Two immigrant advocacy groups in Iowa have merged and are expanding services to immigrants and refugees across the state. American Friends Service Committee Iowa and Iowa Justice for Our Neighbors combined their 45 years of service and officially became Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice on April 1. It's a partnership that Executive Director Erica Johnson said expands the organization's reach since, before the merger, a majority of immigrant services were concentrated in central Iowa. "We took stock of the unprecedented need and thought that we're stronger together," Johnson said. She said Iowa MMJ is now a cohesive statewide organization that will utilize years of advocacy experience from AFSC and JFON's legal expertise.