Advocates for Immigrants’ Rights and Reconciliations (AIRR)

AIRR has mostly been involved with local and state policy debates in Kansas and Missouri, in which it opposes proposed legislation that would strengthen law enforcement’s capacity to enforce immigration law. ³

Initiatives

Advocates for Immigrants’ Rights and Reconciliation produces educational material to help illegal immigrants remain in the United States. AIRR runs a series of “Know Your Rights” campaigns to help illegal and legal immigrants navigate the legal system. ⁴ AIRR began offering these trainings more frequently following the second election of President Donald Trump in November 2024. ³ AIRR also operates an accompaniment program where volunteers accompany immigrants to legal appointments. ⁵

AIRR offers an educational presentation to interested groups called “Immigration 101,” in which it provides left-of-center defenses for illegal immigration. ⁶ It also has a national advocacy program through which it encourages its supporters to contact their state and federal representatives to oppose legislation that secures America’s immigration system. ² AIRR also provides illegal immigrants with a list of attorneys who will represent them in deportation and asylum proceedings. ⁷

AIRR also engages in protests in the Kansas City area. In August 2024, AIRR helped organize a protest outside a Missouri House committee hearing on illegal immigration and crime. ⁸ In October 2024, AIRR petitioned Wyandotte County, Kansas officials to provide election ballots and other materials in Spanish. Wyandotte County did not qualify for these translated materials under federal election law. In response, AIRR organized a protest with other left-of-center groups. ⁹

Influence

Testimony

In January 2025, Advocates for Immigrants’ Rights and Reconciliations (AIRR) executive director Karla Juarez testified in front of Missouri state senators to oppose proposed bills SBS 58 and SBS 72, both of which sought to strengthen immigration law enforcement and coordination between Missouri, other states concerned with border security, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Juarez suggested that SBS 72 would increase racial profiling of immigrants by police officers and citizens. ^{10 3 11 12}

Karla Juarez offered similar views to a Kansas City-area panel that included two county commissioner; the Wyandotte County sheriff; the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department police chief; the county administrator; and legal counsel. Juarez expressed opposition to SBS 58 and SBS 72. ³

Safe and Welcoming Wyandotte Act

In 2016, AIRR worked to pass the Safe and Welcoming Wyandotte Act through the legislative council of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City. This act allowed all people in the county to receive a municipal identification card, regardless of immigration status. This allowed illegal immigrants to access education, healthcare, and housing. The act also prevented local law enforcement officers from working with ICE in certain contexts. ^{13 14}

Immigrant Detention Debate

In February 2025, CoreCivic submitted a special use permit for an ICE detention facility in Leavenworth, Kansas. AIRR and several Leavenworth County citizens opposed CoreCivic’s application to operate the ICE facility. AIRR argued that the detention facility mistreats immigrants and should not operate in Kansas. AIRR, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kansas, and New Frontiers released a joint petition to oppose the ICE detention center. As of April 2025, CoreCivic was still in the process of obtaining a permit to operate the facility. ^{15 16}

Partner Organizations

Advocates for Immigrants’ Rights and Reconciliations (AIRR) works with several Kansas-based immigrant-advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kansas, which partners with AIRR to orchestrate “Know Your Rights” events for immigrants. ¹⁷

AIRR also receives support from and partners with several local left-of-center and immigrants’ rights advocacy groups in the Kansas City area, including Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, Allies for Racial Justice, Kansas City Democratic Socialists of America, and others. Together, these Kansas City area groups form a coalition called Boots on the Ground Midwest. ¹⁸

Leadership

As of 2025, Karla Juarez was the executive director of Advocates for Immigrants’ Rights and Reconciliations (AIRR). She has been executive director at AIRR since 2020. Juarez was born in Mexico and immigrated to New Mexico when she was young. Juarez graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in political science and has a background in business management. ^{19 13}

Financials

In 2023, the Advocates for Immigrants’ Rights and Reconciliations (AIRR) reported $182,749 in total revenue, $157,306 in total expenses, and $283,687 in total assets. ²⁰