Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center Inc. (WSIRC) is an immigration advocacy group based in New Jersey that supports policies and initiatives it claims support Hispanic communities within the state. WSIRC offers community organizing, citizenship training, and workshop training to educate on legal rights. The group has previously opposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while advocating closing migrant detention centers as well as releasing all detained immigrants. ^{1 2}

Advocacy

In November 2024, the Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center Inc. (WSIRC), as a member of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, signed a letter addressed to then-President Joe Biden advocating for his administration to close all migrant detention facilities and to release all those held in detention. ²

WSIRC has previously organized events and campaigns advocating blocking of federal legislation it claims would criminalize immigrants within the country, such as “H.R.4437 – Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005” which passed that year. ³ The group also organized campaigns to quicken paths to immigrant registration and citizenship as well as protecting domestic workers under the Domestic Workers’ Rights Act.  ⁴

WSIRC has previously advocated for protecting migrant workers living within the United States. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization organized education campaigns, distributed cash cards, handed out masks and thermometers, and provided additional health and safety training for immigrant workers. ⁵

In February 2025, WSIRC released a post on its X (formerly Twitter) page showing several “Know Your Rights” posters distributed by activists claiming to show strategies for migrants in the area on how to approach potential encounters by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. ⁶

Funding

According to its 2023 tax return, Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center (WSIRC) reported revenue of $1,299,980, expenses of $787,157, and total assets of $ 1,778,656. ⁷

According to its 2022 tax return, WSIRC reported revenue of $1,563,193, expenses of $1,033,294, and net assets of $529,294. ⁸ The form also reportedly shows that in 2022, $518,300. or 33.16%, of their income came from government grants. The group also received a state grant of $65,000 from immigration advocacy group Fund for New Jersey. ^{9 10}

Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center received $15,000 grants in 2020 and 2021 from the F.M. Kirby Foundation (FMK). ¹¹

The organization received $434,642 in “fees for services” in 2022. ¹²

Coalitions

Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center Inc. (WSIRC) has previously collaborated in coalitions with several organizations, foundations, and advocacy groups. These include NJ Time to Care, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), Alianza Americas, Energy Foundation, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, and Cancer Free Economy Network. ^{13 14 15}

1. “About Us.” WIND OF THE SPIRIT, March 2, 2024. https://wotsnj.org/en/about-us/.
2. Cperez. “193 Organizations Urge the Biden Administration to Take Decisive Action to Protect Immigrants.” Detention Watch Network, January 30, 2025. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org/pressroom/releases/2024/193-organizations-urge-biden-administration-take-decisive-action-protect.
3. ^[1] H.R.4437 – 109th Congress (2005-2006): Border Protection, antiterrorism, and illegal immigration control act of 2005 | congress.gov | library of Congress. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/4437.
4. “The Registry.” WIND OF THE SPIRIT. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://wotsnj.org/en/the-registry/.
5. Spirit, Wind Of The. “Since 2000.” WIND OF THE SPIRIT, March 2, 1970. https://wotsnj.org/en/2024/03/02/since-2000/.
6. “X.Com.” X (formerly Twitter). Accessed February 23, 2025. https://x.com/WindofSpiritNJ.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Wind of The Spirit Immigrant Resource Center Inc. 2023. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223777248/202433199349304363/full
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Wind of The Spirit Immigrant Resource Center Inc. 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223777248/202323189349300407/full
9. ^[1] “Wind of The Spirit Immigrant Resource Center Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. Form 990. Part VIII, line 1e.”
10. Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford. “Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center Inc – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica, May 9, 2013. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223777248.
11. “Search Our Grants.” F. M. Kirby Foundation, April 10, 2023. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://fmkirbyfoundation.org/search-our-grants/?ignorenitro=a13529715d1bd75c480c8e46a1c3967a&wpv_view_count=14484&wpv_post_search=Wind%2Bof%2Bthe%2BSpirit%2BImmigrant%2BResource%2BCenter&wpv-cog=0&wpv-state=0
12. Wind of The Spirit Immigrant Resource Center Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. Form 990. Part VIII, Line 2a.
13. “Coalitions.” WIND OF THE SPIRIT. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://wotsnj.org/en/coalitions/.
14. USAspending.gov. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_NU50CK000578_7523.
15. USAspending.gov. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_G3242574_7526.