CASA
CASA is a nonprofit Latino and immigrant advocacy and assistance organization founded in Maryland in 1985.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
CASA is a nonprofit organization serving Latino immigrants, other immigrant communities, and low-income families in the United States. Founded in 1985 in the basement of Takoma Park Presbyterian Church by U.S. citizens and Central American immigrants, the organization initially operated as the Central American Solidarity Association of Maryland. It later broadened its mission from solidarity with Central American communities to a statewide and multistate platform combining direct services, worker organizing, legal assistance, civic participation, and public-policy advocacy. The organization has been known successively as CASA of Maryland, Inc., CASA de Maryland, Inc., and CASA. Its public-facing identity was reported as changing to We Are CASA in January 2026. CASA remains closely associated with Maryland, particularly Prince George's County, Montgomery County, and Baltimore, while also maintaining offices in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Its work is concentrated in communities with large immigrant populations and includes assistance for people with varied immigration statuses. CASA's direct-service portfolio includes health assistance, medical interpretation, English-language instruction, financial-literacy education, vocational training, social services, leadership development, legal services, and employment placement. The organization also operates day-labor centers, which create designated places where workers can seek employment and contractors can hire them. CASA presents these centers as tools for worker protection, orderly hiring, and community safety. It has pursued employers and contractors accused of withholding wages from day laborers, and it has supported immigrant tenants, domestic-trafficking victims, migrant farmworkers, and people facing immigration-related legal problems. Alongside service delivery, CASA is an advocacy organization with influence in Maryland politics. It has supported policies involving language access to government services, community policing, immigration reform, citizenship for migrant farmworkers, housing protections, and limits on the involvement of local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement. CASA is affiliated with the National Council of La Raza, participates in the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, and helped establish the National Capital Immigration Coalition, which advocates comprehensive immigration reform. A major institutional development was the opening in June 2010 of a 20,000-square-foot multicultural center in Langley Park, Maryland, located in a former mansion. The project was associated with a reported $31 million budget in 2007 and expanded CASA's capacity for community programming. CASA has also operated an employment center in Baltimore, opened in December 2007 with foundation and public support. The organization has attracted criticism because its immigration advocacy and day-labor centers intersect with contentious debates over unauthorized employment, public funding, local land-use decisions, and the role of local police in immigration enforcement. It has also been involved in public disputes with immigration-enforcement activists, including the Maryland Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. CASA's distribution of an immigrant-rights pamphlet during local immigration raids prompted criticism from a U.S. congressman, while supporters characterized the material as basic information about constitutional and legal rights. CASA's later public advocacy has included high-profile immigration cases. In 2025, it supported the family and legal efforts surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a CASA member who was removed to El Salvador despite a withholding-of-removal order, according to the supplied reference material. CASA organized rallies, petitions, public meetings, and legal-support activities connected with the case. The organization therefore combines a service-provider identity with a broader movement-building role for immigrant communities.
History
CASA began in 1985 in Takoma Park, Maryland, where U.S. citizens and Central American immigrants established the Central American Solidarity Association of Maryland. Its early work reflected the political and humanitarian concerns of Central American immigrant communities. Over time, the organization expanded beyond solidarity activities to provide practical assistance, legal support, worker organizing, education, and political advocacy for a broader population of Latino and immigrant residents. The organization formally adopted the name CASA of Maryland, Inc. on July 28, 1995. It subsequently became CASA de Maryland, Inc. on September 4, 2008. These changes accompanied a widening institutional role in Maryland, including direct services and advocacy on employment, housing, language access, immigration enforcement, and community development. CASA became affiliated with the National Council of La Raza, joined the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, and helped found the National Capital Immigration Coalition. Employment and worker organizing became prominent parts of CASA's activities. The organization established or operated day-labor centers in Maryland, including several in Montgomery County. These facilities were designed to move hiring away from informal street corners and create a more structured setting for workers and contractors. CASA also pursued wage claims against employers and contractors accused of failing to pay day laborers. A Baltimore employment center opened on December 20, 2007, supported by foundations, Community Development Block Grant funding, city assistance, and private donations. The day-labor centers generated significant controversy. Some residents and immigration-enforcement activists argued that the centers facilitated employment by undocumented workers and objected to public involvement in their development. The proposed or temporary Shady Grove site in Montgomery County became a focal point for disputes about land use, public authority, neighborhood consultation, and immigration policy. A fire at the Shady Grove-area center during its first month was ruled arson and classified by county police as a hate incident. Supporters argued that the centers improved public order, protected workers, and gave local government a practical means of regulating hiring. CASA also became active in housing advocacy and anti-trafficking work. Its legal and community programs assisted immigrants facing landlord retaliation, unsafe housing conditions, and other disputes. The organization has reported helping victims of domestic slavery and human trafficking. Its broader service network developed to include health assistance, medical interpretation, English classes, financial literacy, vocational training, social services, leadership development, legal assistance, and job placement. In 2007, CASA worked with other organizations to publish a pamphlet explaining basic rights during immigration raids, including the right to remain silent and the right to legal counsel. The pamphlet prompted criticism from Representative Dana Rohrabacher, who argued that it could help unauthorized immigrants evade enforcement. CASA defended the publication as rights education and as information relevant to public safety and community trust. CASA's confrontations with immigration-enforcement activists were especially visible in 2006, when Executive Director Gustavo Torres responded to surveillance and employer-reporting activities by the Maryland Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. Torres later partially retracted remarks about protesting at Minuteman members' homes, schools, and workplaces, describing the school reference as an angry misunderstanding. The dispute illustrated the sharply polarized environment in which CASA operated. The organization has advocated community policing rather than routine local participation in federal immigration enforcement. It objected to the use of immigration detainers and deportation information in local policing systems, arguing that such practices weaken trust between immigrant communities and police and discourage victims and witnesses from cooperating. Local officials and police leaders expressed competing legal and operational concerns. CASA's institutional infrastructure expanded substantially with the opening of a 20,000-square-foot multicultural center in Langley Park in June 2010. The facility occupied a former mansion and was connected with a project budget reported as $31 million in 2007. CASA continued to operate across Maryland and expanded its presence to Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. In fiscal year 2022, the organization reported $13 million in contributions and grants, $12 million in program-service revenue, and $81,000 in investment income; approximately $11 million of program-service revenue came from government contracts, according to the supplied reference material. In 2025, CASA became involved in advocacy surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a member removed to El Salvador despite a withholding-of-removal order described as barring removal there. CASA organized rallies, petitions, meetings with lawmakers, and legal-support activities for his family. The case placed the organization within a national dispute over immigration detention, executive power, due process, and birthright citizenship. The supplied reference material also identifies CASA as a leading plaintiff in Trump v. CASA, a Supreme Court case concerning an attempt to end birthright citizenship. In January 2026, the organization was reported to have adopted the public identity We Are CASA.
- 2026
Public identity changes to We Are CASA
[1]The organization is reported to have rebranded as We Are CASA.
- 2025
Advocacy in the Abrego Garcia case
[1]CASA supports the family and legal efforts concerning member Kilmar Abrego Garcia and organizes public advocacy around his removal and return.
- 2022
Reported fiscal-year funding profile
[1]The supplied reference reports $13 million in contributions and grants, $12 million in program-service revenue, and $81,000 in investment income for fiscal year 2022.
- 2010
Langley Park multicultural center opens
[1]CASA opens a 20,000-square-foot multicultural center in Langley Park, Maryland.
- 2008
Name changes to CASA de Maryland
[1]The legal name becomes CASA de Maryland, Inc.
- 2007
Baltimore employment center opens
[1]CASA opens an employment center serving day laborers and employers in Baltimore.
- 1995
Name changes to CASA of Maryland
[1]The organization formally adopts the name CASA of Maryland, Inc.
- 1985
CASA is founded in Takoma Park
[1]U.S. citizens and Central American immigrants establish the Central American Solidarity Association of Maryland in the basement of Takoma Park Presbyterian Church.
Products and positioning
A community-based nonprofit that combines immigrant assistance, worker organizing, legal services, and policy advocacy, with a strong focus on Latino and low-income immigrant communities.
Legal and social services
Immigration legal services
CASA provides legal assistance and advocacy for immigrants, including support connected with immigration status, detention, removal, family cases, and interactions with public authorities. The organization also participates in broader litigation and public campaigns concerning immigrant rights and immigration policy.
Employment services
Day-labor centers
CASA operates designated centers where day laborers can seek work and contractors can recruit workers. The centers are intended to make hiring more orderly, reduce street-corner solicitation, connect workers with services, and provide a platform for wage and workplace advocacy.
Education and training
Education and workforce programs
The organization offers English instruction, vocational training, financial-literacy classes, leadership development, and employment placement. These programs are aimed particularly at low-income Latino and immigrant families seeking economic stability and greater participation in civic life.
Community health services
Health and interpretation assistance
CASA assists community members with health-related access and medical interpretation. These services address language and institutional barriers that can prevent immigrants and low-income families from obtaining appropriate care.
Advocacy and legal support
Housing and worker-rights advocacy
CASA supports immigrants facing housing disputes, landlord retaliation, wage theft, and exploitative employment practices. Its advocacy has included efforts to pursue contractors who allegedly fail to pay day laborers and to protect tenants who organize or raise complaints.
Controversies
2007
Controversy over immigrant-rights pamphlet
A pamphlet distributed during local immigration raids was criticized by Representative Dana Rohrabacher, who argued that it encouraged unauthorized immigrants to evade enforcement. CASA said it provided basic legal-rights information.
2006
Dispute with the Maryland Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
CASA executive Gustavo Torres made statements about responding to Minuteman surveillance and protests, including remarks about protesting at members' homes, schools, and workplaces. He later partially retracted the reference to schools as an angry misunderstanding.
Controversy surrounding Montgomery County day-labor centers
CASA's operation of day-labor centers prompted disputes over public funding, land-use procedures, unauthorized employment, neighborhood consultation, and the proper role of local government in immigration-related issues. One center was damaged by arson classified as a hate incident.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025Abrego Garcia family and legal advocacy
United States
CASA organized rallies, petitions, meetings with lawmakers, and legal-support activities after member Kilmar Abrego Garcia was removed to El Salvador despite a described withholding-of-removal order.
Outcome. The supplied reference states that Abrego Garcia returned to the United States on June 6, 2025, after which the Department of Justice announced criminal charges against him.
- 2007Immigrant rights pamphlet
Maryland
CASA helped publish a pamphlet explaining basic rights during immigration raids, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.
Outcome. The pamphlet became the subject of political criticism, while CASA defended it as accurate rights education.
Brand decisions
2010
Opened Langley Park multicultural centerOtherBackground
CASA required a larger facility for its growing service, education, and community-organizing programs.
Action taken
It opened a 20,000-square-foot multicultural center in a former Langley Park mansion.
Aftermath
The facility became a major base for CASA's programs in one of Maryland's largest immigrant communities.
2008
Adopted CASA de Maryland nameStrategyBackground
CASA continued to broaden its community-service and public-policy activities.
Action taken
It changed its legal name to CASA de Maryland, Inc.
Aftermath
The organization continued operating under the CASA identity while expanding its statewide profile.
1995
Adopted CASA of Maryland nameStrategyBackground
The organization had expanded beyond its original Central American solidarity identity and was developing a broader Maryland service and advocacy role.
Action taken
It formally changed its name to CASA of Maryland, Inc.
Aftermath
The new name positioned the organization as a Maryland-based immigrant-services and advocacy institution.
Recent events
- 2026
CASA adopts We Are CASA identity[1]
Campaign
The organization was reported to have rebranded publicly as We Are CASA.
- 2025
CASA advocates in Abrego Garcia case[1]
Lawsuit · Campaign
CASA mobilized public support and participated in legal and advocacy efforts concerning the removal and subsequent return of member Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
- 2010
CASA opens Langley Park multicultural center[1]
Other
The organization opened a large multicultural center in Langley Park, Maryland, expanding its space for community services and programming.
- 2007
CASA opens Baltimore employment center[1]
Other
CASA opened an employment center in Baltimore intended to provide an orderly hiring location for day laborers and connect workers with employment services.
Sources2 sources
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