In response to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, increased immigration enforcement actions, residents formed Flint Alliance for Immigrant Rights, FAIR, an immigration advocacy coalition that provides legal resources, educational workshops and direct support to immigrants across Flint.
FAIR, a community-based rights organization, launched in February 2025. “Residents in the area were receiving notices in the mail that were telling them that because of the termination of their parole program or their other protected status, they would have a week to pack their things and leave the country.” Lucine Jarrah, FAIR coalition member, said.
Alysia Treviño, a member of FAIR, said immigrants from our community have been faced with widespread fear. Resulting in people not showing up for appointments or school, “We had people saying that there are children that are visibly shaking in their classes in school.”
The advocacy group found ways to support Flint’s immigrant community by distributing informative literature, hosting “know your rights” workshops, educating on social media, connecting clients with legal services and working with immigrant families in need of financial assistance. Treviño said that there have been many direct needs that the community has been requesting. “Those needs included [necessities] that people take for granted, such as putting food on the table for their families, rent, prescriptions for medications, and just daily essentials.”
Flint’s Alliance for Immigration Rights has received some support from our community. What began as a small group teaching education seminars has grown to host events with over 150 attendees.
“People are just ready to help. They are ready to support,” Jarrah said. “Every single day to tell us that they want to do something. They want to do more than just donate. They want to help us with resource distribution, grocery delivery, and identifying folks who might need support.”
Rylie Yeiter is a writer for the Michigan Times and can be reached at jasobii@umich.edu.
