On October 1, 2025, the Department of Justice notified MIA that it would no longer fund MIA’s Survivors’ Project. MIA has been proud to bring this sorely needed federal funding—$1.8 million over the past 9 years—to immigrant crime victims in the Memphis metro area. During this time, MIA provided holistic legal representation to 396 survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or similar crimes in multiple, complex civil and immigration cases.
“Daysi”, for example, contacted MIA in 2019 after her ex-partner was arrested for domestic violence. Her ex, a U.S. citizen, threatened to contact immigration to have her deported as soon as he bonded out of jail so that she would “never see the kids again.” Terrified that he would follow through, and not knowing where to start, Daysi asked us for help. MIA represented Daysi in her order of protection hearings, her child support and custody cases, as well as in her immigration case. Because Daysi cooperated with law enforcement in the case against her violent ex, she was eligible for legal status through a “U visa” application, which MIA filed on her behalf.
Despite her immigration case having been filed over 6 years ago, Daysi is at risk of deportation today. This is because U visa cases are so backlogged that immigration is unlikely to make a decision in her case until the year 2030. This U visa backlog is why MIA is still actively representing 279 Survivors’ Project clients today. Meanwhile, ICE has abandoned its “victim-centered approach” and is detaining these vulnerable immigrants regardless of their pending status—including one of our U visa clients who was arrested by ICE this morning during a traffic stop.
This is why we are asking for your help. We need your financial support to continue representing these members of our community so that they can remain safe with their families while they continue to heal from trauma. When the federal government comes after Memphis, it’s time for all of us to step up.
Thank you for all that you have done to support our mission.
Please consider supporting our work through monthly gifts or a one-time donation through this link: https://miamemphis.kindful.com/, and please share this message with your network.
