Limited Scope Cases/Projects for
Pro Bono Attorneys
Intakers Needed at Detention Centers
Join PAIR's Detention Team on a visit to the Plymouth County Correctional Facility or the Wyatt Detention Facility (Central Falls, RI) to help support presentations and intakes with ICE detainees. Each visit is 3-4 hours long.
We visit Plymouth biweekly, and Wyatt monthly, typically on a Wednesday afternoon. PAIR is looking for pro bono counsel who can help conduct intakes in the jail units, and more information/training will be given to all volunteer attorneys. We also ask that participants please be able to arrange their own transportation to the jails.
For the following cases, if there are pro bono attorneys who are interested in participating on a repeat basis—that would be ideal. These cases will also have a PAIR staff attorney as the attorney of record, mentoring the pro bono attorney who will prepare the case.
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:
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JMP and child: JMP is a young mother from Guatemala who was sex trafficked and abused by an older man from which she had no protection. She has a 5-year-old daughter who derived asylum from her and will be applying with her.
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AXP and 3 children: AXP is a mother from El Salvador who suffered years of domestic violence by her children’s father, who also used his connections to local gangs to threaten her and her son in retaliation for her trying to leave her abuser. She has 3 children who derived asylum from her and will be applying with her.
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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
