named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Attorney Immigration Training
Conducts training events for lawyers on effective representation of immigrant children, with over 1,700 attorneys trained to date.
Legal Representation Program
Provides direct legal counsel and court representation to unaccompanied immigrant children seeking asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, or protection under trafficking laws.
Pro Bono Mentorship Program
Recruits, trains, and mentors over 400 pro bono attorneys to represent immigrant children, expanding access to legal services across New York.
Safe Passage in Schools
Provides legal and social support to immigrant children enrolled in NYC public schools, addressing needs in immigration, family court, and USCIS proceedings.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Immigrant Rights Advocacy & Policy Reform 1 activity
- Advocate before government bodies on challenges facing unaccompanied immigrant youthProvides testimony and advocacy before government committees, including the New York City Council Committee on Immigration, to highlight systemic challenges and policy needs for unaccompanied immigrant youth.
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Immigrant Rights Education & Legal Preparedness 1 activity
- Develop and distribute legal guides and resources for pro bono attorneys and immigrant youthDevelops and publishes step-by-step legal guides and manuals to support pro bono attorneys in representing immigrant children, including on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), asylum, T visas, U visas, and immigration raid response. Also shares broader community toolkits on immigrant rights.
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Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
- Provide free legal representation to immigrant and refugee children in deportation proceedingsProvides free legal representation to immigrant and refugee children under 21 facing deportation in New York City and Long Island, including in immigration court, with reported success rates over 90%. The organization handles over 700 cases annually and serves approximately 1,500 unaccompanied immigrant youth each year with legal and social work support.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Train and mentor pro bono attorneys in representing immigrant childrenTrains and mentors pro bono attorneys to represent immigrant children in immigration proceedings, including through training events and ongoing support. The organization has trained over 1,600 individuals and mentored more than 400 pro bono attorneys.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$9.80M
Contributions & grants$9.57M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$186K2%
Other revenue$42K
expenses
Total expenses$7.14M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$6.06M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$10.63M
Cash$3.39M
Investments$2.31M
Liabilities$117K
Net assets$10.51M
Liquid reserves9.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +96.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANGELA FERNANDEZ | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $253K |
| TANIA GABRIELLE COHEN | MANAGING ATTORNEY | 40 | $177K |
| ALEXANDRA RIZIO | MANAGING ATTORNEY | 40 | $166K |
| SADYIA KHALIQUE - SECRETARY | DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & OPERATIONS | 45 | $165K |
| RACHEL JORDAN | INTERIM MANAGING ATTORNEY | 40 | $155K |
| SHEVON LEWIS | INTERIM MANAGING ATTORNEY-LI | 40 | $137K |
| DESIREE C HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ | DEPUTY E.D. THRU 07/12/2024 | 40 | $103K |
board members · 11
- A NICOLE CAMPBELL — DIRECTOR
- ANDREW AMER — DIRECTOR
- ANTONIO MIRANDA — TREASURER
- BARBARA CAMACHO — DIRECTOR
- CARLOS FONSECA — DIRECTOR
- CAROLINE KRONLEY — DIRECTOR
- FEDERICO REYES — DIRECTOR
- ISABEL MARTINEZ — DIRECTOR
- JOSEPH BAVUSO — DIRECTOR
- LENNI BENSON — DIRECTOR EMERITUS
- PAMELA FOSTER ESQ — PRESIDENT
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Alexander Holtzman Partner — Attorney who represented a client in obtaining T-nonimmigrant status.
- Amigos de Safe Passage Partner — Peer mentoring program connecting clients with other children who have undergone similar legal processes.
- Andrés García Partner — Graphic designer who created the organization's logo based on personal migration experience and client narratives.
- Association of Legal Aid Attorneys - UAW Local 2325 (ALAA) Partner — Union representing Safe Passage Project staff; recognized by the organization as the bargaining representative for its employees.
- ICARE Referral Program Partner — Collaborates with the ICARE Referral Program to connect immigrant youth in New York City with legal representation.
- Lauren Blodgett Partner — Attorney who represented a client in an asylum hearing.
- NYC Public Schools Partner — Collaborates with NYC Public Schools to serve undocumented students through the Safe Passage in Schools program.
- New York City Council Government — Testified before the NYC Council Committee on Immigration on challenges facing unaccompanied immigrant youth.
- New York City Council Government — Testified before the New York City Council Committee on Immigration regarding challenges facing unaccompanied immigrant youth.
- New York Immigration Coalition Partner — Shares the coalition's Community Toolkit on noncitizen rights related to immigration enforcement, legal services, education, and healthcare.
- New York Law School Partner — Hosts Safe Passage Project and collaborates on legal screenings and law student training programs.
- United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Government — Represents children before USCIS in immigration and family court proceedings.
- pro bono attorneys Partner — Collaborates with pro bono attorneys to expand legal representation for immigrant children.
- pro bono attorneys Partner — Collaborates with pro bono attorneys to represent young migrants in immigration proceedings.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Centralized Legal Referral Systemmethodology: centralized_referral_systemBy using a centralized system to match immigrant youth with legal providers based on need and capacity, we improve access and efficiency, because strategic triage ensures timely and appropriate legal placement in a high-demand environment.
- Holistic Legal and Social Support Modelmethodology: holistic_legal_servicesBy integrating legal representation with social work and long-term youth support, we strengthen legal outcomes and improve well-being, because addressing both legal and psychosocial needs leads to more resilient clients and more successful cases.
- Legal Representation as a Protective Interventionmethodology: legal_representation_for_vulnerable_migrantsBy providing legal representation to immigrant children in immigration proceedings, we increase their likelihood of obtaining legal relief and protection, because representation directly influences case outcomes in a system where most children lack government-funded counsel.
- Peer and Educational Capacity-Building Modelmethodology: law_student_clinic_modelBy involving law students in screening and case placement through academic clinics and peer mentoring, we expand legal capacity while fostering the next generation of immigration advocates, because experiential learning combined with mentorship improves both service delivery and professional development.
- Pro Bono Legal Representation Modelmethodology: pro_bono_legal_modelBy recruiting, training, and mentoring pro bono attorneys — including those without prior immigration experience — we increase access to legal representation for unaccompanied immigrant children, because structured support enables capable lawyers to effectively participate in complex immigration cases.