Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

Does your nonprofit agency want to develop a legal immigration program, but lack attorneys on staff or the money to hire them?

Does your nonprofit agency want to continue providing legal immigration services, but avoid engaging in the unauthorized practice of law? 

This toolkit is intended to facilitate the process of designing and/or improving the case management system in your immigration program. In a legal immigration context, case management is a set of: policies and procedures; forms; a database; and files used by legal representatives in a standardized manner for the purposes of delivering professional services.  It improves the quality of immigration service provided by your organization and reduces the likelihood of errors that can harm clients and lead to malpractice and liability.

This guide gives service providers the information needed to address the resettlement needs of asylees.

It is estimated that 12 million immigrants living in the United States are undocumented. The reality of this situation echoes the need for comprehensive immigration reform. When comprehensive immigration legislation passes, there will be a huge need for access to professional and affordable legal services.

This manual describes best practices used by many of the country's most experienced nonprofit immigration programs and managers. The training curriculum covers program design, case selection criteria, case management systems, fee schedules, alternative funding sources, financial controls, marketing, staff training, BIA agency recognition and staff accreditation, and legal representation ethics.

Refugees naturalize at a higher rate than other, non-refugee immigrants, yet they often face serious challenges in the naturalization process due to advanced age, disabilities, low income, limited English proficiency, and low levels of literacy.  Refugees also face challenges to civic participation such as language and cultural barriers, unfamiliarity with U.S. civic institutions, and reluctance to get involved in community affairs due to negative experiences in their native countries.

How much do you know about immigration law?

Learn more about the state of immigration law and immigration law terminology,

then test yourself with a true/ false quiz.

The United States is a nation of immigrants united by a common creed and shared values.