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Non-profit

Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project

Website:

firrp.org/
Location:

Tuscon, AZ
Tax ID:

86-0658103
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $34,237,462
Expenses: $17,170,489
Assets: $35,440,366
Type:

Immigration Advocacy Group
Formation:

1989
Executive Director:

Lilian Aponte

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The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project is an immigration advocacy group and legal services provider operating along the United States-Mexico border in Arizona. The group was founded in 1989 to provide free legal services to adults and unaccompanied children who have crossed the border and/or are seeking asylum in the United States. The group also engages in advocacy regarding immigration policy, supporting far-left positions including abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) and other law enforcement agencies. The group has been funded by a variety of left-of-center foundations and law firms including Equal Justice Works, the Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation, and the FWD.us Education Fund. 1 2

Background and History

The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project was founded in 1989 when an immigration judge in Phoenix, Arizona called on “the Phoenix legal community to assist thousands of detained people seeking asylum from civil wars in Central America.” The Florence Project was founded as the Florence Asylum Project with two volunteers providing free legal services at the Florence, Arizona immigration detention centers, from which the group got its name. In 1991, the Florence Asylum Project changed its name to the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project to reflect a focus on immigration assistance issues outside of asylum. 3

In the late 1990s, the group formed a “Pro Se” model that provided detained immigrants with resources to help them represent themselves. In 2000, the group launched a children’s program to direct legal services to unaccompanied minors crossing the border. 4

From 2007 to 2012, the group ran the “Arizona Defending Immigrants” program which sought to educate public defenders in Arizona on the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. 5

Following the 2016 election of former President Donald Trump, the group strongly opposed the Trump administration’s immigration policy, stating that the “Administration attack(ed) immigrants’ rights with new policies restricting access to asylum.” In 2020, the group launched a “Border Action Team to serve more individuals on the border and respond to changing situations” in response to the Trump administration’s Remain in Mexico policy. 6

Stances

The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project has demanded that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (PBP) be abolished. The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project posted a poem on social media in 2023 saying, “Roses are red. Violets are blue. You and me could Defund DHS, ICE, and CBP too!” 7

Funding

The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project is funded by a variety of left-of-center donors, foundations, and organizations. The group also receives pro-bono services and financial support from large national law firms. 8

In 2022, the group announced a “transformative gift from billionaire donor MacKenzie Scott to launch a representation-for-all legal services model in Arizona.” The group also announced another large gift in 2022 from Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, commonly known as the Victory Noll Sisters, to strengthen the Florence Project’s Integrated Social Services Program and Border Action Team. 9

Other funders of the group include Equal Justice Works, the Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation, the AmazonSmile Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Morningstar Foundation, and the FWD.us Education Fund. 10

References

  1. Kaminsky, Gabe. “Kamala Harris promoted fundraisers by abolish ICE activists.” Washington Examiner. August 21, 2024. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3127408/kamala-harris-fundraisers-abolish-ice/
  2. “2022 Annual Report.” Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. Accessed September 2, 2024. https://firrp.org/annual-reports/2022-annual-report/
  3. “Our History.” Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. Accessed September 2, 2024. https://firrp.org/who/our-history/
  4. “Our History.” Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. Accessed September 2, 2024. https://firrp.org/who/our-history/
  5. “Our History.” Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. Accessed September 2, 2024. https://firrp.org/who/our-history/
  6. “Our History.” Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. Accessed September 2, 2024. https://firrp.org/who/our-history/
  7. Kaminsky, Gabe. “Kamala Harris promoted fundraisers by abolish ICE activists.” Washington Examiner. August 21, 2024. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3127408/kamala-harris-fundraisers-abolish-ice/
  8. [1] “Press Release: Florence Project Announces Generous Gift from Victory Noll Sisters.” Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. November 22, 2022. Accessed September 2, 2024. https://firrp.org/florence-project-announces-generous-gift-from-victory-noll-sisters/
  9. “Press Release: Florence Project Announces Generous Gift from Victory Noll Sisters.” Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. November 22, 2022. Accessed September 2, 2024. https://firrp.org/florence-project-announces-generous-gift-from-victory-noll-sisters/
  10. “2022 Annual Report.” Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. Accessed September 2, 2024. https://firrp.org/annual-reports/2022-annual-report/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: February 1, 1991

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form 990 $34,237,462 $17,170,489 $35,440,366 $1,034,697 N $33,680,425 $5,505 $551,532 $371,105
    2021 Dec Form 990 $17,243,235 $14,921,827 $19,480,878 $709,407 N $16,869,118 $29,816 $343,920 $351,019
    2020 Dec Form 990 $15,997,377 $12,900,718 $16,958,238 $711,909 N $15,889,594 $0 $107,783 $0 PDF
    2019 Dec Form 990 $11,851,547 $8,904,584 $13,639,420 $489,750 N $11,568,949 $0 $282,598 $0 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $11,255,870 $5,792,436 $10,772,477 $543,459 N $11,156,616 $0 $100,002 $0 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $4,904,546 $4,451,296 $5,378,481 $612,897 N $4,844,620 $0 $58,837 $0 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $5,572,512 $3,167,756 $4,790,722 $478,388 N $5,540,553 $1,069 $26,006 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,566,987 $2,259,238 $2,223,560 $315,675 N $2,563,818 $840 $1,847 $69,821 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $2,212,768 $1,336,654 $1,893,079 $297,758 N $2,203,751 $1,609 $301 $55,170 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $1,082,775 $1,032,966 $797,548 $76,806 N $1,068,955 $11,769 $302 $72,489 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $974,191 $940,874 $778,876 $109,408 N $898,459 $0 $381 $55,872 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $962,191 $884,955 $797,416 $161,265 N $898,283 $0 $651 $51,756 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project

    PO BOX 86299
    Tuscon, AZ 85754-6299