Fair Immigration Reform Movement

The Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) which started in 2000 by Center For Community Change is a grassroots movement that supports comprehensive immigration reform and the civil rights of immigrants in the United States. Now, this immigrant rights movement is led by a coalition of 30 different immigration rights movement organizations across the country. The FIRM has two fundamental goals: Help different grassroots organizations make a collective voice on comprehensive immigration reform & Address immigrants' predicaments in the U.S. including their economic inequality and political under-representation.

Since its beginning in 2004, the Fair Immigration Reform Movement has been the central hub for the "comprehensive immigration reform and the civil rights of immigration" in the United States. This social movement has encouraged hundreds of immigrant and non-immigrant organizations to collectively call for the improvement of the lives of marginalized communities of color, gender, race and ethnicity. In 2006, the Fair Immigration Reform Movement gained a nationwide recognition; thus, consequently, through making a collective voice, the movement could manage to attain a momentum for long-term social changes in the United States.

There are 9 fundamental principles of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement. The participants of the movement argue that the United States is a country of immigrants. Therefore, "the welcoming spirit of the country is deeply rooted in the values of family, equality and opportunity."

Prior to the movement, it was reported that about 2 million undocumented immigrants were deported in the beginning of the 21st century. After FIRM, there have been several legislative and social changes in the United States with respect to the immigration reform.

The leaders of FIRM endeavor to sustain the energy of the movement. Thus, they assist local immigrant rights organizations to gain "powerful voices for their communities." FIRM also supports the youth leadership in local communities in order to "give the next generation of immigrant community leaders a collective national voice." Not only does FIRM provide resources such as information, strategic advice and tools to local organizations, but it also provides a platform where immigrant rights organizations can share ideas and make a collective voice.

The recent election result may pose a threat to the movement. President-elect Donal Trump has been extremely hostile to illegal immigration throughout the 2016 presidential election.

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