Human Rights First is a left-of-center activism group that seeks to influence through lobbying and litigation the United States government to make changes to the immigration system to accept more refugees.

Advocacy

Immigration from the Middle East

Human Rights First opposed the Trump administration’s Executive Orders 13769 and 13780, commonly referred to as the “travel ban,” which restricted travel from select countries associated with terrorism to the United States. Huma Rights First sought to influence the United States government to remove Iraq from the list of restricted countries, arguing that limiting immigration from Iraq would undermine local Iraqi support for the United States. ¹

During the travel ban, Human Rights First partnered with AirBnb and encouraged individuals to allow immigrants and asylum seekers to live in their homes for free. ²

Immigration from Latin America

Human Rights First, to influence the United States government to accept more asylum seekers from Latin American countries, documented targeted crimes committed against asylum seekers from Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela while waiting to receive asylum status in Mexico under the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. ³

Human Rights First has criticized the Trump administration and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for recommending the closure of the United States’ southern border during the COVID-19 epidemic. Human Rights First noted that some experts within the CDC opposed the decision but went on to call the decision in its entirety a “bogus order” based on differences of opinion on the matter between experts at the CDC. ³

Release of Illegal Immigrants

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Human Rights First used health-related concerns to litigate the release of illegal immigrants from detention centers. Human Rights First, in partnership with Physicians for Human Rights, sued the Trump administration in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and successfully secured the release of seven illegal immigrants on health-related grounds. ⁴

Human Rights First has endorsed legislation by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) that would release all detained illegal immigrants and halt immigration enforcement for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. ⁵

Finance

In 2018 Human Rights First received $13,824,855 in contributions and $14,333,972 in total revenue. ⁶ The same year, the organization possessed $12,639,390 in net assets after accounting for all liabilities. ⁷

In 2018 Human Rights First received $205,000 from the David Berg Foundation,⁸  $150,000 from the Columbus Foundation,⁹ $68,500 from the Beatrice Snyder Foundation,⁸ $55,000 from the Borealis Philanthropy,¹⁰  $27,500 from the Abraham and Mildred Goldstein Charitable Trust,⁸ and $5,000 from the Arnhold Foundation. ⁸

Leadership

Michael Breen is the president of Human Rights First. Prior to joining Human Rights First, Breen was the CEO of the Truman National Security Project, a Democratic Party-aligned national security think tank. ¹¹

1. “How the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders on Refugees Harm Our Iraqi Wartime Allies” Human Rights First. https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/resource/how-trump-administrations-executive-orders-refugees-harm-our-iraqi-wartime-allies
2. “Stand Up for Refugees: Get Involved – House A Refugee” Human Rights First. https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/stand-refugees-get-involved
3. “We Need Someone to See Us”: To Save Lives, the Biden Administration Should Quickly Restore Refugee Protection” Human Rights First. https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/blog/we-need-someone-see-us-save-lives-biden-administration-should-quickly-restore-refugee
4. “Lawsuit Brought by Human Rights First Leads to Release of 7 Immigrants in New Jersey” Human Rights First. https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/press-release/lawsuit-brought-human-rights-first-leads-release-7-immigrants-new-jersey
5. “Legislation to Release Detained Immigrants, Halt Immigration Enforcement During Pandemic” Human Rights First. https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/press-release/human-rights-first-endorses-legislation-release-detained-immigrants-halt-immigration-0
6. “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed January 15, 2021. Part I. Lines 8-12.
7. “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed January 15, 2021. Part I. Line 22.
8. “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed January 15, 2021. Part XV.
9. “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed January 15, 2021. Schedule I. Part II(a)(1628).
10. “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed January 15, 2021. Schedule I. Part II(a)(85).
11. “Michael Breen” Human Rights First. https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/biography/michael-breen