Advocacy

The Legal Clinic advocates for policies at the local, state, and national levels that support the health and well-being of immigrant communities.

TLC Advocacy Committee

The volunteer-led TLC Advocacy Committee convenes regularly to determine which advocacy efforts TLC will support.

Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights

TLC is part of this statewide coalition of nonprofits, county agencies, and others who serve immigrants and migrants from the nations comprising the Compact of Free Association (COFA), and advocates for fair policies and resources. HCIR and TLC collaborate closely with several of our U.S. congressional delegates and with State legislators, such as those who form the Filipino Legislative Caucus, to craft and support pro-immigrant bills. For more information, visit the HCIR website. 

National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA)

TLC is also a member of the NPNA network, one of the largest and most respected immigrant advocacy organizations in the United States. NPNA provides technical training on citizenship requirements, Department of Justice (DOJ) accreditation of legal assistants, and advocacy-related matters. Under NPNA’s guidance, TLC succeeded in bringing the City & County of Honolulu into a national “Cities for Citizenship” network in 2020.

TLC has joined NPNA and the Vera Institute of Justice in advocating for Universal Representation. The goal of this federal legislative campaign is to “guarantee the universal right to legal representation for individuals whose life, liberty, or ties to the community are at risk in the immigration system”. For more information, visit the campaign website.