About Us

The North Carolina Immigration Law & Justice Center (NC-ILJC) was a non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable legal services, education, and advocacy to help immigrants in North Carolina. We provided low-cost legal aid to qualified immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers of all faiths, backgrounds, and identities.

The NC-ILJC, formerly known as Fayetteville Justice for Our Neighbors, traced its roots back to the United Methodist’s Committee On Relief's longstanding commitment to refugees and immigrants. UMCOR, founded in 1940, has consistently championed refugee ministry In 1999, UMCOR established Justice for Our Neighbors, which has since evolved into the Immigration Law and Justice Network (ILJN).

NC-ILJC was established in 2019 as Fayetteville Justice for our Neighbors (JFON) with a mission to meet the needs of our neighbors in a complex and ever-changing U.S. immigration system. We were a 501(c)3 organization, and donations were tax-deductible charitable contributions.

The founding of NC-ILJC came at the same time as the conclusion of a migrant solidarity initiative in Fayetteville called the Migrant Assistance Project (MAP-FAY). This project was a spontaneous effort by local activists to support migrant families passing through Fayetteville on their way north. Volunteers met Greyhound buses three times a day, offering food, clothing, medicine, blankets, and toys. Many former MAP-FAY volunteers have served or are serving as board members or volunteers for NC-ILJC.