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Non-profit

Just Futures Law

Website:

www.justfutureslaw.org/
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

84-2270207
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $2,341,585
Expenses: $744,381
Assets: $2,637,436
Type:

Legal Activist Group
Formation:

2019
Editor-in-Chief:

Paromita Shah
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $1,605,587

Expenses: $1,073,711

Assets: $3,201,988 1

References

  1. Just Futures Law Inc. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.

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Just Futures Law (JFL) is a left-leaning legal activist group that launches lawsuits, conducts advocacy, and provides legal support to individuals, activist organizations, and community groups to “dismantle” the surveillance, incarceration, and deportation systems in the United States. JFL claims that minorities and immigrant-rights activists are the subject of a militarized surveillance machine and targeted retaliation from the government and corporations. The organization calls for the abolition of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the provision of drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants, and the defense of sanctuary cities. 1

JFL was founded and is run by alumnae of the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, a left-leaning nonprofit that lobbies on behalf of expansionist immigration policies and against immigration enforcement. 2

Activities

Just Futures Law has three program areas. The first is “combatting tech surveillance of activists and BIPOC communities.” The group argues that ethnic minorities are the target of a “militarized technological surveillance machine” deployed by local police departments, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and businesses that is designed to “supercharge arrests and deportations.” 3

JFL’s second program area is “protection and defense of movement organizers.” JFL claims the United States has a history of suppressing social movements through deportation, incarceration, mass surveillance, and targeted retaliation, and conducts legal operations to defend activists. 4

JFL’s third program area is “dismantling detention, deportation, and incarceration.” Under this program, JFL defends illegal immigrants prosecuted for unlawful re-entry, provides legal support to groups arguing fighting for sanctuary cities, and fights against Operation Lone Star, a Texas program to prosecute illegal immigrants under state law. As part of this program, JFL is a member of the Immigrant Justice Network. 5

JFL supports left-of-center policies such as sanctuary cities, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and providing illegal immigrants with drivers’ licenses. 6 Following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, JFL called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent an Israeli response and an end to “the occupation in Palestine.” 7

Previous legal cases JFL was involved in include Saget v. Trump, wherein JFL argued then-President Donald Trump exhibited racial animus toward Haitians when his administration decided to terminate the nearly decade-old Temporary Protected Status designation for Haitian immigrants, 8 9 and Austin Sanctuary Network et all v. Ganor et al, wherein JFL defended religious leaders attempting to provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants in houses of worship. 10

People

Just Futures Law describes itself as led by a board of “activists and organizers—all BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, and People of Color] and many of whom identify as LGBTQ2S+ or queer.” 11

JFL was co-founded and, as of March 2024, led by Paromita Shah, Ellen Kemp, Julia Mao, Paromita Shah, and Sejal Zota, all of whom are alumnae of the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, a left-leaning nonprofit that lobbies on behalf of expansionist immigration policies and against immigration enforcement. 12

Shah is the executive director of JFL and previously worked as the associate director of the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild and as the detention project director at Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (CAIR Coalition) in Washington, D.C., a left-of-center legal advocacy organization that works to prevent the deportation of illegal immigrants. 13

Kemp is a deputy director of JFL and formerly worked as the director of finance and operation for the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild. 14

Mao is also a deputy director of JFL and likewise previously worked as an attorney for the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild as well as at the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice. 15

Zota is the legal director of JFL and previously worked as the legal director for the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild and was a teacher at the UNC School of Government. 16

Funding

In 2022, Just Futures Law received most its revenue ($1,540,336 of $1,605,587) from gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees. 17

References

  1. [1] “About.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/about
  2. “Team.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/team.
  3. “About.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/about
  4. “About.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/about
  5. “About.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/about
  6. “About.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/about
  7. Justfutureslaw. Instagram Post, November 29, 2023. Instagram. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/C0PRcXMA4mp/
  8. “Saget v Trump.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/tps.
  9. “Designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status.” Federal Register. January 21, 2010. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/01/21/2010-1169/designation-of-haiti-for-temporary-protected-status.
  10. “Austin Sanctuary Network et al v. Gaynor et al.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/sanctuary.
  11.  “About.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/about
  12. “Team.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/team.
  13.  “Team.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/team.
  14. “Team.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/team.
  15. “Team.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/team.
  16.  “Team.” Just Futures Law. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.justfutureslaw.org/team.
  17. Just Futures Law Inc. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: June 1, 2020

    • 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
    2021 Dec Form 990 $2,341,585 $744,381 $2,637,436 $27,433 N $2,325,677 $15,695 $213 $195,000
    2020 Dec Form 990 $1,130,263 $463,228 $1,088,832 $76,033 N $1,108,077 $22,179 $7 $161,555
    2019 Dec Form 990 $438,900 $93,136 $376,755 $30,991 N $435,000 $3,900 $0 $20,716 PDF

    Just Futures Law

    1609 G STREET SE
    Washington, DC 20003-0000