By Steve Seepersaud
Laila Hernandez, '13, MPA '18, loves her work. She can help people while serving as an agent of change in the community. She is deputy director for the American Civic Association (ACA) in Binghamton, a nonprofit organization helping immigrants and refugees start a new life in the United States while preserving their ethnic and cultural diversity.
At ACA, Hernandez manages a diverse group of student interns from Binghamton University; they come from departments including social work, public administration, human rights and human development, as well as her undergraduate major, Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
She was recently site program director for an affiliate of the International Rescue Committee, which resettles refugees from all over the world. Hernandez said her favorite role is working as a U.S. Department of Justice-accredited representative, a non-attorney position providing access to legal representation for low-income and indigent individuals with asylum, green card and citizenship applications.
"Helping people settle into a new country is a deeply rewarding experience that feels like you're helping to build a home, not just find a house," Hernandez said. "It's about more than just navigating paperwork and logistics. It's about seeing the hope in their eyes as they take their first steps toward a new life. Every time a family gets the keys to their first apartment or a child enrolls in school, you feel a surge of pride knowing you helped make that moment possible."
Executive orders from the Trump administration are making her and ACA's work more difficult and reducing the number of people they are able to assist. For example, the complete shutdown of the refugee resettlement program forced a hard pivot from receiving new arrivals to now simply focusing on supporting those already in Binghamton.
"The changes in law also have a cascading financial effect," Hernandez said. "When federal policy cancels or alters certain immigration statuses, it impacts the eligibility criteria for state-funded programs. This creates a dual problem. It can suddenly disqualify people who were previously receiving aid, and it complicates the reporting you have to do to secure and maintain state funding."
She is proud of the work she has done within the past three years to expand ACA's programming. Adapting to federal policy and funding changes, ACA introduced Community Immigration Refugee Services (CIRS) to meet the changing needs of existing refugee families and others with varying immigration statuses. In the absence of a well-established and comprehensive federal support system, ACA put CIRS together through a patchwork of state-level initiatives.
Her organization received the 2024 Non-Profit of the Year Award from the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, an achievement she feels is a testament to the leadership of ACA executive director Hussein Adams, and the team's hard work, dedication and positive impact on countless individuals. Hernandez said it's the accomplishment of which she is most proud.
"My accomplishments are not just for myself, but for the legacy I am building to change the future for others."