Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation

Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation
AbbreviationAIRR
Formation2016 (2016)
Type501(c)(3) non-profit organization
PurposeImmigrant rights advocacy
HeadquartersKansas City metropolitan area
Location
Key people
Karla Juarez (Executive Director)
RevenueUS$183,000 (2023)
Expenses$157,000 (2023)
Websiteairrkc.org

Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR) is an American non-profit organization for immigrant rights in Kansas and Missouri. It was founded in 2016 in the Kansas City metropolitan area, where its work includes legislative advocacy, community organizing, and direct-support programs.

AIRR was a leader in the coalition that secured the passage of the 2022 Safe and Welcoming Wyandotte Act, a Kansas City, Kansas, ordinance that created a municipal ID program and limited local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.[1] The organization gained further public prominence for its role as the primary community and media liaison during the July 2025 federal immigration raids at two area restaurants.[2][3]

History

Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation was established in 2016, gaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in April of that year.[4] Its stated mission is to "organize and activate immigrants in Kansas and Missouri to advocate for their rights and well-being".[5] Early work focused on foundational services, including "Know Your Rights" workshops to educate community members on constitutional protections during encounters with law enforcement.[6][7] In 2022, this program had 1,151 participants.[8]

The organization's most significant legislative campaign began in 2017 to create the Safe and Welcoming Wyandotte Act. The effort was conducted in coalition with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and El Centro, Inc., but stalled for several years under a mayoral administration that did not support the ordinance. The campaign involved persistent community organizing, including canvassing neighborhoods and outreach to local businesses. A critical turning point came with the 2021 election of Mayor Tyrone Garner, who had endorsed the ordinance and prioritized its consideration. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, passed the act on February 10, 2022, by a 6–4 vote. The act created a municipal ID card for all residents, addressing an issue for what proponents estimated was the twenty percent of county residents who lacked photo ID.It also codified a policy limiting the use of local resources for federal immigration enforcement unless compelled by a judicial warrant.[1] The passage prompted a direct political backlash from Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who cited the ordinance as the primary impetus for introducing state-level legislation to ban such "sanctuary city" policies.[9]

In 2020, Karla Juarez, an immigrant from Mexico with a degree in political science, became executive director. Following her appointment, the organization increased its public and political advocacy.[10] AIRR's finances grew significantly in the wake of its legislative success; after several years of revenues typically under $115,000, its total revenue more than doubled in 2022 to $265,000.[11]

AIRR is active in the state legislatures of both Kansas and Missouri.[10][12] As part of the Missouri Immigration Policy Coalition, it has advocated for legislation to grant in-state tuition to non-citizen Missouri high school graduates.[13] In January 2025, Juarez testified before a Missouri Senate committee against bills designed to increase local law enforcement's role in federal immigration enforcement.[10] In Kansas, AIRR and the ACLU of Kansas jointly petitioned in 2025 against a proposal by the private prison company CoreCivic to operate a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Leavenworth, Kansas.[14] It has also petitioned Wyandotte County for Spanish-language election materials.[15]

On July 30, 2025, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted immigration raids at two El Toro Loco restaurants in Kansas City, Kansas, and Lenexa, Kansas. AIRR assumed a central public role in the aftermath, becoming the first to report the raids and the number of workers detained to the media.[2][16]

Partnerships

AIRR frequently collaborates with other organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas on campaigns like the Safe and Welcoming Wyandotte Act and the opposition to the Leavenworth detention center. It is a member of the Missouri Immigration Policy Coalition.[17][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Savage, Laura (February 11, 2022). "Wyandotte County passes 'Safe And Welcoming Act,' providing municipal IDs for immigrants". KCUR. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Heno, Alex (July 30, 2025). "ICE detains up to 12 people in Kansas City area raids at Mexican restaurants, advocates say". KCUR. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  3. ^ Gutierrez, Lisa (July 30, 2025). "Homeland Security Investigations detains restaurant workers as immigrant rights advocates confront agents". Kansas City Star. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  4. ^ "Advocates for Immigration Rights & Reconciliation Inc". Charity Navigator. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "About Us". AIRR. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  6. ^ "Know Your Rights". AIRR. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  7. ^ "Resolution No. 250634". Kansas City Council. July 31, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  8. ^ "Advocates for Immigration Rights and Reconciliation -- Kansas City, KS". Cause IQ. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  9. ^ Lopex, Blaise (March 16, 2022). "Immigrants speak against Kansas bill banning sanctuary cities: 'This will have insidious effects'". KCUR. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c Henderson, Rachel (January 31, 2025). "As anxiety increases around immigration safety, advocates call on KCK leaders to take action". KSHB News. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  11. ^ "Advocates For Immigration Rights & Reconciliation Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  12. ^ Juarez, Karla (March 29, 2022). "Testimony in Opposition to HB 2717" (PDF). Kansas Legislature. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Advocacy/Abogacía". AIRR. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  14. ^ Dolinar, Brian (August 8, 2025). "A Fight Is Brewing in the Midwest Over Immigrant Mass Detention". Truthout. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  15. ^ "Kansas activists urge Wyandotte County officials to expand Spanish language voting materials". KCUR. October 8, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  16. ^ Heno, Alex (July 31, 2025). "At least 3 released after immigration raids at restaurants in Lenexa and Kansas City, Kansas". KCUR. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  17. ^ "Missouri Immigration Policy Coalition Opposes HJR43". ACLU of Missouri. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
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