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March 25, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAFE PASSAGE PROJECT FINALIZES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH STAFF UNION

NEW YORK, NY — Safe Passage Project (SPP), a nonprofit organization providing free legal representation and psychosocial support to immigrant youth, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishing the terms of its new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with its unionized staff, represented by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA). The agreement covers 2026 through 2028 and marks a meaningful milestone in the organization’s commitment to shared purpose and staff sustainability.

The finalization of this agreement reflects months of good-faith negotiations between organizational leadership and union representatives. It builds on SPP’s longstanding recognition that a supported staff is essential to delivering consistent, high-quality services to the young people the organization serves.

“Reaching this agreement is a reflection of what’s possible when an organization and its staff are genuinely committed to working together. Our team shows up every day for young people navigating a complex legal system. It matters that we also show up for our staff who make that work possible,” said Juan Francisco Mendez, Board Chair, Safe Passage Project.

Safe Passage Project serves over 1,500 unaccompanied immigrant young people each year across two offices, providing free legal representation and social work support to children who would otherwise face immigration proceedings alone. Immigration court is a civil proceeding, meaning children have no right to a court-appointed attorney. With a staff of 65 and an annual budget of nearly $10 million, SPP has supported more than 3,000 young people to date and wins over 90% of its cases.