CENTER ON IMMIGRATION AND JUSTICE
Division of
­Unaccompanied
Children’s Services
(DUCS) ­Legal Access
Project
ABOUT THIS RESOURCE: This resource
contains a list of legal service organizations that provide free or low-cost
immigration legal assistance and representation for non-detained children
in immigration proceedings. This list is
composed of mostly non-Vera affiliated organizations, but we have included
some Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project
subcontractors here as well.
The guide is organized alphabetically by state, one organization per
page. The information shown on each
page includes the types of legal assis-
Pro Bono Referral
­Resource Guide
tance provided by each organization,
DECEMBER 2011
to obtain representation for immi-
the area(s) and Immigration courts
served, and other relevant ­information.
The Vera Institute of Justice hopes
this referral resource guide helps you
grant children. BACKGROUND: In 2011, Vera e-mailed
a survey to hundreds of legal service
organizations across the country that
provide free or low-cost immigration legal assistance to children. This
guide is based on these survey results.
It is composed of organizations that:
1) responded to our survey and agreed
to be listed in this directory, and
2) provide pro bono (or low cost) legal
representation for non-detained children who are without counsel. Providers are encouraged to contact the organization
directly to ensure that the information provided here
about non-Vera subcontractor organizations is correct and
current. The Vera Institute of Justice does not endorse any
organizations listed in this directory nor does it express any
views on the nature or quality of services provided. If you
have questions or comments about this guide, please e-mail
[email protected].
Contents
3California
8Colorado
9Florida
13Georgia
Note: Several DUCS Legal Access Project subcontractor
organizations are omitted from this packet because they do
not provide direct representation for released children, and/
or do not have the resources to accept cases.
14Illinois
15Massachusetts
16Minnesota
Acknowledgments: We would like to thank Stephanie Shih,
the summer intern who worked tirelessly on this project and
ensured its creation (and completion). We are also grateful
to all of the organizations that answered our survey and
agreed to be listed in this resource.
19Missouri
20Nebraska
22Nevada
24 New Jersey
26 New York
28Oklahoma
29Oregon
30Pennsylvania
32Texas
37Virginia
38Washington
40Wisconsin
41 Additional resources
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2
41 Resources for ­
trafficking victims
California – Los Angeles
CENTRAL AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER (CARECEN),
LOS ANGELES
2845 West 7th St
Los Angeles, CA 90005
Primary contact:
Daniel Sharp
[email protected]
(213) 385-7800 x153
Contact method for potential clients: Walk-in hours are Mondays from 9am4pm; Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am-12pm.
Fee: $25 consultation, sliding scale for representation
Immigration court(s) served: Los Angeles
Counties/Cities covered: LA County (for removal cases, clients must live in LA
County)
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA, NACARA,
Family-based claims
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
>> CARECEN will represent released children and children with criminal/
delinquency histories.
>> CARECEN does not provide immigration legal assistance for the
following types of cases: SIJS, voluntary departure, cases in which no
relief is available.
>> CARECEN does not represent individuals who are currently detained.
>> CARECEN offers the following additional services: Citizenship classes,
technology education, after-school programs (academic enrichment
and art).
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California – Los Angeles
EL RESCATE
1501 W 8th Street, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Primary contact:
Salvador Sanabria
[email protected]
(213) 387-3284
Contact method for potential clients: Phone calls and walk-ins
Fee: $20 to consult an immigration attorney that can further review applicant’s
case and/or situation
Immigration court(s) served: Los Angeles
Counties/Cities covered: Los Angeles County and surrounding cities
Areas of immigration legal assistance: voluntary departure, Asylum, VAWA,
Family-based claims, Cancellation of removal, TVPRA
Language capacity: Spanish and Mayan Quiche
Notes:
>> El Rescate does not provide immigration legal assistance for the
following types of cases: T-visa, U-visa, SIJS, cases in which no relief is
available.
>> El Rescate will represent released children; El Rescate will represent
children with criminal/delinquency histories on a case-by-case basis.
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California – Los Angeles
PUBLIC COUNSEL
610 South Ardmore Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90005
Primary contact:
Kristen Jackson
[email protected]
(213)-385-2977 x157
Contact method for potential clients: Clients are seen by appointment only;
call (213) 385-2977 x600 to make an appointment.
Fee: None
Immigration court(s) served: Public Counsel’s services are focused on
affirmative cases
Counties/Cities covered: Los Angeles County
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Affirmative cases involving: Asylum,
SIJS, U-visa, T-visa, and VAWA
Language capacity: Spanish and other languages on a case-by-case basis
Notes:
>> Public Counsel will accept children’s cases with motions to suppress
(in Immigration court) on a case-by-case basis; Public Counsel will
represent children with criminal histories in affirmative cases only.
>> Public Counsel focuses primarily on affirmative cases, but does not
accept voluntary departure cases.
>> Public Counsel also provides technical assistance on delinquency
issues, SIJS, and children’s asylum claims.
>> Public Counsel has many project areas that can benefit clients. See the
Public Counsel website (www.publiccounsel.org) for more information.
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California – San Diego
CASA CORNELIA LAW CENTER
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
2760 Fifth Avenue, #200
San Diego, CA 92103
Primary contact:
Andrea Santos
[email protected]
(619) 231-7788
Immigration court(s) served: San Diego Immigration court
Counties/Cities covered: San Diego County
Casa Cornelia serves:
>> Released children
>> Children never detained by ORR
>> Children with criminal/delinquency histories, but only in special cases
Casa Cornelia provides free direct representation for the following types of
cases:
>> Asylum
>> CAT claims
>> Family-based claims
>> SIJS
>> T-visa
>> U-visa
>> VAWA
>> Voluntary departure
>> No relief available
>> Other types of cases
Age restrictions: For SIJS cases, the child must be 17.5 or younger.
Language capacity: Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French
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California – San Francisco
LEGAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN (LSC)
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
1254 Market Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
Primary contact:
Reyna Burgos
[email protected]
(415) 863-3762 x313
Immigration court(s) served: San Francisco Immigration court
Counties/Cities covered: Primarily San Francisco and Oakland; Alameda, San
Mateo, Contra Costa, and Marin on a limited basis
LSC serves:
>> Released children
>> Children never detained by ORR
>> Children with criminal/delinquency histories
LSC provides free direct representation for the following types of cases:
>> SIJS
>> U-visa
>> Voluntary departure
Age restrictions: None
Language capacity: Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin) and Spanish
Notes:
>> LSC also provides social services and related case management services
to released children.
>> LSC does not accept the following types of cases:
• Asylum
• CAT claims
• Family-based claims
• No relief available
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Colorado – Westminster
ROCKY MOUNTAIN IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY NETWORK
(RMIAN), CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
3489 W. 72nd Avenue, Suite 211
Westminster, CO 80030
Primary contact:
Kristin Petri
[email protected]
(303) 433-2812 x104
Contact method for potential clients: Phone and e-mail; no walk-ins
Fee: None
Immigration court(s) served: Anyone in Colorado and/or in removal
proceedings in Denver
Counties/Cities covered: Colorado State
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
voluntary departure, and other types of case, including Termination and TPS
cases. RMIAN will represent children with no available relief on a case-by-case
basis, depending on the availability of resources.
Language capacity: Spanish and other languages, depending on availability of
interpreters
Notes:
RMIAN will represent children with criminal/delinquency histories.
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Florida – Miami
AMERICANS FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE (AI JUSTICE)
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
3000 Biscayne Boulevard, #400
Miami, FL 33137
Primary contact:
Michelle Abarca
[email protected]
(305) 573 - 1106
Immigration court(s) served: Miami Immigration court
Counties/Cities covered: Miami-Dade and neighboring counties on a limited
basis
FIAC serves:
>> Released children
>> Children never detained by ORR
>> Children with criminal/delinquency histories
FIAC provides free or low-cost direct representation for the following types of
cases:
>> Asylum
>> CAT claims
>> Family-based claims
>> SIJS
>> T-visa
>> U-visa
>> VAWA claims
>> Other types of cases
Age restrictions: None
Language capacity: Haitian Creole/Kreyol and Spanish
Notes:
AI Justice does not accept voluntary departure cases and cases in which no
relief is available.
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Florida – Orlando
IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS CENTER
1468 South Semoran Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32807
Primary contact:
Miguel Mendizabal
[email protected]
(407) 382-4944
Contact method for potential clients: Call for an appointment.
Fee: No fee for unaccompanied immigrant children.
Immigration court(s) served: Orlando
Counties/Cities covered: Anyone scheduled to appear in Orlando Immigration
court
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
voluntary departure, cases in which no relief is available, and most other forms
of deportation defense
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
>> Immigrants’ Rights Center will represent children with criminal/
delinquency histories.
>> Immigrants’ Rights Center will not represent anyone scheduled for
Miami Immigration court.
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Florida – St. Petersburg
GULFCOAST LEGAL SERVICES
641 First Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Primary contact:
Adriana Dinis
[email protected]
(727) 821-0726 x243
Contact method for potential clients: Call (727) 821-0726 x229 to make an
appointment.
Fee: None
Immigration court(s) served: Orlando
Counties/Cities covered: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota
Counties
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA, and
other types of cases, including Cancellation of removal and CAT cases
Language capacity: Spanish, Creole, and other languages depending on
availability of interpreters
Notes:
>> Gulfcoast Legal Services will represent children with no available relief
on a case-by-case basis; voluntary departure cases accepted on a caseby-case basis.
>> Gulfcoast Legal Services will represent children with criminal/
delinquency histories.
>> Gulfcoast Legal Services has additional office locations in Clearwater,
Tampa, Bradenton, and Sarasota.
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Florida – West Palm Beach
FLORIDA EQUAL JUSTICE CENTER (FEJC)
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
510 US Highway One, Suite #4
Fort Pierce, Florida 33950
Primary contact:
Lisa Carmona
[email protected]
(772) 489-4660
Immigration court(s) served: Orlando and Miami Immigration courts
Counties/Cities covered: Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Indian River, Desoto,
Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Charlotte
FEJC serves:
>> Released children
>> Children never detained by ORR
>> Children with criminal/delinquency histories
FEJC provides free or low-cost direct representation for the following types of
cases:
>> Asylum
>> SIJS
>> T-visa
>> U-visa
>> VAWA claims
Age restrictions: None
Language capacity: Haitian Creole/Kreyol, Portuguese, Spanish
Notes:
>> FEJC does not accept the following types of cases:
>> Family-based claims
>> Voluntary departure
>> No relief available
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Georgia – Atlanta
GEORGIA ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION NETWORK (GAIN)
P.O. Box 78425
Atlanta, GA 30357 (Mailing address only)
Primary contact:
Monica Modi Khant
[email protected]
(404) 572-2607
Contact method for potential clients: Call to make an appointment.
Fee: None
Immigration court(s) served: Atlanta
Counties/Cities covered: Metro-Atlanta area
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, U-visa, T-visa, and VAWA; in
general, GAIN provides pro bono legal representation for victims of human
trafficking and domestic violence.
Language capacity: Spanish, Hindi, and Gujarati
Notes:
GAIN does not represent children with criminal/delinquency histories, and
does not provide representation for voluntary departure case and cases in
which no relief is available.
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Illinois – Chicago
NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER (NIJC)
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
208 S. La Salle Street, Suite #1818
Chicago, IL 60604
Primary contact:
Alexandra Fung
[email protected]
(312) 660-1330
Immigration court(s) served: Chicago Immigration court
Counties/Cities covered: All cases that fall within jurisdiction of the CIS offices
in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Indianapolis
NIJC serves: Released children; children never detained by ORR; children with
criminal/delinquency histories, but only in special cases
NIJC provides free or low-cost direct representation for the following types of
cases:
>> Asylum and appellate litigation
>> CAT claims
>> Cancellation of removal, suppression, and termination cases
>> Family-based claims
>> SIJS
>> TPS
>> T-visa
>> U-visa
>> VAWA claims
>> Voluntary departure
>> No relief available
Age restrictions: None
Language capacity: Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and other languages
(if NIJC can locate a volunteer interpreter)
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Massachusetts – Lynn
NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES
37 Friend Street, Suite 300
Lynn, MA 01902
Primary contact:
June Beack
[email protected]
(781) 244-1427
Contact method for potential clients: Clients should call one of the following
numbers for an initial intake:
(781) 599-7730
(781) 477-6001 (TTY)
800-747-5056 (toll free)
Fee: No legal fees, but clients must pay for filing fees and other related costs.
Immigration court(s) served: Boston
Counties/Cities covered: Certain areas in Essex County and Northern
Middlesex County; see website (www.neighborhoodlaw.org) for more details.
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA, and
other cases involving deportation defense
Language capacity: French, Portuguese, and Spanish
Notes:
>> Neighborhood Legal Services does not accept voluntary departure
cases, or cases in which no relief is available.
>> Neighborhood Legal Services represents children with criminal/
delinquency histories.
>> Neighborhood Legal Services is a small organization and thus, can only
accept a limited number of cases.
>> Neighborhood Legal Services has another office location in Lawrence;
call (978) 686-6900 for more information.
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Minnesota – Minneapolis
THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
330 Second Avenue S., Suite 800
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Primary contact:
Emily Good
[email protected]
(612) 746-4688
Contact method for potential clients: Potential clients should call the intake
hotline: (612) 341-9845.
Fee: None
Immigration court(s) served: Bloomington
Counties/Cities covered: Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum and SIJS
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
>> The Advocates for Human Rights does not generally represent children
with criminal/delinquency histories.
>> The Advocates for Human Rights does not accept voluntary departure
cases, or cases in which no relief is available.
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Minnesota – St. Paul
CIVIL SOCIETY
1st National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite E-1436
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Primary contact:
Linda Miller
[email protected]
(651) 291-0713
Contact method for potential clients: Phone and e-mail
Fee: None
Immigration court(s) served: Minnesota
Counties/Cities covered: Minnesota
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Various, as long as they pertain to the
needs of victims of human trafficking
Language capacity: The Civil Society uses Language Line, so most languages
can be accommodated.
Notes:
Civil Society only serves victims of human trafficking, and can provide
comprehensive victim services and representation, in some cases.
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Minnesota – St. Paul
IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA
450 N. Syndicate Street, Suite 175
St. Paul, MN 55104
Primary contact:
Cynthia Anderson
[email protected]
(651) 641-1011
Contact method for potential clients: Potential clients should call 1-800-2231368 for an intake, although new client intakes are restricted to specific hours;
please call for more information. Legal service providers can also call (651) 6411011 if they have urgent case questions.
Fee: Donations are greatly appreciated, but services are not contingent on
ability to donate.
Immigration court(s) served: Bloomington
Counties/Cities covered: Minnesota
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
voluntary departure, and cases in which no relief is available
Language capacity: Arabic, Burmese, French, Hmong, Karen, Karenni, Somali,
and other languages upon request
Notes:
The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota will represent children with criminal/
delinquency histories.
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Missouri – St. Louis
CATHOLIC IMMIGRATION LAW PROJECT
321 N. Spring Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
Primary contact:
Hannah Willmann
[email protected]
(314) 977-7282
Contact method for potential clients: Call for an appointment; walk-ins not
accepted.
Fee: None for qualifying clients
Immigration court(s) served: Kansas City
Counties/Cities covered: Archdiocese of Saint Louis
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
Cancellation of removal, CAT, Family-based claims, voluntary departure, and
cases in which no relief is available
Language capacity: Bosnian and Spanish
Notes:
The Catholic Immigration Law Project will represent children with criminal/
delinquency histories on a case-by-case basis.
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Nebraska – Lincoln
CENTER FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE
3047 N. 70th Street
Lincoln, NE 68507
Primary contact:
Max Graves
[email protected]
(402) 471-1777
Contact method for potential clients: Call to schedule an appointment.
Fee: Sliding scale
Immigration court(s) served: Omaha
Counties/Cities covered: Nebraska
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
Cancellation of removal, NACARA, and voluntary departure
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
>> The Center for Legal Immigration Assistance does not accept clients
with histories of domestic violence, nor will the organization accept
cases in which no relief is available.
>> The Center for Legal Immigration Assistance prioritizes U-visa cases.
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Nebraska – Omaha
JUSTICE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS (JFON)
2414 E Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68107
Primary contact:
Darling Handlos
[email protected]
(402) 898-1349
Contact method for potential clients: Potential clients should call on the first
day of the month.
Fee: None
Immigration court(s) served: Omaha
Counties/Cities covered: Nebraska, but especially the Omaha metro area
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
Cancellation of removal, and cases in which no relief is available
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
>> JFON does not accept voluntary departure cases.
>> JFON provides additional referral services and “Know Your Rights”
clinics.
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Nevada – Las Vegas
LEGAL AID CENTER OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
800 S. 8th Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Primary contact:
Lynn Etkins
[email protected]
(702)-386-1070 x165
Contact method for potential clients: Children in need of services should call
(702) 386-1070.
Fee: None
Immigration court(s) served: Southern Nevada
Counties/Cities covered: Southern Nevada and Clark County
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
voluntary departure, and cases in which no relief is available
Language capacity: Spanish; will obtain interpreters for other languages if
needed
Notes:
The Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada will represent children with
criminal/delinquency histories.
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Nevada – Reno
NEVADA HISPANIC SERVICES, INC.
3905 Neil Road #2
Reno, Nevada 89502
Primary contact:
F. Woodside Wright
[email protected]
(775) 826-1818
Contact method for potential clients: Appointments and walk-ins
Fee: Nominal fees; clients referred via EOIR or USCIS are generally not charged
for services
Immigration court(s) served: Las Vegas
Counties/Cities covered: Northern Nevada
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
voluntary departure, and family-based claims; will accept cases in which no
relief is available on a case-by-case basis
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
Nevada Hispanic Services will represent children with criminal/delinquency
histories.
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New Jersey – Pennsauken
AFRICAN HISPANIC IMMIGRATION ORGANIZATION (AHIO)
4815 Westfield Avenue
Pennsauken, NJ 08110
Primary contact:
Luc M.
[email protected]
Phone: (856) 324-5098
Contact method for potential clients: Call (856) 324-5098 for an appointment.
Fee: If the client qualifies, services are free; a nominal fee is charged for other
clients that do not meet the organization’s criteria. Initial consultations are free
of charge.
Immigration court(s) served: Elizabeth, Newark, and Philadelphia Immigration
courts
Counties/Cities covered: South Jersey, North Jersey, and the Philadelphia area
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
Cancellation of removal, voluntary departure, family-based petitions, deferred
action in removal proceedings, and cases in which no relief is available
Language capacity: Arabic, French, Italian, and Spanish
Notes:
>> AHIO will represent children with criminal/delinquency histories.
>> AHIO offers additional services, such as citizenship preparation classes
and programs for victims of domestic violence.
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New Jersey – Plainfield
EL CENTRO HISPANO AMERICANO
525 East Front Street
Plainfield, NJ 07060
(Basement of United Presbyterian Church)
Primary contact:
Sylvia Hernandez
Phone: (908) 753-8730
Contact method for potential clients: Call to make an appointment.
Fee: $450 for court appearances
Immigration court(s) served: Newark
Counties/Cities covered: Anyone appearing in Newark Immigration court
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
TPS, voluntary departure, family-based petitions, and cases in which no relief
is available. Other services include work authorizations, naturalizations, and
residency paperwork.
Language capacity: Portuguese and Spanish
Notes:
>> El Centro Hispano Americano does not represent children with
criminal/delinquency histories.
>> El Centro Hispano Americano also provides social services, such
as ESL classes and referrals to social services related to health and
mental health services, job training, food stamps, and rent and utility
assistance. El Centro Hispano Americano can also help clients with
securing food and shelter.
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New York – New York
CATHOLIC CHARITIES COMMUNITY SERVICES (CCCS)
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
1011 First Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Primary contact:
Ryan Dooley
[email protected]
(212) 419-3701
Immigration court(s) served: New York Immigration court (6 Federal Plaza and
201 Varick Street)
Counties/Cities covered: New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess,
Putnam, Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan
CCCS serves: Released children, based on in-house capacity
CCCS provides free or low-cost direct representation for the following types
of cases: Asylum; cancellation of removal; CAT claims; family-based claims and
TPS; SIJS; T-visa; U-visa; VAWA claims
Age restrictions: None
Language capacity: Albanian, French, Hindi, Japanese, Polish, Punjabi,
Romanian, Spanish, Urdu
Notes:
>> CCCS prioritizes continuity of service to minors released locally
from Children’s Village shelters in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Therefore, CCCS
provides direct legal services to minors released from shelters in other
jurisdictions only in special situations.
>> CCCS provides case management services (including assistance with
school enrollment and access to health care) to children released from
the Children’s Village shelters located in Dobbs Ferry, NY and as part of
the Legal Orientation for Custodians Program (LOPC).
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New York – New York
THE DOOR
555 Broome Street
New York, NY 10013
Primary contact:
Helen Pundurs
[email protected]
(212) 941-9090 x3288
Contact method for potential clients: Clients can contact the Legal Services
Office at (212) 941-9090 x3280 to schedule an appointment; walk-in hours are
Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Fee: None, but clients might have to pay for filing fees and other related
expenses.
Immigration court(s) served: New York Immigration courts, including 26
Federal Plaza and Varick Street
Counties/Cities covered: All five boroughs of New York, and Nassau, Suffolk,
and Westchester Counties
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, voluntary
departure, family-based claims, TPS, and cases involving motions to terminate
based on due process violations. The Door will also accept cases in which no
relief is available, and administrative closure cases involving the DREAM Act
and prosecutorial discretion.
Language capacity: French and Spanish
Notes:
>> The Door will represent children with criminal/delinquency histories.
>> The Door also provides a plethora of social services, including
counseling, runaway and homeless youth services, LGBTQ-specific
services, and medical and dental services. Please visit http://www.
door.org/ for more information.
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Oklahoma – Oklahoma
CATHOLIC CHARITIES, IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
1501 N. Classen Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Primary contact:
Margie Solis
[email protected]
(405) 523-3001
Contact method for potential clients: Call (405) 523-3001 to make an
appointment.
Fee: Nominal fee charged
Immigration court(s) served: Oklahoma City
Counties/Cities covered: Western Oklahoma
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
voluntary departure, cancellation of removal, and cases in which no relief is
available
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
Catholic Charities does not represent children with criminal/delinquency
histories.
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Oregon – Portland
IMMIGRATION COUNSELING SERVICE (ICS)
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
519 S. W. Park Avenue, Suite #610
Portland, OR 97205
Primary contact:
Anna Ciesielski
[email protected]
(503) 221 - 1689
Immigration court(s) served: Oregon Immigration court
Counties/Cities covered: All Oregon counties and some southern Washington
counties
ICS serves:
>> Released children
>> Children never detained by ORR
>> Children with criminal/delinquency histories
ICS provides free or low-cost direct representation for the following types of
cases:
>> Asylum
>> SIJS
>> Family-based claims
>> T-visa
>> U-visa
>> VAWA claims
>> Voluntary departure
>> No relief available
Age restrictions: None
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
ICS does not accept CAT claims cases.
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Pennsylvania – Philadelphia
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, IMMIGRATION PROGRAM
227 N. 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Primary contact:
Mark Shea
[email protected]
(215) 854-7004
Contact method for potential clients: Potential clients seeking legal assistance
must call (215) 854-7019 to schedule a consultation; walk-ins are not accepted.
Fee: Initial fee of $40 for consultation; fees for all other services are low in
comparison to private counsel.
Immigration court(s) served: All geographical areas that fall within the
jurisdiction of the Philadelphia Immigration court and the Philadelphia
District Office of USCIS, which includes areas of Delaware, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania.
Counties/Cities covered: No restrictions—see above.
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA, and
voluntary departure
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
>> Catholic Social Services does not accept cases in which no relief is
available.
>> Catholic Social Services will represent children with criminal/
delinquency histories.
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Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh
JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN’S SERVICE OF PITTSBURGH
5743 Bartlett Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Primary contact:
Jamie Englert
[email protected]
(412) 521-1737
Contact method for potential clients: E-mail and phone calls
Fee: Fees are charged on a sliding scale based on a client’s income; sometimes,
a nominal flat rate fee is charged, but many clients ultimately receive free legal
representation.
Immigration court(s) served: Philadelphia (via televideo to Pittsburgh)
Counties/Cities covered: Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia
Areas of immigration legal assistance: SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA, voluntary
departure, CAT, family-based claims, and cases in which no relief is available.
U-visa
Language capacity: Arabic, French, Karen, Nepali, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, and
Spanish
Notes:
>> Jewish Family & Children’s Service does not accept asylum cases, but
has an extensive referral list for individuals seeking representation for
asylum cases.
>> Jewish Family & Children’s Service will represent children with
criminal/delinquency histories.
>> Jewish Family & Children’s Service provides social services, such as
clinical psychotherapy and counseling, adoption services, critical needs
assistance, career development counseling, and caregiver services.
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Texas – Dallas
HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVE OF NORTH TEXAS
2801 Swiss Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75204
Primary contact:
Melissa Weaver
[email protected]
(214) 855-0520
Contact method for potential clients: Potential clients should call (214) 8550520 for a phone screening; walk-ins are not accepted.
Fee: None, but clients are asked to pay for certain services, such as filing and
service fees.
Immigration court(s) served: Dallas
Counties/Cities covered: Dallas-Fort Worth and outlying areas
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA, I-246
Stay of Deportation; in some cases, Human Rights Initiative of North Texas will
accept voluntary departure cases, and cases in which no relief is available.
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
>> The Human Rights Initiative of North Texas occasionally represents
children with minor criminal/delinquency histories, but will not
represent clients with extensive criminal/delinquency backgrounds.
>> The Human Rights Initiative of North Texas also provides referrals for
clients seeking resources related to education and ESL classes, housing,
and counseling services.
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Texas – El Paso
DIOCESAN MIGRANT & REFUGEE SERVICES, INC. (DMRS)
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
2400 E. Yandell Street
El Paso, TX 79903
Primary contact:
Michelle Martinez
[email protected]
(915) 532 – 3975 x236
Immigration court(s) served: El Paso Immigration court
Counties/Cities covered: Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis,
Loving, Presidio, Reeves, Ward, and Winkler counties
DMRS serves: Released children; children never detained by ORR; children with
criminal/delinquency histories
DMRS provides free or low-cost direct representation for the following types
of cases:
>> Asylum
>> CAT claims
>> Citizenship claims
>> Family-based claims
>> SIJS (DMRS accepts SIJS cases that require representation in family/
juvenile courts located outside of El Paso County.)
>> T-visa
>> U-visa
>> VAWA claims
Age restrictions: 17.5 and younger
Language capacity: Spanish
Notes:
DMRS does not accept voluntary departure cases and cases in which no relief is
available.
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Texas – Houston
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF HOUSTON, CABRINI CENTER FOR
IMMIGRANT LEGAL ASSISTANCE
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
2900 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77006
Primary contact:
Viridiana Pulido
[email protected]
(713) 874 - 6570
Immigration court(s) served: Houston Immigration court
Counties/Cities covered: Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Montgomery, and Fort
Bend
Cabrini serves:
>> Released children
>> Children never detained by ORR
>> Children with juvenile criminal/delinquency histories
Cabrini provides free or low-cost direct representation for the following types
of cases:
>> Asylum
>> CAT claims
>> Family-based claims
>> SIJS
>> T-visa
>> U-visa
>> VAWA claims
Age restrictions: Must be 17.5 or younger
Language capacity: Arabic, French, Farsi/Persian, Spanish, and Vietnamese
Notes:
Cabrini does not accept voluntary departure cases and cases in which no relief
is available.
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Texas – Houston
TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER
1717 Saint James Place, Suite 320
Houston, TX 77007
Primary contact:
Hillary Mellinger
[email protected]
(713) 496-0100
Contact method for potential clients: Call (713) 496-0100 to make an
appointment.
Fee: None
Immigration court(s) served: Houston
Counties/Cities covered: Houston
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
voluntary departure, CAT (if case involves gender-based violence), and cases in
which no relief is available
Language capacity: In-house capacity for Arabic, Chinese, French, and Spanish
Notes:
>> Tahirih Justice Center will represent children with criminal/
delinquency histories.
>> Tahirih Justice Center also provides social services.
>> Tahirih Justice Center has another office location in Falls Church,
Virginia. (See page 37.)
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Texas – San Antonio
REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND
LEGAL SERVICES (RAICES)
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
1305 N. Flores Street
San Antonio, TX 78212
Primary contact:
Alexandra Minnaar
[email protected]
(210) 226 – 7722 x14
Immigration court(s) served: San Antonio Immigration court
Counties/Cities covered: All cities and counties that fall within the jurisdiction
of the San Antonio Immigration court or the San Antonio USCIS office.
RAICES serves:
>> Released children
>> Children never detained by ORR
>> Children with criminal/delinquency histories
RAICES provides free or low-cost direct representation for the following types
of cases:
>> Asylum
>> CAT claims
>> Family-based claims
>> SIJS
>> T-visa
>> U-visa
>> VAWA
>> Voluntary departure
>> No relief available
Age restrictions: None
Language capacity: French, Spanish, Tigrinya, Amharic, and Italian
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Virginia – Falls Church
TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER
6402 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 300
Falls Church, VA 22042
Primary contact:
Hillary Mellinger
[email protected]
(713) 496-0100
Contact method for potential clients: Call (571) 282-6161 to make an
appointment.
Fee: None
Immigration court(s) served: Virginia
Counties/Cities covered: DC metropolitan area
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
voluntary departure, CAT (if case involves gender-based violence), and cases in
which no relief is available
Language capacity: Tahirih Justice Center can obtain interpreters for most
languages.
Notes:
>> Tahirih Justice Center will represent children with criminal/
delinquency histories.
>> Tahirih Justice Center also provides social services.
>> Tahirih Justice Center has another office location in Houston, Texas.
(See page 35.)
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Washington – Seattle
NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT
615 Second Avenue, Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98104
Primary contact:
Mike Peters
[email protected]
(206) 957-8631
Contact method for potential clients: Call (206) 587-4009 to make an
appointment.
Fee: NWIRP does not charge for juvenile matters involving SIJS, removal
defense, VAWA relief, and T-visa and U-visa cases
Immigration court(s) served: Seattle and Tacoma
Counties/Cities covered: Washington State
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
CAT, Family-based claims, TPS, and Cancellation of removal, and other cases
involving challenges to charges of removability
Language capacity: Arabic, Mandarin, and Spanish
Notes:
>> NWIRP will not represent children with cases in which no relief is
available, nor voluntary departure cases.
>> NWIRP will represent children with criminal/delinquency histories.
>> NWIRP has another office location in Granger; call (509) 854-2100 for
more information.
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Washington – Seattle
VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE (VAIJ)
(Vera/DUCS Legal Access Project provider)
1201 3rd Avenue, Suite #4800
Seattle, WA 98101
Primary contact:
Rebekah Fletcher
[email protected]
(206) 359-6203
Immigration court(s) served: Seattle and Tacoma Immigration courts
Counties/Cities covered: King and Pierce; Thurston, Snohomish, and Whatcom
(on a limited basis)
VAIJ serves:
>> Released children
>> Children never detained by ORR, on a case by case basis
>> Children with criminal/delinquency histories
VAIJ provides free or low-cost direct representation for the following types of
cases:
>> Asylum
>> CAT claims
>> SIJS
>> T-visa
>> U-visa
>> VAWA claims
>> Voluntary departure
Age restrictions: For SIJS cases, minor cannot be older than 17.5.
Language capacity: Spanish
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Wisconsin – Milwaukee
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF
MILWAUKEE
731 W. Washington Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204
Primary contact:
Barb Graham and Victor Paredes
[email protected]; [email protected]
(414) 643-8570 x18
Contact method for potential clients: Call to make an appointment; walk-ins
accepted in emergency situations.
Fee: Nominal fee; will not charge clients who cannot afford to pay for services.
Immigration court(s) served: Chicago
Counties/Cities covered: Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Areas of immigration legal assistance: Asylum, SIJS, T-visa, U-visa, VAWA,
voluntary departure, TPS, cancellation of removal, and cases in which no relief
is available
Language capacity: Catholic Charities has in-house capacity for French and
Spanish, with additional access to over 30 languages, including Albanian,
Burmese, Serbian, Somali, and Hmong.
Notes:
>> Catholic Charities will represent children with criminal history on a
case-by-case basis.
>> Catholic Charities provides additional social services at other Catholic
Charities office locations, including mental health counseling.
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Additional Resources
Below is a list of organizations that provide legal and social services to immigrants and their families. These
organizations asked the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to inform Vera about the services they provide to
trafficking victims. Please note that these organizations did not fill out the Vera survey (referenced on the cover page). As
always, practitioners are encouraged to contact organizations directly to confirm availability and quality of services.
RESOURCES FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS
Sacramento Employment and Training Agency’s (SETA) Rescue & Restore Program
SETA provides employment and social services to refugees, asylees, and victims of human trafficking. SETA provides
services to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information about SETA’s work, visit: http://seta.net/
community/about-seta-refugee-program/.
Areas served: Sacramento, Fairfield, some areas close to San Francisco
Primary contact: Mary Jennings, Program Director
[email protected]
(916) 263-1555
Safe Horizon, Inc.
Safe Horizon provides many types of services, including mental health and related social services, housing and referral
assistance, and legal services. For more information about Safe Horizon’s work, visit: http://www.safehorizon.org/.
Areas served:
New York City, parts of New Jersey and Long Island
Primary contact:
Avaloy Lanning, Senior Director
[email protected]
(718) 943-8648
Second contact:
Fiona Mason, Supervising Social Worker
[email protected]
(718) 943-8649
Mosaic Family Services
Mosaic Family Services is a non-profit community-based organization that provides culturally and linguistically
competent services to refugees and immigrants in crisis. To learn more about Mosaic’s work, visit: http://www.
mosaicservices.org/.
Areas served: Dallas and surrounding areas in North Texas
Primary contact:
Laura Burstein, Legal Program Director
[email protected]
(214) 821-5393 x257
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41
233 Broadway, 12th Floor
Tel: (212) 334-1300
New York, NY 10279
Fax: (212) 941-9407
www.vera.org