Casa San Jose was established in 2013 by Sister Janice Vanderneck to serve as a base of support for English language learners, especially children, youth, and families. Casa San Jose works to acclimatize clients to their new homes in the Pittsburgh area and now has a base of more than 100 active volunteers.

From their website: “Our Mission is to connect, support, and advocate with and for the Latino community. Our Vision is a Pittsburgh region that celebrates Latino culture, welcomes immigrants, and embraces inclusion, dignity, and respect.”

PAIFUP celebrates the release of a Senegalese asylum seeker from ICE custody. He recently arrived to the United States fleeing persecution because of his sexual identity. PAIFUP was contacted by our partners at AFRICOM. They alerted us that a family friend of a Philadelphia community member had been apprehended and detained at the border and needed assistance. Before we met our client, he had been given a credible fear interview (CE) to determine if he had a credible fear of persecution. Though he told the asylum officer about the extensive violence he faced as a gay man in Senegal, a country where same-sex relationships are criminalized, the officer found that he did not have a credible fear case. He asked for review by an Immigration judge, which is his legal right and received a hearing the next day. Without counsel he asked for more time to obtain an attorney and through AFRICOM, PAIFUP was able to take his case quickly. Just 24 hours later, his PAIFUP attorney appeared before the Immigration Court to try to reverse this incorrect decision. PAIFUP filed evidence late at night for the hearing the next day. Our efforts were successful and the Judge found that our client did have credible fear and should be able to pursue his case! Given this outcome by the Immigration Judge, the Department of Homeland Security released him from custody. Now he will be able to pursue his asylum claim in full before an Immigration Judge in Philadelphia, supported by his family, community, and PAIFUP attorneys.