mobile Mexican Consulate at JUNTA. August 14, 2004

JUNTA recognizes that immigrants make significant contributions to their respective communities, and supports the rights of all immigrants to lead healthy, productive and wholesome lives, irrespective of their legal status.

The aim of the Immigrants' Rights agenda is to strengthen human rights protection, ensure justice and provide direct assistance and support to immigrants in the Greater New Haven area. JUNTA’s Immigrants’ Rights program comprises of the following major components:

(1) The Workplace Justice Project (WJP) - JUNTA works with immigrants’ workers who have been victims of harassment, intimidation and workplace abuse. JUNTA collaborates with the aggrieved workers to help determine the most effective strategies to remedy injustices, and provides direct support in a number of ways, including direct advocacy and legal representation. JUNTA believes that all immigrant workers and their families deserve to work in a clean and safe environment free from abuse in any form.

(2) Public Policy – JUNTA works on public policy issues in the area of immigrant rights issues at the national, state and municipal levels.At the national and state levels, JUNTA has worked in coalition with civil rights and human rights groups on issues directly related to immigration status, including access to driver’s licenses, in state tuition and the broader legalization movement. JUNTA also works on issues that directly impact immigrants, including violence, police brutality, and exploitation. At the municipal level, JUNTA has been working with City Hall on a number of initiatives aimed at protecting public safety and improving the relationship between New Haven’s new immigrant community and the city of New Haven, including municipal id’s, access to bank accounts, improving police community relations, etc.

(3) Rights’ Education - JUNTA offers workshops and educational forums aimed at informing immigrants of their rights. In partnership with Yale Law School and New Haven Legal Assistance, JUNTA offers regular workshops on immigration law. Additional workshop topics cover rights education in the areas of housing, criminal justice, workers rights, quality healthcare end education and other civil and human rights issues.

(4) Grassroots Activism and Leadership Development - JUNTA continues to support the development of grassroots leadership and organizations. The organization has engaged in capacity building efforts on behalf of other non-profit organizations and in collaboration with Unidad Latina en Acción, has been working to build effective grassroots leadership among immigrants to address issues that directly impact their communities.

Those needing assistance with immigration matters should call (203) 787-0191 to make an appointment.