Refugee and Immigrant RightsRefugee and Immigrant Rights
We defend refugees’ and immigrants’ rights through legal representation, litigation, humane asylum policy, and accountability.
Mission & History
About Us
Your donations help protect people fleeing persecution, strengthen democratic institutions, and advance solutions that uphold human rights.
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Since 1978, Human Rights First has championed freedom and dignity for all, at home and abroad. Our near half-century of impact includes securing landmark protections for refugees, building bipartisan guardrails against torture, forging new frameworks to hold global human rights abusers accountable, and uplifting human rights defenders worldwide. Grounded in legal rigor and with a bias towards innovation, we build broad-based coalitions and equip them with new tools to ensure that justice and democracy prevail.
Our History
Key moments that have shaped our impact and advanced human rights worldwide.
1978: Founding of Human Rights First
Lawyers Committee for International Human Rights, later renamed Human Rights First, is founded by the International League for Human Rights and the Council of New York Law Associates.
How Our Work Has Grown
Refugee and Immigrant Rights
U.S. Democracy ProtectionU.S. Democracy Protection
We bolster U.S. democracy by protecting civil liberties, challenging abuses of power, litigating, and mobilizing communities.
International Human RightsInternational Human Rights
We strengthen accountability, human rights, and humanitarian systems globally.
Active cases
View allThrough our strategic litigation, we defend democracy, protect refugees, and hold perpetrators accountable.
LawsuitSvitlana Doe v. Noem
Defending humanitarian programs to restore status and prevent instability and removals.
LawsuitWESPAC SLAPP Lawsuits
Defending our First Amendment Rights.
LawsuitYunseo Chung v. Trump Administration
Defending a lawful permanent resident from arrest for protected political expression.
LawsuitEl Sammak v. Egypt
Challenging Egypt’s assault on protesters, seeking accountability for violence on U.S. soil.
LawsuitSvitlana Doe v. Noem
Defending humanitarian programs to restore status and prevent instability and removals.
LawsuitWESPAC SLAPP Lawsuits
Defending our First Amendment Rights.
LawsuitYunseo Chung v. Trump Administration
Defending a lawful permanent resident from arrest for protected political expression.
LawsuitEl Sammak v. Egypt
Challenging Egypt’s assault on protesters, seeking accountability for violence on U.S. soil.