The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is an advocacy group for liberal expansionist immigration policies, using litigation, policy advocacy, and strategic research to advance the organization’s agenda. ¹ NILC supports a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants,² government-run healthcare,³ and providing illegal immigrants with drivers’ licenses. ⁴

Left-of-center groups that provide support to NILC include the California Endowment, Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and David and Lucile Packard Foundation. ⁵

Legal Status Advocacy

National Immigration Law Center has been an advocate for the Dream Act, proposed federal legislation that would allow illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children to become U.S. citizens, since it was first introduced in 2001. ⁶ NILC has compiled a list of statements from left-of-center groups and individuals including the AFL-CIO, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Congressional Progressive Caucus, American Federation of Teachers, and Obama administration officials supporting the DREAM Act. ⁷

When the Obama administration announced the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) program in 2012 that gave legal status to children brought to the U.S. illegally without Congressional legislation, Marielena Hincapie, NILC’s executive director, called it a “bold and courageous step.” ⁸ NILC cheered the Obama administration’s decision in 2014 to expand the protections to include 5 million more illegal immigrants under a program known as DAPA. ⁹ When the Trump administration ended the DACA program in 2017, Hincapie called it “a morally bankrupt choice.” ¹⁰

Between 2016 and 2018, NILC spent over $1.1 million advocating for the DACA program. As part of its efforts, NILC partnered with left-of-center organizations such as Center for Community Change, Center for American Progress, United We Dream, and National Korean American Service. ¹¹

In partnership with left-wing groups United We Dream and the Center for American Progress, NILC conducted a survey of DACA recipients. ¹² The survey found that after being given amnesty DACA recipients increased their salaries from $10.32 per hour on average to an average of $18.42 per hour, which is approximately the median salary for American citizens. ¹³

Government-Run Healthcare

National Immigration Law Center earmarked over $180,000 for groups including Asian Americans Advance Justice – Los Angeles and Health Access Foundation as part of the Health4All collaborative. ¹⁴ The left-of-center California Endowment started the Health4All campaign to advocate for expanding government healthcare programs, such as Medicaid, to provide healthcare to illegal immigrants. ¹⁵

NILC has backed two healthcare reforms in California that affect illegal immigrants. In 2016, NILC applauded California’s expansion of Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, to include full coverage of illegal immigrants under the age of 19. ¹⁶ In 2017, NILC supported SB 10 which allowed illegal immigrants in California to purchase health insurance through Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace under Obamacare. ¹⁷

NILC also came out in favor of Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s (D-WA) Medicare for All Act, which would eliminate employer-sponsored health insurance and replace it with a socialist government program. ¹⁸ NILC proudly backed the bill in part because it would give healthcare to illegal immigrants living in the United States. ¹⁹

Opposition to Immigration Enforcement

National Immigration Law Center joined the ACLU, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-California, and the Advancement Project in calling on schools to not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. In order to protect illegal immigrant students from deportation, the groups released a “Model Campus Safe Zone Resolution” which tells schools to limit sharing of student information with federal immigration authorities, limiting immigration enforcement agents’ access to campus, and prohibiting school security from working with federal immigration authorities.

The 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to work with federal immigration officials to identify people illegally in the United States, has faced sharp criticism from NILC. The practice of determining if someone was a legal resident during a traffic stop under the 287(g) program is opposed by NILC. ²⁰ NILC supported Los Angeles County’s decision to end its participation in the 287(g) program and to close U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s office in county jails because these “led to the deportation of tens of thousands” of unlawful residents. ²¹

Litigation

NILC sued the state of Arizona in 2016 over the state’s decision to deny drivers licenses to illegal immigrants outside of the DACA program who had received status through deferred action or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) by the federal government. ²² The state of Arizona considered illegal immigrants that were granted deferred action or DED status as “not authorized to be present in the United States,” and therefore denied them licenses. ²³

In 2014, NILC joined the ACLU, American Immigration Council, and the National Lawyers Guild in suing the Obama administration over its use of the expedited removal program. ²⁴ The Obama administration increased its used of the expedited removal program following an increase in illegal immigration from Central America. The lawsuit alleged that the administration’s policy of “detain and deport,” giving short notice as to when asylum hearings would be held, and asking “traumatic questions” about why individuals were seeking asylum was unlawful. ²⁵

Criticism of Trump Administration

National Immigration Law Center signed a letter condemning the immigration policy of the Trump Administration and urging American CEOs not to employ anyone involved with the policy. It accused these officials of being directly guilty for physical abuse, sexual assault, and even the death of illegal immigrant children. The letter was titled “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs” and was dated April 6, 2019. ²⁶

1. “What We Do.” National Immigration Law Center. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/about-us/what_we_do/.
2. “Deferred Action for DREAMers.” National Immigration Law Center. July 15, 2012. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2012/06/15/deferred-action-for-dreamers/.
3. “Medicare for All Act Is a Roadmap to a Better Future.” National Immigration Law Center. February 27, 2019. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2019/02/27/medicare-for-all-act-is-a-roadmap-to-a-better-future/.
4. “Osoria v. Ducey.” NILC. Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Osoria-v-Ducey-complaint-2016-09-12.pdf.
5. “Our Supporters.” National Immigration Law Center. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/about-us/our-supporters/.
6. “Deferred Action for DREAMers.” National Immigration Law Center. July 15, 2012. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2012/06/15/deferred-action-for-dreamers/.
7. “Support for the DREAM Act.” National Immigration Law Center. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/issues/immigration-reform-and-executive-actions/dreamact/dreamsupport/.
8. “Deferred Action for DREAMers.” National Immigration Law Center. July 15, 2012. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2012/06/15/deferred-action-for-dreamers/.
9. “Statement on Administrative Relief.” National Immigration Law Center. November 20, 2014. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2014/11/20/statement-on-administrative-relief/.
10. “NILC Will Fight Alongside Immigrant Youth and Allies.” National Immigration Law Center. September 5, 2017. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2017/09/05/nilc-will-fight-alongside-immigrant-youth-allies/.
11. “National Immigration Law Center – Form 990 for Period Ending June 30, 2018.” National Immigration Law Center. Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2017-NATIONAL-IMMIGRATION-LAW-CENTER-990-Public-Copy.pdf
12. Wong, Tom K., Tom Jawetz, Ignacia Rodriguez Kmec, Patrick O’Shea, Greisa Martinez Rosas, and Philip E. Wolgin. “Amid Legal and Political Uncertainty, DACA Remains More Important Than Ever.” Center for American Progress. August 15, 2018. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2018/08/15/454731/amid-legal-political-uncertainty-daca-remains-important-ever/.
13. Wong, Tom K., Tom Jawetz, Ignacia Rodriguez Kmec, Patrick O’Shea, Greisa Martinez Rosas, and Philip E. Wolgin. “Amid Legal and Political Uncertainty, DACA Remains More Important Than Ever.” Center for American Progress. August 15, 2018. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2018/08/15/454731/amid-legal-political-uncertainty-daca-remains-important-ever/.
14. “National Immigration Law Center – Form 990 for Period Ending June 30, 2017.” National Immigration Law Center. Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/NILC-990-FY16-17-Public-Disclosure-Copy.pdf
15. “#Health4All.” California Endowment. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.calendow.org/prevention/health4all/.
16. Lessard, Gabrielle. “Expanded Medi-Cal for Undocumented Kids: What It Means and How to Apply.” National Immigration Law Center. July 28, 2016. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2016/07/28/expanded-medi-cal-undocumented-kids-means-apply/.
17. Gastelum, Juan. “Governor Signs Trailblazing Law Seeking Federal Approval to Open Health Insurance Marketplace to All Californians.” National Immigration Law Center. June 10, 2016. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2016/06/10/governor-signs-trailblazing-law-seeking-federal-approval-open-health-insurance-marketplace-californians/.
18. “Medicare for All Act Is a Roadmap to a Better Future.” National Immigration Law Center. February 27, 2019. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2019/02/27/medicare-for-all-act-is-a-roadmap-to-a-better-future/.
19. Schwartz, Sonya. “House “Medicare for All” Bill Tears Down Walls (The Torch).” National Immigration Law Center. February 27, 2019. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2019/02/27/house-medicare-for-all-bill-tears-down-walls/.
20. “Fundamental 287(g) Problems.” National Immigration Law Center. April 2010. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/issues/immigration-enforcement/287g-oig-report-2010-04-29/.
21. “Breaking the ICE.” National Immigration Law Center. May 12, 2015. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2015/05/12/l-a-county-287g-pep-immigration-enforcement/.
22. “Osoria v. Ducey.” NILC. Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Osoria-v-Ducey-complaint-2016-09-12.pdf.
23. “Osoria v. Ducey.” NILC. Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Osoria-v-Ducey-complaint-2016-09-12.pdf.
24. “U.S. Sued Over Unjust Deportation Process.” National Immigration Law Center. August 22, 2014. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2014/08/22/nr082214/.
25. “U.S. Sued Over Unjust Deportation Process.” National Immigration Law Center. August 22, 2014. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2014/08/22/nr082214/.
26. “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs.” Restore Public Trust. April 6, 2019. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/04/Restore-Public-Trust-Open-Letter-Asylum-04.2019.pdf