About Us: The Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (AIS)

Mission

The Alliance for Immigrant Survivors (AIS) is a national network of advocates and allies dedicated to defending and advocating for policies that ensure immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other gender-based abuses have access to life-saving protections that all survivors of violence deserve.

Vision

A future where everyone, regardless of gender or immigration status, can live in safety and thrive.

Guiding Principles 

  • Respect & Dignity: AIS believes in the inherent worth of every person. We strive to create a network that is survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and honors the lived experience of survivors. Our work is dedicated to preserving survivor autonomy and independence, recognizing that survivors are experts in their own lives and needs. We believe that upholding a survivor's dignity is fundamental to their ability to heal. 

  • Safety & Well-being for All: AIS champions the safety and well-being of all individuals, recognizing that true public safety is only possible when the most vulnerable are protected and empowered. In our work advocating on behalf of immigrant survivors of gender-based violence, we strive to build inclusive systems of support, justice, and healing that leave no one behind. 

  • Upholding Human Rights: Rooted in a human rights framework, AIS advocates for systems that guarantee meaningful language access, safeguard due process, enforce civil rights, and remove barriers to accessibility. These protections are essential to prevent re-traumatization and foster an environment where survivors can heal.

  • Collective Action: AIS is built on community and collaboration across movements of gender-based violence, immigrant rights, labor rights, public health, and other advocacy spaces that impact the lives of survivors. This intersectional approach means that we are actively learning from and uplifting the work of our partners and seeking to work across differences and find common ground to reduce barriers and build communities where all survivors have the support they need to heal and thrive.

Work of the Alliance

  • Build a network of advocates and allies who address gender-based violence to take action on policies that impact immigrant survivors.

  • Harness the collective skills and energy of a growing number of advocates to center and protect immigrant survivors.

  • Analyze the impact of immigration-related policies on survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other gender-based abuses.

  • Provide tools and resources to stakeholders about the effects of immigration policy on survivors’ abilities to access necessary protections and services.

  • Use communications strategies to inform and engage stakeholders while positively influencing the public narrative around immigrant survivors.

Values

  • Safety and well-being for all

  • Upholding human rights

  • Respect

  • Dignity

  • Resilience

  • Public safety

AIS Co-Chairs

AIS Team