A local “gem” made possible by and for the immigrant community, LALDEF joins together lived experience and legal expertise to help families build a thriving life in a new nation. Here, “the American dream” isn’t just an idea. Rather, it’s what we wake up every day to do! And we are very proud to say we are making an impact on thousands upon thousands of lives, in Mercer County, NJ, and beyond.

What does it mean to be an American? Well, as the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, the answer to that question is all around us. America was founded on a simple promise: liberty and justice for all. As “the land of the free and home of the brave,” America is not defined by one particular group or mindset, but by the values of a Constitution that unites us all, whether by birthright or by naturalization.

In 2004, a group of concerned local stakeholders – encouraged by college campuses from Princeton to Trenton – founded the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Now, 22 years later, LALDEF stands as our county’s primary educational hub for immigrants. With a special focus on advocating for the Latino community, our programs connect immigrant families – who are financially struggling as they pursue citizenship – with language and citizenship classes, legal consultation, job training, access to healthcare, support groups, and more.

Providing newcomers to our community with a sense of dignity and belonging is what propels our work. While much of our programming is made possible by grant funders, it is the generosity of private donors that keeps our general operations running smoothly. Individual donors keep us readily available to more than 3,500 individuals and families each year. And thankfully, donations can by easily given, received and acknowledged at this safe and secure website link: Donate Now – LALDEF

To get a sense of LALDEF’s impact, please take a moment to review our 2025 Report to the Community LALDEF 2025 Impact Report.

If you have already donated, we hope you will stay engaged as we begin our new fiscal year. Thanks to YOU – our donors, volunteers and collaborators – we keep The American Dream alive, and wake up every day with purpose!