1. Stopping Immigration Detention Expansion and Demanding Accountability

    In 2026, EPISO halted the nation’s largest proposed ICE detention center in Socorro, TX after parishioners raised moral objections and warned of the center’s strain on their small water system.

    One LA compelled the City of Los Angeles to host the nation’s first congressional hearing on immigration raids, establishing a public record of civil rights violations (more here). This came after training hundreds through “Freedom Schools” and testifying for 40 minutes on the human cost of immigration enforcement.

    Local affiliates in San Antonio, TX, and Pacoima and Pomona, CA sparked field hearings with members of Congress on a proposed ICE warehouse and the community impact of immigration enforcement and mass deportation. These have resulted in legal action and a bill to direct millions of dollars to mental health services for those impacted.

  2. Defending our Rights and Educating our Neighbors

    In 2025 and 2026, OTOC in Omaha, Nebraska, and VOICE and ACTION in Oklahoma trained over 700 leaders through civic academies — giving residents a deeper understanding of the immigrant experience, busting myths about immigrants, calling for concrete action from public officials, and launching direct support for families in crisis.

    Valley Interfaith Project, CIVAF (now United San Joaquin), One LA, COPS/Metro, The Metropolitan Organization, Valley Interfaith, and Dallas Area Interfaith (DAI) held ‘Know Your Rights’ workshops with over 6,600 immigrants in 2025 alone, strengthening the capacity of our neighbors to protect their civil rights in Arizona, California, and Texas.

  3. Securing Parish IDs to Protect Immigrant Families

    After Texas denied driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants and passed SB4 in 2017, DAI leaders organized to reduce families’ vulnerability. Partnering with the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, they convened 1,500 parishioners and secured public commitments from three police chiefs to recognize parish-issued identification cards, allowing immigrants to drive to work and school without risking detention (more here).

    Similar agreements in the Dioceses of Brownsville (with Valley Interfaith) and Tucson (with Pima County Interfaith) now reduce the risk of deportation for tens of thousands of families.

  4. Expanding Healthcare Access in California for Undocumented & Low Income Residents

    In 2026, COPA revived Esperanza Care, a county-supported health program they developed and expanded that has served more than 4,500 undocumented adults (more here, here, and here). When undocumented immigrants were later at risk of losing state health coverage, California IAF leaders successfully urged legislators to restore access.

    One LA leaders played a pivotal role in launching and implementing My Health LA (MHLA), expanding care for low-income and undocumented residents. Years later, they advanced county action to preserve and enhance the program, protecting access for 146,000 people, and integrating mental health services.

  5. Leveraging $385 Million in Rental Assistance to Prevent Evictions

    When the pandemic devastated service and construction jobs, leaders organized to protect immigrant families from eviction. In Brazoria County, parish leaders successfully challenged barriers that excluded undocumented families from federal rental aid, negotiating changes that expanded access. Across the West/Southwest IAF network, leaders helped leverage more than $385 million in rental assistance — ensuring taxpaying immigrants, regardless of status, were included (more here).