Faith Rooted Services and Advocacy for
Unaccompanied Children in North Carolina:
Lessons Learned
Olivia Hogle, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Maureen Abell, Esq., Legal Services of Southern Piedmont
Kathleen Heavner, Lutheran Services Carolinas
Evelyn Medina, St. John’s Lutheran Church
Who is LIRS?
• Serving migrants and refugees for 75 years
• Work in partnership with a network of faith
communities and service providers across the
U.S.
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Refugee Resettlement
Community Integration
Immigration Legal Services
Visitation Ministry
Foster Care
Family Reunification
Children’s Services
• Emphasis on children’s best interests, preserving
family unity, and ensuring least restrictive settings.
• 5 Service areas:
o Transitional Care
o Long Term Foster Care
o Unaccompanied Refugee Minors
o Family Reunification (Home Studies and Follow-up
Services)
o Safe Release Support Services
• In FY 2014, LIRS network served 2,352 children in
care, 1,079 families with family reunification services,
and 24,652 potential caregivers.
LIRS Crisis Response
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National Coordination Efforts
Organizing collective response
Information sharing & education
Expanded programming to meet need
Resource Support
Advocacy
Ongoing initiatives
Lessons Learned
• Need to be fast acting and flexible.
• Coordinating information between local
partners, churches, and other organization on
the ground was invaluable in developing
actions/response.
• More information was needed from home
countries, international conversations sooner.
• People were eager for engagement
opportunities, so it is good to have tangible
actions available as soon as possible.
Stand for Welcome!
• Advocate- Oppose legislation that harms
migrants children and families.
• Support the President’s Actions for Family Unity
• Launch a Detention Visitation Ministry
• Give the Gift of Family
• Refugee Sunday Kits – Coming Soon
Visit www.lirs.org/act/ for more ways to get
involved:
Give the Gift of Family
https://vimeo.com/102255194
Services for Reunited Children & Families
Kathleen Heavner
Unaccompanied Alien Children Caseworker
PRS Scope
• Frequent communication – phone, text,
Facebook, email, home visits
• Assessment – What are the risk factors? How is
the minor adjusting? What does the family need
to know? Who could offer support?
• Referrals – community based, culturally
appropriate, linguistic/financial/functional
accessibility
Case Study: P
• 10 years old, outgoing, very smart
– Placed with bio mom and step father
– Younger brother (4), sister (infant)
• Abuse, trauma history
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Mom provided intuitive response
Single income household
Few Spanish MH providers
LIRS emergency fund
Pastor transports to appointments
Counseling at school
Case Study: Y
• 17 years old, tranquil
– Placed with paternal uncle, cousins live next
door
• Land dispute in COO
– Youth Group: playing soccer, learning right from
wrong, trust in God, knows he will meet people
who “do right.”
Case Study: C
• 14 years old, quiet, cheerful, likes singing
– Placed with bio mom and bio dad
– 12 years since last seen in person
• Only child in COO – arrived to US to meet
three younger siblings
• Verbal and physical abuse
– Shelter uses volunteer translators, not available 24/7
– Catholic family doesn’t believe in divorce
– Church members and ministers gossip and judge
Legal Orientation & Services for Families
Maureen Abell, Esq.
Immigrant Justice Program Attorney
Important Phone Numbers
• 1 (800) 898-7180 – court calendar (national system,
automated only, need A#)
• 1 (704) 971-2599 - LSSP to schedule an LOPC
presentation
• 1 (704) 971-2599 - LSSP to request direct
representation (Tuesday mornings only)
• 1 (704) 817-6140 – Charlotte Immigration Court
(emergency delay)
Notice to Appear
When is my next hearing?
• To check call
• 1-800-898-7180
• You will need to know the minor’s alien
number.
Change of Venue
Form
Where is the Charlotte Immigration Court?
5701 Executive Center Drive
Suite 400
Charlotte, NC 28212
704-817-6140
La Corte de Inmigración
Waiting Area for Defendants
In Immigration Court
Master Calendar Hearing
Individual Hearing
Request more time
Request more time
Request voluntary departure
Receive Removal Order
Request voluntary departure
Receive Removal Order
Petition for a legal remedy or
visa
Request Administrative Closure*
Petition for a legal remedy or
visa
Request Administrative Closure*
What if I don’t have legal status?
• Some custodians fear accompanying minors to court hearings.
• The risk of arrest by the Department of Internal Security is
minimal.
• Though there is no guarantee that an arrest will not occur, there
has never been a report of such an incident.
• Usually, the court does not require that the custodian
accompany the minor to the hearings. Without exception, the
custodian will need to make sure that the minor attends the
hearings.