I am delighted to share our 2025 Impact Report, our first Impact Report as Survivor Justice Center. After serving our community for over 50 years as Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice, we undertook a monumental rebranding to better reflect our mission.  Throughout the rebranding process, we wanted to continue to highlight the rich history of the organization while centering our clients – survivors – in name and logo. I am thankful to all who helped us through this process and proud of the work we have done to get here.

It’s no surprise to anyone that we have faced continuous and sustained challenges this year. Like many nonprofits, we saw a dramatic loss in federal funding, with most federal grants for our immigration services being entirely removed. Additionally, funding from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was completely cut.

Our Los Angeles community also faced unique obstacles that affected our staff, volunteers, and clients. The Palisades and Eaton wildfires ravaged the city at the beginning of 2025. These disasters rippled through the housing and job market, affecting our community county-wide.

In June, we saw an increased ICE presence throughout Los Angeles, generating new terror for our community. With increased ICE enforcement, immigrant survivors often face an impossible choice: stay with their abuser or risk deportation. Survivors told us they were scared to take their children to school, go to work, or even go grocery shopping. In at least one case, we had a client miss her court date out of fear.

But, with your life-changing support, we took these challenges head on. Our long-term supporters continued to back us while connecting us to new partners and funders who helped us expand our reach and deepen our impact. We’ve welcomed dozens of new funders who are eager to support our lifesaving mission and give survivors a path forward.

The launch of our monthly giving program, the Immigrant Survivors Unity Fund, was especially noteworthy. Our immigration law team faced incredible uncertainty, with the majority of our federal grants being cancelled. We were determined to continue supporting our clients, many of whom have been with us for years as they navigate the intense immigration process.

In this moment of darkness, our community stepped up. So many of you have pledged monthly gifts specifically to support immigrant survivors and their families. Your commitment sustains our work and our resolve.

Thanks to your support, we expanded not just our direct legal representation but our advocacy and community outreach work. When clients came to us afraid of rapidly changing immigration laws, our Community Advocacy team hopped into action facilitating Know Your Rights presentations and connecting clients to resources. We supported several bills that provide survivors with a path towards justice and create more opportunities for healing. We were able to assist our clients both in and out of the courtroom, developing a holistic approach that helps them achieve their goals in all aspects of their lives.

We held multiple events throughout the year, where our community joined us in celebration and joy. Our first gala as Survivor Justice Center brought together staff, volunteers, attorneys, advocates – and even historic labor leader Dolores Huerta, who has fought tirelessly for immigrant rights her whole life.

In spite of everything, we saw a tremendous amount of growth and love from so many of you. When governments or institutions fail to support us, we support each other.

What we do at Survivor Justice Center is beyond legal services. We reunite families, helping them heal together after facing years of trauma. We create safe spaces, ensuring survivors can stay with their support systems. We provide tools clients need to heal, rebuild, and continue their journey forward with strength.

We remain a beacon of hope for survivors.

Together, we will continue to fight for justice, safety, and dignity for every survivor, no matter the challenges ahead.

Carmen McDonald
Executive Director

Navigating court while escaping an abuser can quickly become overwhelming, especially as cases become more complex. Securing safety and stability for one’s family is not always easy. For survivors like Ebony, Survivor Justice Center provides critical legal support every step of the way.

“Survivor Justice Center didn’t just help me heal—they helped me fight.”

Click on Ebony’s photo to read her full story. 

This year has been marked by remarkable victories and considerable challenges. The presidential election in November and subsequent federal policy changes brought new threats to our clients and our mission. We experienced significant funding losses for our immigration services and increased immigration enforcement in our community heightened fear among immigrant survivors, forcing many to make difficult decisions to remain safe.

Yet justice persevered. We joined forces with other service providers to support immigrant survivors across Los Angeles, including contributing to the city’s Sanctuary City efforts. We welcomed new supporters and passionately advocated for survivors, earning coverage in LA Lawyer Magazine, Mother Jones, and KCAL. Despite challenges to our clients and the programs we provide, we continued to share the importance of our work with the community and uphold our commitment to empowering survivors.

Click the written highlights to learn more about each one.

Pro bono services are essential to Survivor Justice Center. Without this support, many survivors would be unable to secure legal representation. For firms like Jones Day, pro bono work is about more than volunteering time. It’s about making a meaningful difference in the life of a survivor.
 
“It’s a chance to be good at what you do while doing good.”

Click on Jones Day’s photo to read their story. 

1,035

total survivors served

141

favorable custody orders secured

83

restraining orders secured

36

work permits granted

24

families kept housed

575

immigrant clients supported

646

advocates trained

86%

say their life has improved thanks to Survivor Justice Center services.

92%

say they feel less fear.

93%

say they feel more confident.

95%

say they are more hopeful.

97%

say they have better family relationships.

Immigrant survivors face extraordinary challenges as they balance leaving an abuser while pursuing immigration relief. For survivors like Lizeth, Survivor Justice Center provides more than legal representation; it’s a trusted and safe space they can turn to in moments of fear.

“I thank God that I got in touch with Survivor Justice Center because they changed my life.”

Click on Lizeth’s picture to read her story. 

In the fall, Survivor Justice Center expanded our Know Your Rights advocacy, providing valuable immigration knowledge to community members. Our Community Advocates gave presentations throughout Los Angeles to college students, medical staff, and fellow advocates so they knew how to better support the immigrants they serve.

We worked with clients to determine potential challenges they may face as immigration enforcement increased. Community Advocates helped clients create family preparedness plans, offered linkages to mental health resources, and provided vital warnings against potential scams targeting immigrants. Coupled with legal support from our immigration law team, these holistic services are essential in keeping survivors safe.

In June, Los Angeles saw an increase in ICE presence and detainments. Immigrant survivors face greater risk, as their immigration status is often used against them by their abuser. We joined forces with partners across Los Angeles to alert the community, educate service providers, and advocate for immigrant safety.

Los Angeles Sanctuary City Ordinance (Provided Public Comment in Support, highlighted impact on immigrant survivors)

Burbank Sanctuary City Ordinance (Provided Public Comment in Support, highlighted impact on immigrant survivors)

San Fernando Sanctuary City Ordinance (Provided Public Comment in Support, highlighted impact on immigrant survivors)

AB 938 (Bonta), “The Survivors Act of 2025,” which expands human trafficking/intimate partner violence/sexual violence-based vacatur (Co-sponsored, advised on implications for immigrant survivors, and drafted section of bill re: U and T Visa Certifications).

18-1-410.7. “Vacating certain criminal convictions for victims of human trafficking” (Advised on implications for immigrant human trafficking survivors after co-sponsoring/co-drafting technical fixes (AB 2169) to CA survivor-based vacatur statutes PC 236.14 and 236.15 to ensure they provided full protections to immigrant survivors).

Survivor Justice Center is grateful to be surrounded by a dedicated community committed to supporting our mission. For advocates like the Trejo family, volunteering means using their own talents in whatever way possible to uplift survivors.

“Use what you have and do what you can.”

Click on the Trejo’s picture to read their story. 

Survivor Justice Center staff with Dolores Huerta at our 2025 Gala.

There is no shortage of survivors who need our help. Help us in our mission to ensure that every survivor has safety, security, and access to justice. We have opportunities for everyone; join us at one of our four annual events, become a pro bono volunteer, or make a gift to support our services. Learn more about how you can make an impact by emailing our Director of Development, Marissa Marasigan, at marissam@survivorjusticecenter.org or our Major Gifts Officer, Dan Hanley, at dan@survivorjusticecenter.org.