WHO WE ARE
Ayuda provides legal, social, and language services to help low-income immigrants in our neighborhoods access justice and transform their lives. For over 50 years, we have served more than 150,000 low-income immigrants throughout Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Ayuda’s expert and dedicated professionals help immigrants from anywhere in the world navigate the immigration and justice systems and access the social safety net. This comprehensive and welcoming approach breaks down barriers, helps those in need, and makes our communities stronger!
LATEST NEWS
When the Rules Keep Changing: A Year of Uncertainty for Immigrant Families
How legal instability, unmet basic needs, and language barriers intersect, and what truly stabilizes families.
ACTÚA AHORA: Pon fin a la colaboración entre ICE y la policía en Virginia
Los acuerdos 287(g) permiten que la policía local actúe como agentes de inmigración, lo que fomenta la discriminación racial, separa familias y hace que nuestras comunidades sean menos seguras.
ACT NOW: End ICE / Police Collaboration in Virginia
Now in the wake of piling tragedies, it is indisputably clear that ICE puts us all in danger – regardless of immigration status. Virginia has the power to stop this.
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Virginians will not be complicit in violence against our neighbors. We demand that Governor Spanberger and our state leaders take action to make sure of that. Will you join us?![]()
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Over the last year, our communities have seen ICE tactics become increasingly violent. Families have been torn apart. Our neighbors have endured inhumane conditions in detention. One of our beloved Virginians, Josué Castro Rivera, lost his life fleeing ICE en route to work. ![]()
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As a nation and as a Commonwealth, we've mourned too many tragedies at the hands of ICE. It is clear that this agency makes NO ONE safe and has NO PLACE in Virginia. ![]()
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On inauguration day, Gov. Spanberger took an important first step in ending collaboration with ICE by reversing Executive Order 47, which forced VA State Police to support immigration enforcement.Legal Aid Justice Centerenter found that VA still has 32 287g agreements that remain in place, allowing law enforcement to support, or even act as, federal immigration enforcement.![]()
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Virginians want safer, stronger, and more welcoming communities — not policing that drives fear and family separation. That's why Gov. Spanberger must take the next step toward protecting our Commonwealth from ICE by publicly supporting HB 1441, HB 1438, and SB 783. These recently introduced bills would PROHIBIT cooperation with immigration enforcement and make Virginia safer for all.![]()
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📢 Virginia residents, please use this link to send a letter asking Governor Spanberger to support HB 1441, HB 1438, and SB 783: tinyurl.com/VARejects287gs ![]()
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If you're not a VA resident, but still want to support, send this post to your VA friends 💜💙 ![]()
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Los residentes de Virginia no están dispuestos a ser cómplices de la violencia contra nuestras comunidades. Exigimos que la gobernadora Spanberger y nuestros líderes estatales tomen medidas para garantizarlo que no lo seamos. ¿Te unirás a nosotros?![]()
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Durante el último año, nuestras comunidades han visto cómo las tácticas del ICE se han vuelto cada vez más violentas. Las familias han sido separadas. Nuestros vecinos han soportado condiciones inhumanas en los centros de detención. Uno de nuestros queridos vecinos en Virginia, Josué Castro Rivera, perdió la vida mientras huía del ICE camino a su trabajo.![]()
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Como nación y como Commonwealth, hemos vivido demasiadas tragedias a manos del ICE. Está claro que esta agencia NO hace que nadie esté más seguro y NO HAY LUGAR para aquella en Virginia.![]()
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El día de su inauguración, la gobernadora Spanberger dio un primer paso importante para poner fin a la colaboración con ICE al revocar la Orden Ejecutiva 47, que obligabá a la Policía Estatal de Virginia a apoyar el control inmigratorio. Sin embargo, LAJC descubrió que Virginia aún mantiene 32 acuerdos 287(g) vigentes, que permiten a los cuerpos policiales apoyar —o incluso actuar como— autoridades federales de inmigración.![]()
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Los residentes de Virginia quieren comunidades más seguras, más fuertes y más acogedoras — no una presencia policial que genere miedo y separación familiar. Por eso la gobernadora Spanberger debe dar el siguiente paso para proteger a nuestro estado del ICE apoyando públicamente los proyectos de ley HB 1441, HB 1438, y SB 783. Estos proyectos de ley, presentados recientemente, PROHIBIRÍAN la cooperación con agencias de inmigración y harían que Virginia sea más segura para todas las personas.![]()
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📢 Residentes de Virginia, visiten este enlace para enviar una carta pidiendo a la gobernadora Spanberger que apoye HB 1441, HB 1438, y SB 783: tinyurl.com/VARechaza287gs ![]()
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Si no vives en Virginia pero aun así quieres apoyar, envía esta publicación a tus amistades en Virginia
One year into Trump 2.0, immigrant communities across our region are being forced to move through the world more carefully—not by choice, but by design.![]()
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At Ayuda, we’re seeing fear shape daily decisions: whether it’s safe to go to work, seek medical care, engage with schools, or report abuse. Increased enforcement, detention, and threats have destabilized families and deepened isolation—even for people eligible for services and legal relief.![]()
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And still, we see resilience every day. Families persist. Survivors reclaim safety. Communities keep showing up for one another.![]()
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Read our full reflection and find out how you can add your support: ayuda.com/one-year-of-impact-and-resilience/