Annual Report

 

Message from ILAP’s Leaders

Dear Friends, 

As we reflect on our work in 2024, we cannot ignore what has happened since that time. Horrific and unlawful immigration policies and Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity have terrorized immigrant communities in Maine and beyond, completely changing our work. But the strong organizational foundation and programming our community of supporters helped us build in 2024—and the 30+ years before that—has prepared us for our current fight as we push back in immigration and federal courts, the legislature, and the media.

In 2024, ILAP staff and volunteers provided direct legal services and outreach to over 5,000 clients and reached thousands more through our robust website with translated self-help materials. Pro bono attorneys donated over 2,000 hours of their time, valued at more than $800,000, assisting clients in their asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases.

We continued to build on our core legal services while we expanded special projects to address emerging needs. We helped hundreds of clients through our monthly Change of Venue Clinic and Temporary Protected Status Clinics throughout the state. We met clients in their own communities through our Rural Maine Project, Immigrant Children’s Project, and Asylum Assistance and Legal Orientation Project.

In anticipation of harsh new immigration policies following the election, we prepared materials and conducted know-your-rights trainings for immigrant communities and service providers to help them understand their rights and prepare for the expected increase in immigration enforcement.

We developed a Detention Project, in collaboration with the Refugee and Human Rights Clinic at the University of Maine School of Law, in response to a growing number of immigrants being detained in Maine. This groundwork helped us prepare for the unrelenting expansion of immigration detention we are seeing now.

We also worked alongside local and national partners on policy initiatives, including the Let Asylum Seekers Work Campaign in attempts to decrease the waiting period for asylum seekers to obtain work authorization. We led advocacy efforts with the Executive Office for Immigration Review in response to the opening of a new immigration court in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and some of our recommendations were implemented.

As we move forward, the collaborations, partnerships, and programming we developed in past years give us strength and resilience to fight back against the challenges we face now. And they will help us push forward until we reach our vision of a more just and humane immigration system.

Thank you for your partnership and support in these efforts!

In solidarity,

Sue Roche headshot in black and white

Sue Roche, Esq.
Executive Director

Tom Douglas headshot in black and white

Thomas Douglas, Esq.
Board President

 

ILAP’s 2024 Impact

Legal Help. Education. Protection. Statewide Impact.

Top Case Areas

1,119 asylum and removal defense
218 immigrant youth (SIJS)
278 Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
128 permanent residency
76 survivor-based relief
 
 
 
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Services in all 16 counties

 
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Clients from 70+ countries

 
 

Special Programs

323

immigrants in underserved parts of Maine received legal support through our Rural Maine Project

 
2,265

hours donated by 41 pro bono attorneys to provide free immigration legal representation

 
 
370

asylum applications completed through the Asylum Assistance & Legal Orientation Project (AALOP)

 
99%+

success rate in full representation cases with final outcomes

 
 
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5,214
individuals served

 
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2,470
received direct legal support

 
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2,744
reached through 119 education events

 
 

214,469 users visited ILAP’s website, over half of which accessed translated legal information in French, Portuguese, Spanish, Lingala, Creole, Somali, and Arabic.

Advocacy highlights

In 2024, ILAP advanced bold, collaborative advocacy to protect immigrant rights and expand access to justice—across Maine, New England, and nationwide.

At the national level, ILAP played a leading role in the Let Asylum Seekers Work campaign, successfully urging U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to automatically extend work permits. ILAP also helped drive bipartisan efforts—spearheaded by Representative Chellie Pingree—to shorten the mandatory waiting period before asylum seekers become eligible to work. At the same time, ILAP continued to push back against federal attempts to restrict access to asylum.

In partnership with organizations across New England, ILAP submitted urgent policy recommendations in response to the opening of a new immigration court in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Proposals included clarifying the court’s name and address, improving public transportation (which is nearly nonexistent), and eliminating barriers to accessing remote hearings.

Here in Maine, ILAP joined with the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and other partners to support the establishment of the Maine Office of New Americans. After years of advocacy led by immigrant communities and government allies, Maine is now the 19th state with a state-level agency dedicated to welcoming, supporting, and integrating new immigrants.

ILAP also continued its advocacy for:

  • Greater protections for immigrant children

  • Expanded access to safety net services for immigrant families

  • Broader designation and support for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

  • Safeguards against labor exploitation and trafficking in rural areas

  • Increased funding for civil legal aid in Maine

2024 Financials

Revenue

Grants - $1,956,379
Donations - $1,285,913
In-Kind Contributions* - $834,315
Events, Fees & Other Revenue - $61,509
Total - $4,138,116
 
 
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Expenses

Program* - $3,409,883
Fundraising $330,442
Management and General - $313,912
Total - $4,054,237
Change in assets - $83,879
 
 
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*In-kind contributions and Program expenses include the value of donated pro bono attorney time.

For transparency and accountability to our donors and supporters, ILAP undergoes annual external audits. The above information is from audited financial statements for January 1, 2024-December 31, 2024.

Join the Movement for Immigrant Justice

Want to protect immigrant families and help shape a more just future for Maine?

Here’s how you can help today:

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Donate

Help provide life-changing legal help and advocacy for immigrant families.

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Connect

Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook or Instagram to stay informed and engaged with Maine’s immigrant communities.

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Advocate

Speak out and take action to protect immigrant rights and influence policy.

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Volunteer

Use your time, skills, or legal expertise to support immigrant clients.

 

2024 Supporters

Thank you for partnering with ILAP to advance equity and justice for immigrants in Maine!

ILAP values all gifts of time, money and expertise, which is why you will see everyone who supports our work listed together—without categories to separate us. We are grateful to every one of you, including those listed, those who’ve chosen to remain anonymous, and those who have supported us year in and year out on our journey toward justice.

If anyone has been inadvertently omitted from this list, please know it was not intentional. Please reach out and let us know so we can correct the error.

Report ARCHIVE


 
 
 
 

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