Phoenix Legal Action Network

Legal Services: The current legal system fails to provide equitable access to justice. To bend this system in favor of those who need it most, PLAN provides life-changing legal support in immigration matters to vulnerable, non-detained, low-income immigrants in Maricopa County, Arizona. In 2023, with just two staff, we provided free legal representation to 48 immigrants and assisted more than 100 local Afghans apply for Temporary Protected Status. Seven of our community members won permanent legal status including a couple fleeing religious persecution in Iran and two single mothers and survivors of violence who have lived in the Arizona since they were children.

Community Power Building: Legal services alone can't change the law and systems that oppress immigrant communities. That's why PLAN collaborates with local immigrant-led organizations like Trans Queer Pueblo and Poder in Action to create long-term systemic and institutional change. Our collaborative work includes an ongoing Spanish legal curriculum, 1-1 mentorship of local immigrant leaders, in community legal clinics, and participation in Colectivo Capullo, a collective created to develop a new dynamic of accountability and mutual understanding between the legal professional and the community.

The story of immigration as told by mainstream media and government institutions often demonizes and "others" immigrants creating hostility against immigrant communities. PLAN creates opportunities for immigrants to tell their stories because a better understanding of people's personal experiences leads to policies that center humanity over hate. Our annual, English-Spanish bilingual immigrant storytelling and art event featured 2 live performances, 2 immigrant storytellers, and 4 immigrant artists. Half of those featured received legal services from PLAN. We also continue to collect our community's stories on our digital storytelling site.