2% For Envision Freedom Fund
Advocating for the freedom, safety, and dignity of individuals entangled in immigration and criminal legal systems.
As part of our ongoing commitment to community, Loisa donates 2% of online sales each month to a community organization. This month, we are supporting the Envision Freedom Fund, an organization working to dismantle the oppressive and interconnected criminal, legal, and immigration systems.
In the wake of growing movements to reform the criminal justice system, grassroots organizations like the Envision Freedom Fund (EFF) have emerged to address systemic injustices that disproportionately impact marginalized communities. EFF plays a critical role in advocating for the freedom, safety, and dignity of individuals entangled in immigration and criminal legal systems by challenging pretrial detention, deportation, and other forms of institutionalized oppression.
The Birth of the Envision Freedom Fund
The Envision Freedom Fund, initially known as the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund, was founded in 2015 in New York City with the aim of combating the harmful effects of cash bail, a system that disproportionately punishes low-income individuals, particularly people of color. Cash bail has long been criticized as a mechanism that perpetuates inequality in the legal system. For many, even small amounts of bail can mean the difference between freedom and weeks or months of pretrial incarceration, leading to lost jobs, homes, or even child custody.
EFF began by focusing on providing bail for low-income New Yorkers, helping to free hundreds of individuals who otherwise would have been detained solely due to their inability to pay. But as the organization grew, it expanded its mission to address the broader scope of injustices perpetuated by both the criminal and immigration legal systems. Recognizing that immigrant communities face additional layers of legal peril, including the threat of deportation and indefinite detention, EFF became one of the first funds in the country to post immigration bond for individuals detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Mission: A Future Beyond Bail
At its core, the Envision Freedom Fund is committed to ending the reliance on incarceration and detention as responses to social challenges. Its work is grounded in a broader vision of a world where communities are not criminalized based on poverty, race, immigration status, or other marginalizing factors. Through its bail and bond assistance, legal advocacy, and public education initiatives, EFF seeks to:
- End Pretrial Detention: By posting bail for individuals, EFF provides an immediate reprieve from the devastating consequences of pretrial incarceration, which often leads to coerced guilty pleas, wrongful convictions, and long-term destabilization of families.
- Fight Immigration Detention: Immigrants, particularly those without documentation, face a unique set of challenges within the U.S. legal system. EFF helps those detained by ICE, offering hope and a chance to remain with their families while fighting deportation.
- Promote Alternatives to Detention: EFF advocates for systemic reforms that challenge the use of bail, pretrial detention, and immigration detention as default responses to crime and immigration enforcement. The organization envisions a society that invests in community-based support systems rather than punitive institutions.
- Address Root Causes of Incarceration: EFF recognizes that poverty, systemic racism, and lack of access to mental health services, housing, and employment are often at the root of criminal and immigration cases. Its work, therefore, is not only about freeing individuals but also about addressing the structural inequalities that funnel people into the justice system.
The Impact of Envision Freedom Fund
Since its inception, EFF has posted bail for over 5,000 individuals, with each case representing a life altered by the possibility of freedom. These are individuals who, without the assistance of EFF, would have been trapped in pretrial detention or immigrant detention centers, facing prolonged separation from their families and communities.
Beyond bail and bond support, EFF’s advocacy efforts have contributed to the broader movement for bail reform. In New York, the organization was a vocal supporter of the state’s 2019 bail reform law, which significantly reduced the use of cash bail for non-violent offenses. Though the law faced pushback and was partially rolled back in 2020, EFF continues to push for progressive reforms that shift the justice system away from punitive models of incarceration.
EFF’s immigration bond program has been particularly impactful, as it has not only freed individuals from detention but also given them the opportunity to continue their lives while pursuing their legal cases. Immigration detention can often last months or even years, during which time individuals face the risk of deportation without a fair trial or the ability to adequately prepare a legal defense. By providing bond, EFF enables individuals to fight their cases with dignity, often leading to more favorable outcomes.
Challenges Ahead
While the Envision Freedom Fund has made significant strides, it continues to face numerous challenges. In the criminal legal system, cash bail remains deeply entrenched in many parts of the United States, with proponents arguing that it ensures court appearances and public safety. Additionally, the rollback of New York’s bail reform highlights the difficulties of maintaining progress in the face of political pressure and fear-mongering rhetoric about crime.
In the immigration context, EFF’s work is often at the mercy of federal policies that have become increasingly hostile toward immigrants. While the Biden administration has taken steps to reverse some of these policies, the system of immigration detention remains largely intact, with tens of thousands of individuals still held in facilities across the country.
Moreover, the broader movement for abolition—the idea that society should work toward dismantling systems of incarceration, surveillance, and punishment—faces significant opposition from those who see these systems as essential to maintaining law and order. EFF is part of this larger struggle, advocating for solutions that prioritize community care, mental health, and economic justice over detention and punishment.
The Road Forward
Despite these challenges, the Envision Freedom Fund remains steadfast in its commitment to building a world beyond incarceration. As it continues to grow, the organization is focused on expanding its support for both criminal and immigration justice reform. It envisions a future where bail, bond, and detention are relics of the past, replaced by systems that truly support and uplift individuals and communities.
Ultimately, the Envision Freedom Fund serves as a reminder that the fight for justice is ongoing, and that real change is possible when communities come together to challenge systems of oppression. By providing tangible support to those caught in the grip of the criminal and immigration legal systems, EFF is not only freeing individuals but also challenging society to rethink its approach to justice and safety. Through its work, the Envision Freedom Fund helps us imagine—and work toward—a world where freedom, dignity, and fairness are available to all.
Learn More:
Learn more about Envision Freedom Fund here.
Support:
Donate to Envision Freedom Fund here.
Contact:
Reach out to Envision Freedom Fund at info@envisionfreedom.org and follow them on Instagram.
