EOY 2024
Representing Immigrants in Bond Proceedings
Comunidad Colectiva Featured on Netflix
Welcome to the
Carolina Migrant Network
Carolina Migrant Network’s (CMN) core mission is to build and sustain services for people targeted by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration (DHS). We provide compassionate and competent pro-bono legal representation. We organize with communities to disrupt the deportation pipeline/ system. We envision a world of empowered, self-determined, organized communities, free from the fear of deportation and family separation.
Our Story
CMN was co-founded by Stefania Arteaga and Becca O’Neill. Stefania and Becca met in 2017 doing legal advocacy work in the non-profit sector in Charlotte. Although NC has an established (and growing) migrant and immigrant population, low cost and free immigration legal services available to these communities is limited in scope.
There are currently no nonprofits in NC that offer low cost or free immigration legal services for individuals detained by ICE.
What We Do
Legal Services
CMN represents individuals in removal proceedings at no cost. We represent individuals detained by DHS, and people who are not detained. We are the only nonprofit in the Carolinas that represents individuals detained by DHS free of charge. In addition, CMN hosts asylum clinics where individuals can meet with an attorney who assists in preparing and filing their asylum application, and conducts informational Know-Your-Rights sessions for communities across the state.
Network
CMN has trained a network of volunteer attorneys to provide free legal representation in immigration bond proceedings to individuals detained by ICE. The Carolina Migrant Network is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, but is able to offer representation at no cost for eligible individuals across the nation.
Community Organizing
Our advocacy department collaborates with young people from immigrant or refugee families in Mecklenburg county to focus on organizing efforts pertinent to community needs such as non-partisan voter engagement, educational and cultural events. In 2023 we launched the Monarca Fellowship, which aims to train youth organizers in the Charlotte area on immigrants rights organizing and advocacy.