American Immigration Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE COUNCIL STRIVES TO STRENGTHEN THE UNITED STATES BY SHAPING IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH, AND STRATEGIC LEGAL AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS GROUNDED IN EVIDENCE, COMPASSION, JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS.
- Income
- $11.9 million
- Spending
- $12.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 87
- Volunteers
- 305
- Highest pay
- $337,859, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $3.7 million spent. LITIGATION AND LEGAL EDUCATIONWE USE THE COURTS TO DEMAND A FAIR PROCESS FOR IMMIGRANTS BY CHALLENGING UNJUST POLICES AND LAWS. IN 2024, WE SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED SEVERAL STATES SEEKING TO ENACT THEIR OWN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL PROCESSES OUTSIDE OF FEDERAL LAW. IN FLORIDA, ALONGSIDE OUR LITIGATION PARTNERS, WE OBTAINED A RULING BLOCKING SECTION 10 OF THE SENATE BILL 1718, WHICH MADE IT A CRIME TO DRIVE AN IMMIGRANT WHO ENTERED THE U.S WITHOUT INSPECTION INTO FLORIDA. IN IOWA, WITH OUR LITIGATION PARTNERS, WE OBTAINED A RULING BLOCKING SENATE FILE 2340 WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IOWA TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT, STATE IMMIGRATION SCHEME, GIVING IOWA THE POWER TO ARREST, DETAIN, AND DEPORT NON-CITIZENS IN THE STATE. IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS, ARE ALSO LITIGATING FOR THE RIGHTS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS AT THE BORDER. THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS AFFIRMED A LOWER COURT DECISION IN FAVOR OF THE PLAINTIFFS IN OUR CASE CHALLENGING THE GOVERNMENT'S SYSTEMIC TURN BACKS OR "METERING" OF PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM AT PORTS OF ENTRY ALONG THE U.S - MEXICO BORDER. WE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATED THE GOVERNMENT'S MOTION TO DISMISS IN A RELATED CASE CHALLENGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S BORDER-WIDE POLICY AND PRACTICE OF TURNING BACK ASYLUM SEEKERS WITHOUT A CBP ONE APPOINTMENT AT PORTS OF ENTRY. IN 2024, THE COUNCIL BROUGHT TOGETHER APPROXIMATELY 100 OF THE COUNTRY'S TOP IMMIGRATION LITIGATORS TO FOCUS ON THE MYRIAD THREATS TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, INCLUDING EXPECTED MASS INTERIOR ENFORCEMENT THROUGH WORKSITE AND COMMUNITY RAIDS, FURTHER RESTRICTIONS TO ASYLUM AND AT THE BORDER, AND EXPANSION OF DETENTION. TOGETHER, WE DISCUSSED POSSIBLE LEGAL THEORIES TO STOP OR LIMIT THE HARM OF THESE ANTICIPATED POLICIES. TRANSPARENCYIN 2024, ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS AT THE BLACK ALLIANCE FOR JUST IMMIGRATION, WE PRESENTED OUR REPORT ON CBP'S DEPLOYMENT DURING RACIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AT THE SIXTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON REMEDIES TO RACIAL AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY. OUR ANALYSIS OF FOIA-OBTAINED RECORDS FOUND THAT CBP DEPLOYED HEAVILY MILITARIZED UNITS THAT RECEIVED LIMITED TRAINING IN PROTECTING PROTESTERS' RIGHTS TO PREDOMINANTLY PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS.WE ALSO HOSTED OUR ANNUAL INTERDISCIPLINARY GATHERING OF THOUGHT LEADERS ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS. MORE THAN 70 ATTENDEES FROM ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ATTENDED THE VIRTUAL CONVENING. PARTICIPANTS HEARD FROM PANELISTS ON PRESSING TOPICS SUCH AS BORDER POLICIES, USING FOIA AND TRANSPARENCY TACTICS TO EFFECT POLICY CHANGES, AND HOW TRANSPARENCY ORGANIZATIONS CAN PREPARE FOR 2025. PRACTICAL ISSUES LIKE DRAFTING BETTER RECORDS REQUESTS, WORKING WITH MEDIA, AND DEVELOPING STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE MISSION MAY NOT BE TRANSPARENCY FOCUSED. THE TRANSPARENCY TEAM ALSO TOOK LEGAL ACTION TO COMPEL THE GOVERNMENT TO RESUME RELEASING CITY-LEVEL DATA ON REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS. WE ALSO TOOK LEGAL ACTION TO THE COMPEL INFORMATION AGENCIES TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FAMILY EXPEDITED REMOVAL MANAGEMENT (FERM) PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN MAY 2023.IMMIGRATION JUSTICE CAMPAIGNIN 2024, THE IMMIGRATION JUSTICE CAMPAIGN ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS, ROCKY MOUNTAIN IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY NETWORK, FILED A CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF A GROUP OF TRANSGENDER AND NONBINARY INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE DETAINED AT THE DENVER CONTRACT DETENTION FACILITY AND HAD EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND MISTREATMENT WHILE UNDER ICE CUSTODY. THIS COMPLAINT WAS THE FIRST STEP OF OUR BROADER EFFORT TO PROVIDE MORE DEDICATED LEGAL SUPPORT TO LGBTQ+ ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE UNITED STATES. TO MEET THE NEED FOR EXPERT LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN CASES INVOLVING LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS SEEKING ASYLUM, WE STARTED A PROGRAM WITH PARTNERS TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO ATTORNEYS ON SPECIFIC ISSUES TAHT MAY COME UP IN ASYLUM CASES FOR LGBTQ+ PEOPLE AND AWARENESS TRAINING SO THEY CAN PROFICIENTLY COLLABORATE WITH THEIR CLIENTS WITH SENSITIVITY AND CONSIDERATION. TO MEET MORE LEGAL SERVICE NEEDS FOR MIGRANTS IN DETENTION, IJC BEGAN A PROJECT IN 2023 TO PROVIDE CREDIBLE FEAR INTERVIEW PREPARATION BY PHONE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS HELD IN CBP CUSTODY. OUR LEGAL INFORMATION HOTLINE PROVIDES A GLIMPSE INTO CBP CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS THAT ARE OFF-LIMITS TO OUTSIDE OBSERVERS. THE COUNCIL WAS ONLY TWO ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE HOTLINE COVERAGE ACROSS ALL FACILITIES IN 2024. OUR 44-PERSON VOLUNTEER TEAM HAS SPOKEN TO 295 PEOPLE IN DETENTION AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE CREDIBLE FEAR INTERVIEW PROCESS AND ASK CALLERS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES IN CBP CUSTODY.
- $3.0 million spent. BUILDING A MORE WELCOMING COUNTRY FROM THE GROUND UPSTATE AND LOCAL OUR STATE AND LOCAL TEAM ENGAGES BUSINESS LEADERS, COALITIONS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND POLICYMAKERS NATIONWIDE TO BUILD A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR NEWCOMERS IN STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. TO SUPPORT ADVOCATES, THE TEAM TRACKS IMMIGRANT RELATED LEGISLATION IN ALL 50 STATES AND PROVIDES TIMELY UPDATES, DATA, RESEARCH REPORTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TALKING POINTS, TESTIMONY, AND LETTERS OF SUPPORT. IN 2024, WE HAVE TRACKED MORE THAN 800 IMMIGRANT-RELATED BILLS AND PROVIDED WEEKLY UPDATES VIA EXTERNAL TRACKERS TO PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.IN 2024, WE SUPPORTED THE 17 PRO-IMMIGRANT BILLS RELATED TO THE CREATED OF OFFICES OF NEW AMERICANS, LANGUAGE ACCESS, OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE, AND FUNDING TO SUPPORT MIGRANT INTEGRATION. WE RELEASED REPORTS ON THE GROWING DEMAND FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN NEW YORK, MICHIGAN, AND MASSACHUSETTS. TO HELP PUSH BACK AGAINST STATE POLICIES THAT HARM IMMIGRANTS AND COMMUNITIES OVERALL, WE PARTNERED WITH REFUGEE ADVOCACY LAB AND THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE TO PUBLISH A TOOLKIT ON COUNTERING ANTI0IMMIGRANT POLICIES. IN 2024, WE ORGANIZED THE GLOBAL TALENT CHAMBER NETWORK CONVENING, BRINGING TOGETHER 20 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERS FROM 17 CHAMBERS ACROSS THE US. BUSINESS LEADERS LEARNED FROM EXPERTS AND FROM ONE ANOTHER ABOUT HOW THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAN COLLABORATE MORE CLOSELY WITH ITS IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE NEIGHBORS TO ENSURE A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY. DURING THE CONVENING, WE GATHERED SUPPORT FOR A BUSINESS LETTER URGING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ADDRESS WORK PERMIT BACKLOGS BY PRIORITIZING THE PROCESSING OF INITIAL AND RENEWAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS. OVER 100 SIGNATORIES, REPRESENTING NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ACROSS 25 STATES, SIGNED THE LETTER. AS A RESULT OF THIS ADVOCACY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCED A FINAL REGULATION IN DECEMBER TO EXTEND WORK PERMITS FOR 540 DAYS.THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS STATE NETWORK CONTINUES TO GROW, REACHING 22 MEMBERS WITH THE ADDITION OF PENNSYLVANIA, NEW MEXICO, AND HAWAII. THESE 22 STATES REPRESENT TWO-THIRDS OF THE TOTAL IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN 2022. AS STATES BEGAN ENCOUNTERING INCREASING MIGRANT ARRIVALS FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER, WE TRAVELED WITH A GROUP OF 15 ONA STAFF FROM 10 STATES ON A SITE VISIT TO SAN DIEGO TO BETTER UNDERSTAND FEDERAL, STATE, AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION OPERATIONS IN THE CITY AND AT THE BORDER. WE HELD OUR ANNUAL ONA CONVENING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. CELEBRATING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NETWORK. NEARLY 40 REPRESENTATIVES FROM 18 ONA STATES RECEIVED A POST-ELECTION BRIEFING FROM THE COUNCIL'S POLICY TEAM AND EXIT POLL ANALYSIS OF VOTER SENTIMENTS ON IMMIGRATION FROM THE IMMIGRATION HUB.OUR GATEWAYS FOR GROWTH PROGRAM HAD FOUR COMMUNITIES IN OUR 5TH COHORT. THESE COMMUNITIES INCLUDED SOUTH BEND, INDIANA; FORT WAYNE, INDIANA; BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND; AND SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. THESE COMMUNITIES PUSHED FORWARD IMMIGRANT INCLUSION INITIATIVES, RELYING ON THE COUNCIL'S DATA TO SHOWCASE THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF NEWCOMERS. THE COUNCIL ALSO BROUGHT TOGETHER 23 PAST PARTICIPANTS TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK ON THE GATEWAYS FOR GROWTH EXPERIENCE AND HOW IT CAN BE IMPROVED.CENTER FOR INCLUSION AND BELONGING OUR CENTER FOR INCLUSION AND BELONGING PROGRAM USES NARRATIVE AND CULTURE CHANGE STRATEGIES TO COUNTER BIASES, PREJUDICES, AND "OTHERING" WHILE ADVANCING THE INCLUSION AND BELONGING OF EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES. BELONGING BEGINS WITH US (BBWU) USES HIGH PROFILE PARTNERSHIPS TO EXTEND ITS MESSAGE TO NEW AUDIENCES IN THE PLACES AND SPACES WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY. SINCE THE LAUNCH OF BBWU IN 2020, IT HAS GARNERED OVER $95 MILLION IN DONATED MEDIA, AND ITS CONTENT REACH MILLIONS OF VIEWERS.THE COUNCIL HAS PARTNERED WITH THE TEAM UP PROJECT TO RELEASE A NEW "SHARED TABLE" PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER ACROSS LINES OF DIFFERENCE TO CULTIVATE STRONGER, MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES. THIS HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO 1,800 TV STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BBWU ALSO COLLABORATED WITH THE DAVID J. SENCER CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) MUSEUM AND CDC'S OFFICES OF MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY AS THEY CURATED AN EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTING THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, ENTITLED "HEALTH IS A HUMAN RIGHT: ACHIEVING HEALTH EQUITY". CULTURAL EXCHANGEOUR CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM PROMOTES EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD CONNECTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING ACROSS CULTURES. SINCE 2003 FOR TRAINEES AND 2007 FOR INTERNS, THE COUNCIL HAS HOSTED AND FACILITATED ABOUT 500 J-1 INTERNS AND TRAINEES PER YEAR, PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TO EXCHANGE VISITORS, COMPANIES, AND ATTORNEYS FROM APPLICATION FOR J VISA SPONSORSHIP THROUGH ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT. IN OCTOBER, WE LAUNCHED RESEARCHERUSA.COM, A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE DETAILING HOW THE RESEARCH SCHOLAR DESIGNATION CAN BE UTILIZED ACROSS INDUSTRIES AND CONTEXTS. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE OUR PROGRAM THROUGH EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS AND WEBINARS, WHICH REACHED MORE THAN 250 PEOPLE THIS YEAR.
- $2.4 million spent. INFORMING DECISIONMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE RESEARCHOUR RESEARCH TEAM ELEVATES THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE FABRIC OF AMERICA. THROUGH SOPHISTICATED DATA ANALYSIS, WE GROUND IMMIGRATION ISSUES AND DEBATES IN FACTS AND SOUND EVIDENCE. IN 2024, THE COUNCIL PUBLISHED A NATURALIZATION FACT SHEET AND ACCOMPANYING BLOG POST SHOWING NATURALIZATION RATES NATIONALLY AND IN CRUCIAL STATES, HIGHLIGHTING KEY DEMOGRAPHICS OF IMMIGRANTS ELIGIBLE FOR NATURALIZATION AND THEIR POTENTIAL ELECTORAL POWER. OUR PARTNERS HAVE USED THIS RESEARCH TO MAKE THEIR OUTREACH EFFORTS MORE TARGETED AND ACCESSIBLE. IN OCTOBER, THE TEAM PUBLISHED A REPORT ON HOW IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE GREAT LAKES REGION. THE TEAM UPDATED STATE LEVEL DATA WITHIN OUR MAP THE IMPACT TOOL, ONE OF OUR MOST CITED RESEARCH PRODUCTS.COMMUNICATIONS AND STORYTELLING IN 2024, THE COUNCIL'S STAFF AND RESOURCES HAVE APPEARED IN 4,977 NEWS STORIES IN MEDIA OUTLETS, NOT COUNTING REPRINTS. THE WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN PIECES BY VANITY FAIR, THE NEW YORK TIMES, MSNBC, THE WASHINGTON POST, ABC NEWS, THE ATLANTIC, FORBES, ROLLING STONE, THE ECONOMIST, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, HUFFPOST, POLITICO, THE AMERICAN PROSPECT, BLOOMBERG, FOX NEWS, AND USA TODAY.IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED ON PROMINENT TV SHOWS LIKE 60 MINUTES, LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, AND CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR. THE TEAM PUBLISHED OVER 100 BLOG POSTS AND HOSTED 13 WEBINARS WITH UP TO 1,000 ATTENDEES PER WEBINAR.POLICYWE ADVOCATE FOR A MODERN AND JUST IMMIGRATION SYSTEM BY EDUCATING POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE, FACT-BASED TOOLS, AND A NUANCED UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES. THE COUNCIL'S TARGETED ENGAGEMENT WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAS INCREASED OUR VISIBILITY ON THE HILL. ON MARCH 7TH, 2024, WE TESTIFIED BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE JUDICIARY'S SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION INTEGRITY, SECURITY, AND ENFORCEMENT, CALLING ATTENTION TO THE OVERDUE NEED FOR CONGRESS TO OVERHAUL ASYLUM SYSTEM. WHEN THE SENATE INTRODUCED THE BIPARTISAN BORDER LEGISLATION IN FEBRUARY WAS ONE OF THE MOST PIVOTAL MOMENTS IN CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON IMMIGRATION IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. OUR TEAM PRODUCED A RAPID ANALYSIS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE BILL'S INTRODUCTION DESPITE ITS MAMMOTH SIZE.WHEN MASS DEPORTATION BECAME A PROMINENT PROPOSAL AMONG SOME POLITICIANS, THE COUNCIL'S POLICY AND RESEARCH TEAMS RELEASED A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE COSTS AND COMPLICATIONS SUCH POLICIES WOULD INCUR. IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING ITS RELEASE, THIS REPORT WAS CITED BY JOURNALISTS AND COLUMNISTS AT LEADING NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS LIKE THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, CNN, CBS NEWS, AND USA TODAY; AND FEATURED ON TELEVISION IN NEWS SEGMENTS WITH COUNCIL EXPERTS AND INFOTAINMENT SHOWS LIKE 60 MINUTES AND LAST WEEK WITH JOHN OLIVER. THE MASS DEPORTATION REPORT HAS BEEN VIEWED OVER 136,000 TIMES, DEMONSTRATING THE HIGH-QUALITY ANALYSIS IT OFFERED OF A HIGHLY SALIENT POLICY PROPOSAL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.