The Mission of the Children of Immigrant Families Coalition is:

To empower Florida’s immigrant families, amplify their voices, and enhance the lives of their children.

Currently, our Coalition seeks to:

• Advance policies in the following areas: health, education (adults & immigrant children), immigration, and financial and economic stability.
• Facilitate the narrative of families.
• Involve immigrant families in our committees as a way of amplifying their voices.
• Educate immigrants about their rights and responsibilities.
• Educate the community about the resources available to provide access to healthcare, education, food, immigration assistance as well as economic advancement.
• Educate, connect, and provide resources that promote civic engagement.

It all started because of a young man …

The coalition was created in 2017 when more than 70 members of the community responded to a call for assistance when a 16-year-old was left homeless after his parents and two siblings were detained by ICE and summarily deported.

The story of our young man is inspiring.  A teacher offered him a home, others tutored him, the money fundraised by this group became a $17K fund which assisted our young man and his family after deportation. Everyone pitched in to help him graduate from high school. He learned how to drive, and he was encouraged and supported throughout his three attempts to get accepted as a U.S. Marine. Then, a few years ago, we represented his family at his graduation from the United States Marine Corps.

After an initial meeting was held by the group, it was decided that it was necessary to create a structure that could respond in a coordinated fashion to future family separations. We also wanted to avoid family separations and prepare parents for these as well.

The initial issue of family separation led us to other immigrant issues and eventually to funding and policy.

The Children of Immigrant Families Coalition works with like-minded organizations, coalitions, and individuals to uplift each other’s work and collaborate when opportunities arise. With a specific focus on immigrant well-being, the Coalition advocates for a comprehensive set of policies that impact children of immigrants, including freedom from the fear of deportation and detention for their parents, education access, and other needs.