Limited Scope Cases/Projects for
Pro Bono Attorneys
Asylee Adjustments
Assist individuals who were granted asylum a year ago apply for their lawful permanent residence. Asylee adjustments are presently taking the immigration agency approximately two to three years to adjudicate. These applications are filed exclusively by mail and very rarely require an interview. The preparation of an application package is estimated to take no more than 7 hours. It will require document collection and interview with the client, which will require an interpreter. While an application is pending, counsel may need to renew the client’s work authorization document 180 days before its expiration.
Current cases include:
-
WD and LX are two young women and a married couple from China, who will be eligible to apply for their green cards as of March 17, 2023 based on their asylee status. While each client will need to submit her own adjustment application, it will be best if a single pro bono attorney could prepare both filings. They were represented in their affirmative asylum cases by Attorney Violeta Haralampieva of PAIR, who will provide mentoring on both clients’ adjustment applications.
-
GMP is a young man from Venezuela who will be eligible to apply for his green card on March 24, 2023. GMP was granted asylum by the Boston Immigration Court while he was in ICE custody. He fled Venezuela after being kidnapped and tortured by security agents because his father was a known government opponent. He currently lives in South Carolina, so there would be no in-person meetings. He was represented in his court proceedings by Irene Freidel at PAIR who will mentor the adjustment application.
U and T Adjustments
Assist individuals who were granted a U-Visa based on being a cooperating survivor of a crime or a T-Visa based on being a survivor of trafficking. U- and T- adjustments are presently taking the immigration agency just over one year to adjudicate. These applications are filed exclusively by mail and are not interviewed. The preparation of an application is estimated to take no more than 12 hours. It will require document collection and interview with the client, which will require an interpreter.
Current cases include:
-
ECC and family: ECC is a young man from Honduras who survived child labor trafficking at a warehouse where he worked in his early teens shortly after arriving to the U.S. His mother was sexually assaulted at the warehouse and he continued working for fear of further repercussions. ECC along with his mother, step-father, and step-brother who were derivatives, are now eligible to adjust status.
-
BYS: BYS is a young man from Peru who entered the US three years ago as a derivative of his mother’s approved U-Visa, where his mother was the survivor of an extremely abusive relationship with BYS’s younger brother. BYS and his family were overjoyed to be reunited after nearly 20 years of separation. He is now eligible for adjustment.
Probate and Family Court cases for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Applicants
Assist young people who qualify for SIJS due to having experienced abuse, abandonment, or neglect by a parent and in whose best interest it is not to return to their country of nationality. Preparation of the case will involve drafting a short affidavit, proposing findings, a legal memorandum, and related forms that is estimated to take no longer than 20 hours. After filing, service on the defendant(s) will need to be completed within 90 days. Volunteers may enter
their own appearance or prepare them for a PAIR staff attorney to enter an appearance.
Current cases include:
-
LF and MF: LF and MF are 15- and 6-year-old siblings from Honduras who reside with their mother. LF’s father was never present in his life, and MF’s father was extremely abusive. The siblings’ safety was further threatened when their cousin’s ex-partner threatened to hurt them because their mother reported him to Honduran police after he tried to murder their cousin.
-
JVP: JVP is a 20-year-old young man from Honduras. He grew up witnessing his stepfather constantly abusing his mother. His own father was never present in his life. He came to the US seeking protection after he was threatened by gangs who has previously killed one of his friends.
For all of the above limited scope cases/projects, please email mgleason@pairproject.org if you are interested in learning more.
