Human Rights Coalition
The Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County is a group of community activists and organizers who are committed to local, tangible solutions. We believe that it is possible to achieve profound outcomes using ordinary means such as community empowerment and local partnerships.
Our mission is to cultivate safety and empowerment for immigrant families and individuals in North Central Florida by working with the immigrant community to build knowledge and self-sufficiency through community education, tangible services, advocacy, and strengthening community connections.
We envision a world in which all people, regardless of nationality or national origin can live with dignity. We believe that everyone has a right to safety, a right to thrive, and a right to simply exist.
The HRC ID provides card holders with a reliable form of identification that can be used as a tool by law enforcement, city departments, health centers, schools, businesses, and cultural arts organizations to better identify, serve, and protect us.
Immigration accompaniment involves providing support and assistance to individuals navigating the immigration process, particularly those facing challenges such as detention, deportation, or asylum proceedings.
Our trained legal navigator, can provide information and orientation about how legal systems work and individual rights and responsibilities within those systems. She is available to assist immigrant clients negotiating the criminal, immigration, and civil legal systems and provide emotional support.
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We at the Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County operate an immigration bail fund dedicated to providing financial support to individuals detained by immigration authorities in the Alachua County and wider North Florida area.
This fund helps secure release from detention while the person awaits their immigration hearings, ensuring they can reunite with their families and access legal representation.
Immigration bail starts at $1,500 and there is no upper limit. We have often worked with individuals whose bond was set at $10,000.
Additionally, it is very difficult to get an immigration bond back. For instance, if you are fighting to remain in the country and Immigration bail funds like this one play a crucial role in addressing the injustices of the immigration system by providing a pathway for individuals to challenge their detention and pursue their legal rights.
The Sanctuary movement is a religious and political campaign in the United States that began in the early 1980s to provide safe-haven for Central American refugees fleeing civil conflict. The movement was a response to federal immigration policies that made obtaining asylum difficult for Central Americans. The movement continues today an is primarily designed as a way for local religious institutions to provide safe-haven for undocumented individuals and families who are at risk of deportation.
Locally, we assist congregations by providing guidance and assistance in organizing the support systems required to support this meaningful justice movement.