Immigration Equality
Immigration Equality is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 that provides free legal services — asylum, detention defense, family-based immigration, and HIV-related relief — to LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants in the United States, supported by a pro-bono attorney network and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Immigration Equality does
Immigration Equality is a 501(c)(3) non-profit legal services organization founded in 1994 and headquartered in New York City. It provides free legal representation to LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers across the United States and globally, covering asylum applications, detention defense, family-based immigration, and HIV-related immigration relief. Beyond direct services, the organization has built a significant impact litigation practice, having filed and prevailed in four landmark federal cases — Dvash-Banks, Blixt, Mize-Gregg, and Kiviti v. Pompeo — that together eliminated the U.S. State Department's discriminatory policy on citizenship recognition for children of same-sex couples born abroad. The organization operates a pro-bono attorney network and reaches clients via a dedicated detention hotline, a website application form, and institutional referrals from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of State, UNHCR, and IOM.
The organization's technology footprint is non-product-oriented: it relies on third-party processors (Microsoft SharePoint, Salesforce NPSS/Pardot/Elevate, Form Assembly, Windstream) for case management, donor engagement, and communications, and does not develop or operate proprietary software. Co-counsel relationships with Lambda Legal and Morgan Lewis have anchored its impact litigation, while long-standing individual relationships — including former clients now serving on its board — reinforce its mission credibility. Revenue comes entirely from donations, grants, and fundraising events; no fees are charged to clients, and the organization holds Guidestar Platinum and BBB accreditation.
Its go-to-market is community-led: referrals from LGBTQ advocacy groups, immigration service partners, and government agencies funnel clients into the pro-bono network. Marketing relies on organic social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), client storytelling, earned media, and fundraising events. The organization does not have a mobile app, public API, or disclosed SDK surface, and its growth metrics (revenue, headcount trends) are not publicly available.
Immigration Equality firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Immigration Equality
- Legal name
- Immigration Equality
- Website
- https://immigrationequality.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Immigration Equality is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 that provides free legal services — asylum, detention defense, family-based immigration, and HIV-related relief — to LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants in the United States, supported by a pro-bono attorney network and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Immigration Equality industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Immigration Legal Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Immigration Law (BPAHAAAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Immigration Legal Services & Representation (Law Firms) (THACAKAF)
Keywords
Where Immigration Equality is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Immigration Equality business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: As a non-profit organization, Immigration Equality relies on charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations to fund operations and legal services. The organization hosts events and campaigns to raise funds.
- Free Legal Services: The organization provides free legal services to LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants. All client services are provided at no cost, funded entirely through donations and grants rather than client fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free legal services for qualifying LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Immigration Equality product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Immigration Equality is a national nonprofit legal organization that provides free legal services to LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants. The organization matches clients with a pro bono attorney network and handles asylum cases, detention support, family-based immigration petitions, and impact litigation aimed at changing immigration law and policy.
Product overview
Immigration Equality is a non-profit legal services organization (not a technology company) that provides free legal assistance to LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and their families. The organization offers legal help services including asylum applications, detention support, family/couples legal services, and representation for people living with HIV. Additionally, Immigration Equality conducts impact litigation to challenge discriminatory policies affecting LGBTQ immigrants. As a legal nonprofit, the organization does not operate a software product platform with modules or distinct product lines in the traditional SaaS sense.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Asylum Legal Services Free legal representation for LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants seeking asylum in the United States, including credible fear interviews, asylum hearings, and federal court appeals.
- Legal Services for People Living with HIV Free legal assistance for HIV-positive immigrants, including HIV waiver applications, adjustment of status, and protection from removal based on health-related discrimination.
- Detention Representation Emergency legal representation for LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants held in ICE detention facilities, including bond hearings, ongoing representation during removal proceedings, and contact through a national detention hotline.
- Couples and Families Legal Services Family-based immigration legal services for LGBTQ couples and families, including marriage-based petitions, green card applications, consular processing, and petitions for unmarried partners.
- Other Paths to Status Legal Services Free legal representation for LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants pursuing alternative immigration relief such as U visas, T visas, VAWA self-petitions, Temporary Protected Status, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and naturalization.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully represented clients in obtaining asylum protection in the United States
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Immigration Equality
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Immigration Equality technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Immigration Equality partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Morgan Lewis (Pro Bono Counsel)coreMorgan Lewis serves as pro bono counsel alongside Immigration Equality and Lambda Legal in federal lawsuits against the U.S. State Department challenging discriminatory citizenship policies.
- Lambda LegalcoreLambda Legal works with Immigration Equality as co-counsel on impact litigation cases challenging discriminatory U.S. government policies, including the landmark citizenship cases for children of same-sex couples.
- U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityminorImmigration Equality may share client data with DHS in connection with representing clients in immigration matters, as required by law.
- U.S. Department of StateminorThe State Department has been the target of Immigration Equality's impact litigation challenging discriminatory citizenship policies for LGBTQ families.
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)minorImmigration Equality may share client data with UNHCR in connection with refugee resettlement and asylum matters.
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)minorImmigration Equality may share client data with IOM in connection with immigration assistance programs.
- Pro-Bono Attorney NetworkcoreImmigration Equality maintains a network of volunteer attorneys who provide free legal representation to clients. The organization trains and coordinates these attorneys to handle LGBTQ immigration cases.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Immigration Equality competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RAICES: Largest immigration legal services non-profit in the U.S., providing free and low-cost legal representation to immigrants including asylum seekers. Direct peer in free immigrant legal services with similar pro-bono and impact litigation models, though broader in scope.
- HIAS: Jewish-American refugee assistance organization providing legal services to asylum seekers and refugees. Direct peer in refugee/asylum legal services with similar pro-bono model and partnerships with UNHCR; comparable in serving persecuted populations.
- Lambda Legal: National LGBTQ legal advocacy organization that serves as Immigration Equality's co-counsel on federal impact litigation. Direct peer in LGBTQ legal services with shared clients and overlapping litigation strategy on marriage equality, family recognition, and civil rights cases.
- National Immigration Law Center (NILC): National immigrant rights advocacy organization that pursues impact litigation and policy advocacy for low-income immigrants. Directly comparable mission in immigrant rights with overlapping federal impact litigation strategy, though broader in scope beyond LGBTQ populations.
- GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders): Regional LGBTQ legal organization providing impact litigation and direct legal services. Directly comparable as a non-profit law firm focused on LGBTQ rights, with overlapping practice areas in family recognition, asylum, and civil rights.
- National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR): National LGBTQ legal organization providing direct representation, impact litigation, and policy advocacy. Direct peer in serving LGBTQ clients with legal needs including family law, immigration, and civil rights.
Broad incumbents
- Human Rights Campaign (HRC): Largest LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization in the U.S., focused primarily on lobbying and political advocacy. Broad incumbent in LGBTQ space but focused on policy/lobbying rather than direct legal services to individuals.
- Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC): National immigrant legal services network affiliated with Catholic agencies, providing free legal services to immigrants. Broad incumbent in the immigration legal services space with similar pro-bono network model and similar donation-driven funding.
- ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union): Nationwide civil rights organization that litigates broadly on constitutional issues including LGBTQ rights and immigrant rights. Broad incumbent with overlapping work in LGBTQ civil liberties and immigration policy, but Immigration Equality is more specialized in the intersection of both.
Emerging players
- AsylumConnect: Non-profit tech-enabled platform connecting LGBTQ asylum seekers to verified legal and social services. Emerging player at the intersection of LGBTQ immigration and technology; complementary rather than directly competitive, but serves the same client base with a tech-first approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Immigration Equality social profiles
Digital presenceImmigration Equality financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Immigration Equality leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Immigration Equality funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Immigration Equality M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Immigration Equality
What does Immigration Equality do?
Immigration Equality is a national nonprofit legal organization that provides free legal services to LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants. The organization matches clients with a pro bono attorney network and handles asylum cases, detention support, family-based immigration petitions, and impact litigation aimed at changing immigration law and policy.
Is Immigration Equality a public or private company?
Immigration Equality is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Immigration Equality founded?
Immigration Equality was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Immigration Equality based?
Immigration Equality is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Immigration Equality make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are free Legal Services.
Who are Immigration Equality's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RAICES, HIAS, Lambda Legal, National Immigration Law Center (NILC), GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders) and National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). Broad incumbents are Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) and ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). AsylumConnect is listed as an emerging player.
Does Immigration Equality have an API?
No public API is recorded for Immigration Equality.
What industry is Immigration Equality in?
Immigration Equality's product category is Immigration Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAL, Immigration Law, with a secondary code of BPAGAFAG, Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8111.