Migration Alliance at Yale

Our Mission:

We are an organization of undergraduate students passionately devoted to aiding refugees and forced migrants. At its core, that means supporting refugees resettled in Greater New Haven. It also means fostering awareness of the worldwide refugee crisis through campus advocacy.

Our Activities:

Immigration Group: Legal Assistance
Direct Service
The Immigration Group focuses on direct assistance and volunteer work in the greater New Haven area related to Spanish-speaking undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers. Partnering with local community leaders and organizations (including CT Shoreline Indivisible), the Immigration Group provides translation and interpretation services, country conditions research, general legal research, and support to undocumented immigrants in the New Haven area facing ongoing deportation cases.

Supporting Havenly Treats
Direct Service
MAY students support the restaurant Havenly Treats by providing 1-1 support to its fellows, promoting its activities, and spreading the word about its mission.

Immigration Group: Legal Assistance
Direct Service
The Immigration Group focuses on direct assistance and volunteer work in the greater New Haven area related to Spanish-speaking undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers. Partnering with local community leaders and organizations (including CT Shoreline Indivisible), the Immigration Group provides translation and interpretation services, country conditions research, general legal research, and support to undocumented immigrants in the New Haven area facing ongoing deportation cases.

IRIS After-School Program: Men's Youth Group
Direct Service
The Men's Youth Program supports IRIS in connecting young migrants living in New Haven with undergraduate college students. Through team-building exercises, cultural enrichment activities, and outdoor excursions, the Men’s Group hopes to foster leadership skills and civic engagement, and to provide tools and resources to help all members further pursue their interests and explore their identities.

IRIS After-School Program: Women's Youth Group
Direct Service
The Women's Youth Program supports IRIS in bringing together young women living both in the New Haven area and at Yale. During our weekly meetings, we hold group discussions, hear from leaders and artists in the community, visit salient sites in New Haven, make art, share food, learn from each other, and learn about different cultures in the United States and across the globe. Our main goal is to develop life and leadership skills together while providing a safe space, building community, and empowering one another as women

IRIS After-School Program: College & Career Readiness
Direct Service
The College and Career Readiness Team works alongside IRIS to provide refugee and immigrant youth with academic and career support. We work with students to guide them in the process of applying to colleges, internships, volunteer work, and jobs. During meetings, we often hold workshops on topics such as financial aid and scholarships, and we tutor students with homework and other assignments based on individual needs.

IRIS After-School Program: Women's Youth Group
Direct Service
The Women's Youth Leadership Program brings together young women living both in the New Haven area and at Yale. During our weekly meetings, we hold group discussions, hear from leaders and artists in the community, visit salient sites in New Haven, make art, share food, learn from each other, and learn about different cultures in the United States and across the globe. Our main goal is to develop life and leadership skills together while providing a safe space, building community, and empowering one another as women.

IRIS After-School Program: Men's Youth Group
Direct Service
The Men's Youth Leadership Program works with IRIS and connects young migrants living in New Haven with undergraduate college students. Through team-building exercises, cultural enrichment activities, and outdoor excursions, the Men’s Group hopes to foster leadership skills and civic engagement, and to provide tools and resources to help all members further pursue their interests and explore their identities.

IRIS After-School Program: College & Career Readiness
Direct Service
The College and Career Readiness Team works alongside IRIS to provide refugee and immigrant youth with academic and career support. We work with students to guide them in the process of applying to colleges, internships, volunteer work, and jobs. During meetings, we often hold workshops on topics such as financial aid and scholarships, and we tutor students with homework and other assignments based on individual needs.

Immigration Advocacy on Yale Campus
Advocacy, or Activism
The Advocacy Team conducts research, engages in New Haven outreach, and organizes campus initiatives in an effort to assist migrants and refugees within our community. Every year, the Advocacy Team works with IRIS to recruit runners for the annual Run for Refugees 5K; the money raised from this race allows IRIS to provide direct assistance to New Haven's migrants and refugees. By raising awareness on campus and supporting pre-existing community efforts, the Advocacy Team hopes that New Haven can one day be considered a home for all of its inhabitants, and that Yale students can actively engage with this unique community.

Immigration Advocacy on Yale Campus
Advocacy, or Activism
The Advocacy Team conducts research, engages in New Haven outreach, and organizes campus initiatives in an effort to assist migrants and refugees within our community. Every year, the Advocacy Team works with IRIS to recruit runners for the annual Run for Refugees 5K; the money raised from this race allows IRIS to provide direct assistance to New Haven's migrants and refugees. By raising awareness on campus and supporting pre-existing community efforts, the Advocacy Team hopes that New Haven can one day be considered a home for all of its inhabitants, and that Yale students can actively engage with this unique community.

Student Leaders:

Maheen Iqbal - Co-Coordinator/Co-President Selin Nalbantoglu - Co-Coordinator/Co-President