About Us
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) is to promote the rights of all immigrants (with a focus on the Latin American community in the Mercer County area); facilitate access to health care, education and legal representation; advocate for the integration of immigrants; and foster intercultural communication to strengthen our communities.
LALDEF relies on the generous support of our community of advocates and volunteers: 86% of our budget comes from donors, like you. CLICK HERE to make a donation today.
OUR COMMUNITY
Since 2000, the immigrant population of Mercer County has grown by 50%, ten times faster than the general population. Today, one out of five county residents is an immigrant. The largest contingent of these immigrants are Latin Americans, who reside largely in and around Trenton. In fact, one in four Trenton residents is foreign-born. Unfortunately census figures show that immigrant incorporation in the city is poor. One in five persons over five years of age in Trenton speaks English “less than well.” Education attainment levels and household incomes are also far behind regional averages. Only half of the voting age Latinos in Trenton are citizens and are able to vote.
The incorporation of these would-be Americans will greatly benefit our nation in economic and social terms. LALDEF stands ready to do its part in facilitating this process. We are one of a handful of non-profit agencies in the region with the cultural and technical competency to help bring these aspiring, would-be Americans out of the shadows.
OUR GOALS
LALDEF focuses on the root causes of immigrant marginalization. We seek to empower immigrants to reach self-sufficiency and thrive, by showing them how to navigate the system and find the resources they need.
Our goals are:
1. To increase immigrant integration through advocacy with federal, state, and local government agencies and to facilitate access to legal services and resources to prevent loss of legal immigration status; seek relief on behalf of those without legal status but with deep roots in our communities; and assist legal permanent residents as they work to acquire U.S citizenship.
2. To raise the social capital of immigrants and provide civic education about rights and responsibilities to working immigrant families, and in so doing promote good social behavior, facilitate their stabilization and acculturation, and thus improve the welfare of the community.
3. Ultimately, we envision our role as serving the community at large by creating cross-cultural understanding between native and foreign-born, accepting, and appreciating our differences, while recognizing our common humanity and mutual interest in contributing to a thriving, fair and diverse community.
Without the specific support required for the full incorporation of Latino immigrants, particularly their youth, who hold such promise, the community at large will continue to be shortchanged. This is the gap LALDEF is trying to fill.