In February 2013, the National Immigration Law Center Board of Directors established an affiliate organization, the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (NILC IJF), to advocate more directly for federal immigration reform policies that provide a road to U.S. citizenship for all aspiring citizens and make it possible for them to fully integrate into the social, economic, and political fabric of the United States. For over 35 years, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has been widely recognized as a national leader in the struggle to secure access to vital safety-net programs, economic and educational opportunities, and fair treatment under the law for low-income immigrants.