American Immigration Council

What American Immigration Council does

The American Immigration Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., that advances immigration reform through four coordinated functions: litigation, research, legislative and administrative advocacy, and communications. Its core programmatic offerings include the Immigration Justice Campaign — a pro bono legal services initiative co-sponsored with the American Immigration Lawyers Association that has mobilized a network of 22,000+ volunteer attorneys and interpreters to represent detained immigrants and asylum seekers — and the J-1 Cultural Exchange Program, which sponsors interns, trainees, and research scholars at U.S. host organizations. The Council also produces proprietary research and data products, including the Map the Impact and Immigration Where You Live interactive data tools covering 100+ data points across all 50 states, the annual Belonging Barometer public-attitudes research, and the New American Fortune 500 analysis of immigrant entrepreneurship. Legal resources for practitioners comprise practice advisories, amicus briefs, and litigation support.

The organization is funded through a mix of individual donations, institutional grants, and J-1 program sponsorship fees, with all core public-facing services offered free of charge. Its customer base is heterogeneous: immigrants facing removal proceedings are the primary service-recipient segment, while policymakers, business leaders, immigration attorneys, and advocates are served through research, data tools, training, and coalition-building channels. Distribution is multi-channel — email newsletter, social media (Instagram, Bluesky, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads), earned media, events, and digital self-serve — with the Belonging Begins with Us campaign having generated $100M+ in donated media since 2020. Strategic partnerships with AILA, Welcoming America, Just Futures Law, and state-level business coalitions position the Council as a coordination hub in the immigration advocacy ecosystem.

Name

American Immigration Council

Legal name

American Immigration Council

Website

https://americanimmigrationcouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigration Legal Services

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigration Law (BPAHAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Immigration Legal Advisory & Representation (Student Visas) (EDAIADAB)

Keywords

• Immigration legal services
• Immigration policy research
• Pro bono representation
• Cultural exchange sponsorship
• Immigration advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (EIN 52-1549711) funded primarily through individual and corporate donations. The website features multiple donation options including one-time and monthly giving.
2. Institutional Donations and Grants: The organization receives support from institutional donors including foundations and government grants for specific programs and initiatives.
3. J-1 Cultural Exchange Program Sponsorship: The Council sponsors interns, trainees, and research scholars for Exchange Visitor Programs, providing direct support and training to participants, host communities, and attorneys involved in the program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The American Immigration Council runs a portfolio of immigration legal services, policy research, and educational programs. It provides pro bono representation through the Immigration Justice Campaign, produces original research and data tools (Map the Impact, Immigration Where You Live, Belonging Barometer, New American Fortune 500), sponsors J-1 cultural exchange visitors, and issues practice advisories and amicus briefs to advance a fair immigration system in the United States.

Product overview

The American Immigration Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of research, legal services, and advocacy programs. Its core offerings include the Immigration Justice Campaign providing pro bono legal representation to detained immigrants, the Map the Impact/Immigration Where You Live data visualization tools, the Belonging Barometer annual research report, the J-1 Cultural Exchange Program for cultural exchange sponsorship, the Center for Inclusion & Belonging for narrative change work, and legal resources including practice advisories and amicus briefs for immigration attorneys. The organization operates primarily as an advocacy and research institution rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Immigration Justice Campaign
• Map the Impact
• Immigration Where You Live
• Belonging Barometer
• New American Fortune 500
• J-1 Cultural Exchange Program
• Global Talent Chamber Network
• Center for Inclusion & Belonging
• Practice Advisories
• Amicus Briefs

Quantifiable outcome

• 22,000+ Immigration Justice Campaign Volunteers and Advocates
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Immigration Lawyers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsors the Immigration Justice Campaign, an initiative providing free legal services for immigrants who would otherwise go unrepresented, including clients in ICE detention and those seeking asylum based on LGBTQ+ identity. The partnership leverages a nationwide network of volunteers and trains lawyers to defend immigrants facing removal.
• Just Futures LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services seeking disclosure of policies related to 'anti-Americanism' social media vetting in immigration benefit adjudications. Subsequently filed a lawsuit in March 2026 to compel USCIS to produce records after the agency failed to respond.
• Welcoming AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads the Gateways for Growth Challenge initiative, awarding local communities resources and support for welcoming and integration programs. The partnership works to help cities become more welcoming environments where immigrants can fully participate in community life.
• Ohio Business for Immigration SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide business coalition powered by the American Immigration Council preparing research on immigrant contributions to Ohio's economy, workforce, and tax base. Partnership focuses on local economic impact research and business advocacy for immigration-friendly policies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RAICES: RAICES is a nonprofit that provides free immigration legal services and advocacy, particularly for families, detained individuals, and asylum seekers. It directly overlaps with the Council's free representation and deportation-defense activities.
• National Immigration Law Center: National Immigration Law Center is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization focused on immigrant rights through litigation, policy analysis, and public education. It closely matches the Council's combination of immigration law, research, and systemic reform advocacy.
• Immigrant Defense Project: Immigrant Defense Project provides legal services, impact litigation, training, and community education for immigrants facing detention or deportation. It is directly comparable to the Council's Immigration Justice Campaign and immigration-focused legal resources.
• Kids in Need of Defense: KIND provides pro bono legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children. It is directly comparable in its use of volunteer attorneys to expand access to immigration representation, though it serves a narrower population.
• National Immigrant Justice Center: National Immigrant Justice Center delivers direct legal and social services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers while conducting impact litigation and policy advocacy. Its integrated service and advocacy model parallels the Council's work.
• Just Futures Law: Just Futures Law is an immigrant-rights organization that uses impact litigation, advocacy, and legal support to challenge immigration enforcement and surveillance policies. It directly overlaps with the Council's litigation and systems-level advocacy, though at a smaller apparent scale.
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. CLINIC is a nonprofit network that supports immigration legal service providers through training, technical assistance, and capacity building. It is comparable through its national immigration-law network, although its core function is more infrastructure-focused than the Council's direct advocacy.
• International Refugee Assistance Project: International Refugee Assistance Project provides legal services, impact litigation, and policy advocacy for refugees and displaced people. Its specialized refugee-law work and access-to-justice mission are closely aligned with the Council's legal advocacy.

Others

• Migration Policy Institute: Migration Policy Institute conducts nonpartisan research and analysis on immigration and refugee policy for governments, civil society, and other stakeholders. It is adjacent to the Council through its policy research, demographic data tools, and engagement with decision-makers, but does not primarily provide legal representation.
• American Immigration Lawyers Association: American Immigration Lawyers Association is a national membership association for immigration lawyers that provides practice resources, education, and policy advocacy. It is an important ecosystem peer and Council partner rather than a direct service-delivery competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/immcouncil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ImmPolicyCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/122037065517
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-immigration-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/immcouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Immigration Council