The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a legal advocacy group based in San Francisco that provides legal services to migrants within the U.S while advocating for left-of-center immigration policy. ¹

Advocacy

Founded in 1979, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a legal advocacy group that provides legal services to migrants while advocating for left-of-center policies on immigration and migrants’ rights within the U.S. ² In addition, it has overseen training, provided resources, and offered technical assistance to other legal service providers, attorneys, and community organizations. ³

The ILRC works with immigration advocacy nonprofits and humanitarian groups to promote liberal immigration and migrant-related legislation, such as the California Values Act and other initiatives designed to reduce collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. ⁴

Since 2008, the ILRC has reportedly helped and distribute “Red Cards” which allegedly list a series of tips and “legal strategies” in over 19 languages for undocumented migrants in the United States such as the Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and the Fourth Amendment right to refuse entry for a federal agent into a home unless they have a warrant signed by a judge. According to the New York Times, the ILRC has seen increased demand for Red Cards since President Donald Trump’s reelection in November 2024 and an increased focus on the deportation of undocumented and illegal immigrants by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ⁵

Educational Outreach and Community Support

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) claims to provide educational resources including workshops, webinars, and printed materials to promote immigrant rights within the U.S. These include “know-your-rights” guides, self-help materials for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applicants, and “anti-discrimination” toolkits. The ILRC also provides legal services to nonprofit groups including technical assistance and strategies for immigration law practice. It also hosts training sessions and community events. ⁶

Partnerships and Collaborations

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) collaborates with advocacy groups including the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), Immigrant Defense Project, and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). It is also a member of pro-immigration coalitions including the Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) coalition. ⁴

ILRC also partners with pro-immigrant state-level organizations including Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), and the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC). ⁴ The ILRC also works with educational institutions including Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. ⁷

1. Immigrant Legal Resource Center. About ILRC: Mission and History. Accessed December 4, 2024. https://www.ilrc.org/about.
2. Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Advocacy Efforts: Policy and Legislation. Accessed December 4, 2024. https://www.ilrc.org/advocacy.
3. Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Workshops and Training. Accessed December 4, 2024. https://www.ilrc.org/training.
4. National Immigration Law Center and Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Joint Policy Statements on Immigration Reform. Published 2023. https://www.nilc.org/resources.
5. Jordan, Miriam. “For Fearful Immigrants, It’s the Card They All Want Right Now.” New York Times, February 23, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/23/us/immigration-red-card.html
6.  Central American Resource Center. Collaborative Advocacy Initiatives. Published 2024. https://www.carecensf.org.
7.  University of California, Berkeley. Research and Policy Partnerships with the ILRC. Published 2023. https://www.berkeley.edu