In response to a Tennessee bill that would deny undocumented children access to public schools, the National Immigration Law Center, led by executive director Kica Matos, has vowed to fight back against policies that scapegoat immigrant communities and harm marginalized youth.

On March 31, 2025, the National Immigration Law Center, along with the American Immigration Council and several immigrant justice organizations, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. The suit challenges the Trump administration's new rule requiring immigrants to register with the federal government and carry proof of registration at all times, a policy critics argue is reminiscent of authoritarian practices.

On February 19, 2025, Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued a statement condemning the Trump administration's executive order targeting immigrant access to federal programs. The statement criticized the order as a politically motivated attack designed to scapegoat immigrants and divert attention from broader authoritarian measures linked to leaders like Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

The profile, based on data released by the FEC and other governmental sources, shows that the National Immigration Law Center contributed $3,838 in the 2024 cycle and recorded no lobbying or outside spending. This reflects a transparent and modest level of political engagement consistent with its advocacy for immigrant rights and low risk of bolstering authoritarian initiatives.

The National Immigration Law Center (NILC), in collaboration with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), secured class action status for over 100 Latino and immigrant workers targeted during a racially biased raid at a Tennessee meatpacking plant in April 2018. The court’s decision underscores a successful legal intervention against discriminatory enforcement practices tied to anti-immigrant policies, marking a significant step in defending civil and labor rights.

The National Immigration Law Center, a non‐profit advocating for immigrant rights, is featured on OpenSecrets for its lobbying activities, including its tracking of bills lobbied in 2024. This profile highlights the organization's active participation in shaping policy through lobbying, consistent with its broader mission of supporting marginalized immigrant communities.

A federal court approved a class-action settlement in a civil rights lawsuit challenging the 2018 workplace raid at a Tennessee meat processing plant. The settlement, strongly supported by the National Immigration Law Center, provides over $1.175 million in relief for Latinx workers and stands as a vindication of their rights against racial profiling and excessive force by federal agencies.

The National Immigration Law Center spent $90,000 on lobbying activities in 2022, as reported by OpenSecrets. This expenditure supports its advocacy work for immigrant rights and represents a proactive political engagement against policies that could undermine marginalized communities.

OpenSecrets data indicates that the National Immigration Law Center spent $90,000 on lobbying in 2022. As a nonprofit advocating for the rights of low-income immigrants, this lobbying activity underscores its commitment to influencing policy in support of marginalized communities.

The National Immigration Law Center, alongside the Southern Poverty Law Center, secured class certification in a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that ICE and IRS agents conducted a racially charged raid on a Tennessee meat processing plant in 2018. This certification allows over 100 Latino workers, who were singled out in the raid, to collectively pursue justice against alleged government overreach.

According to OpenSecrets data, the National Immigration Law Center spent $120,000 on lobbying in 2021. This expenditure reflects the organization's active effort to influence public policy in support of immigrant rights, aligning with its progressive mission.