#SpotlightOnCLT: Carolina Migrant Network
Written by Stefania Arteaga
In the Queen City, our Latinx community has deep roots in immigrant justice. In January 2020, the Carolina Migrant Network (CMN) was co-founded by Stefania Arteaga, a longtime activist that calls Charlotte home since immigrating from El Salvador, and immigration attorney Becca O’Neill. CMN is the first of its kind in the Carolinas, working to provide pro bono services to fight deportations and family separations happening in our community.
The CMN is the state’s only legal nonprofit providing free legal services to people in immigration detention and/or in removal proceedings. CMN was born from the desperate need to fight deplorable and unjust detention. According to a Syracuse University report, our state ranks tenth in the country for people facing removal and dead last when it comes to legal representation for immigrants.
It’s been two years since CMN was founded, but the need for legal services persists. Since its inception, CMN has championed immigrant families, supporting approximately 101 individuals and impacting 430 family members. This free legal work families receive in our communities is crucial--and gives a fair shot to many of our neighbors who call Charlotte home to stay with their family and in their community.
This Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, we ask you to join us in continuing to defend the rights of those who need it most. Consider supporting CMN’s work and a community that has thrived thanks to our diversity. Check out our SHARE Charlotte profile to learn more about our organization and make a donation.