Local city government promotes immigrant integration through Division of Immigrant Affairs
Jersey City, N.J., was recently designated the most diverse, and the second most welcoming city in the nation. The city embraces this honor and continues to promote immigrant integration through community-based public health strategies.
“These are high profile achievements, and it speaks to the fact that we don’t just call Jersey City a Sanctuary City, we act like one,” Mayor Steven M. Fulop recently shared. “We will continue to expand our critical services to immigrant residents, regardless of status, which ultimately leads to long-term success and well-being for our city as a whole.”
In 2019, CLINIC welcomed Jersey City’s Division of Immigrant Affairs, or DIA, to its network of affiliates. After attending various multi-day trainings offered by CLINIC and receiving support from CLINIC’s field support coordinators, DIA applied for DOJ Recognition and Accreditation: a federal certification that allows non-attorney staff to provide immigration legal services to underserved immigrants. Following an extensive vetting process from three federal agencies, DIA received its R&A in August 2020, making Jersey City the first city in the nation to earn the distinction. Today, DIA staff offer free immigration legal services to those seeking naturalization and other benefits.
DIA is housed at the nationally recognized Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services, or JCHHS, and takes a holistic approach to integration in the context of public health. “Integration is essential to public health,” said JCHHS Director Stacey Lea Flanagan. “In a city where two-in-five residents are foreign-born, immigrants’ health is everyone’s health.”
For Mike McLean, the DIA director at JCHHS, this means finding the most meaningful ways to include immigrants in the city’s public health strategy.
“It’s about cultivating relationships and accompanying immigrants as they seek relief within one of the most daunting systems in the U.S.: Immigration,” McLean states. “By providing free, trusted, and federally-accredited immigration services, we are addressing fears and uncertainty that are social determinants of health, and we are also facilitating broader access to health services.”
“I think there are many immigrants that will benefit from this Jersey City being part of the R&A program,” said Minyoung Ohm, a CLINIC field support coordinator. “And Mike is the person to really make this program successful given his legal astuteness and passion for serving the community.”
When immigrants seek free immigration services at DIA, they also receive help overcoming barriers to health. DIA staff provide close guidance for an array of city benefits that are open to all, regardless of status, like the WIC (Women, Infant, Children) food and nutrition program, the STD and immunization clinic, lead inspection and treatment, food vouchers, mental health support, and health education. An essential tool to DIA’s community navigation program is its colorful, multi-lingual Resource Guide for Immigrants, which features hundreds of free services and tutorials.
“The most important parts of immigrant integration are found in partnerships,” McLean said. “To truly serve immigrants, we need meaningful and active bonds with service providers, cultural organizations, community leaders—because no one can do this work alone.”
To this end, DIA holds joint-sponsored service events about once a month, and hosts an Annual Immigrant Affairs Symposium to celebrate the success of service organizations and their immigrant clients. These partners form a substantial part of the Partnership for a Healthier Jersey City, a network of community based organizations invited to apply for mini-grants, use free community mapping and referral software, and contribute to public health strategy. “There is only so much one agency can do,” JCHHS Director Stacey Lea Flanagan points out. “But if we can serve as the connective tissue for a community of agencies, then we can really work together in meaningful ways.”
When Jersey City became a COVID-19 hotspot in the spring of 2020, its investments in integration made an enormous different. As the region’s first to initiate its own testing program through an exclusive laboratory contract, Jersey City depended on DIA’s network of partners to engage immigrant communities, who responded by sharing multi-lingual advisories and coming forward to be tested. PPE was distributed to all, especially to the city’s frontline workers (more than 50 percent of which are immigrants), and DIA was a leader in launching the city’s emergency food delivery program.
In a dramatic demonstration of Jersey City’s integration successes, refugees and asylees with foreign medical credentials were hired to administer COVID-19 tests, following the state’s emergency loosening of licensure requirements. “Within sight of the Statue of Liberty, immigrants who fled danger in their home countries were rising to the occasion to protect their new neighbors from the dangers of the virus,” McLean said. These efforts earned Jersey City another national distinction as one the nation’s twelve leaders of immigrant integration in Covid-19 relief and recovery.
“DOJ Accredited legal services is one way we offer a specialized form of help,” McLean said. “But we know the most meaningful work is done in partnership, with immigrants and for immigrants. Jersey City is showing that these investments in integration benefit all of us, foreign-born and native-born.”
CLINIC applauds Jersey City, DIA and HHS for their efforts and commitment in promoting immigrant integration.
For the opportunity to be next month’s CLINIC affiliate highlight, share with us how your local government is promoting immigrant integration! Learn about joining CLINIC’s Network. See where your city falls on NAE’s Cities Index and check how your state fairs in Immigrant Professional Integration.
Immigration Attorney
ABOUT THE POSITION
United African Organization (UAO) is a dynamic coalition of African community-based organizations that promotes social and economic justice, civic participation, and empowerment of African immigrants and refugees in Illinois.
UAO is seeking a full-time Immigration Attorney experienced in practicing in front of USCIS and EOIR. The immigration attorney will provide immigration consultations and representation for individuals seeking immigration benefits before USCIS and EOIR. The attorney will also be responsible for program outreach and development, providing legal consultations and representation before USCIS and EOIR, and developing relationships with key partners in the implementation of the program
JOB DESCRIPTION/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Legal Services and Support
- Assess individuals’ eligibility for immigration benefits at consultations;
- Assist individuals with the completion of the appropriate applications, such as family petitions, consular processing, adjustment of status, U-visa, and VAWA, asylum, and removal defense cases;
- Explain relevant policies and case procedure to individuals;
- Provide legal oversight at workshops when applicable;
- Train non-legal and/or legal workshop volunteers to complete applications when necessary;
- Perform factual and legal research and regularly monitor developments in immigration law and procedure;
- Advocate for clients before USCIS and EOIR;
- Conduct strategic community outreach to promote awareness about UAO programs;
- Conduct community presentations on immigration topics such as “Know Your Rights;
- Develop relationships with organizing partners and explore collaborative opportunities with potential allies
- Other legal services and support as the need arises.
Case Management
- Provide case management of immigration applicants including but not limited to: maintaining client
- files, drafting cover letters, preparing application packets, reviewing case files;
- Collect and maintain program data, and prepare clear and concise reports
- Plan, monitor and evaluate effectiveness of program activities and implement best practices
- Follow up on pending case work and maintain communication with clients via phone, email, or mail
- regarding missing documentation necessary for submission of application;
- Respond to all phone calls and email inquiries on immigration issues in a timely manner.
- Assist in translating immigration materials in appropriate languages to facilitate community understanding;
- Attends required program meetings and training to increase knowledge and skills;
- Assesses community needs and barriers to services, and develops recommendations and solutions;
Administrative Support
- Represent UAO at meetings, conferences, and/or legislative visits when necessary;
- Coordinate logistics for UAO immigration and citizenship events, meetings and relevant activities;
- Collaborate with UAO partners and allies on civic engagement and advocacy activities including trips to Springfield, rallies, press conferences, etc.;
- Participate in on-going immigration trainings and other professional development; and
- Identify, train and develop a network of community advocates and volunteers
- Speak and/or write French at a colloquial skill level in carrying out position duties in conjunction with Francophone African immigrants and refugees is desired;
- Assist with various projects and perform other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education
- JD Required
- Written and oral fluency in English/French desired;
- At least 2 years’ experience working in immigration legal services, immigration court experience strongly preferred;
Management
- Possess advanced interpersonal communication skills and passion for social and economic justice, and sensitivity to challenges of the immigrant community;
- Sensitivity to the needs and legal issues affecting people of diverse backgrounds;
- Ability to stay organized, manage a high volume workload, and work under strict deadlines;
- Strong proofreading and detail-oriented research and writing skills;
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from clients and the general public
- Ability to manage and organize multiple tasks simultaneously and independently, often under pressure and in a fast-paced environment;
- Must be proactive, a self-starter with a solution-oriented mindset, and a willingness to take initiative;
- Well organized with high attention to details and deliver accurate work within strict deadlines;
- Ability to manage and prioritize time and responsibilities, including the ability to work independently
- Adapt to change and respond to unexpected issues;
- Ability to maintain confidentiality;
Commitment to service
- Community service experience
- Enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others
- Ability to work weekends and evenings when necessary
- Demonstrate ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Salary is commensurate with experience
- Invaluable opportunity to make a difference in the lives of African immigrants and refugees
UAO is an equal opportunity employer.
To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter and writing sample if (any) here.
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Chicago, IL
United States
Bilingual Staff Attorney - Unaccompanied Children's Program
Description
About our Catholic Charities Family
We seek compassionate, talented individuals with a heart for helping others and making a positive impact on the lives of men, women, and children across our large region. People of faith helping people in need achieve self-sufficiency and live with dignity.
Join our team at St. Frances Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance is the legal services arm of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. It is one of the largest non-profit immigration legal services programs in the region. We provide free to low-cost immigration legal assistance to immigrants and refugees in Southeast Texas.
As a Staff Attorney you will be responsible for providing direct legal representation to clients served by St. Frances Cabrini Center for Legal Assistance in immigration matters. Legal representation includes entering an appearance as the attorney of record on matters and in proceedings before the USCIS, Asylum Office, State, federal and immigration courts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, as well as appellate agencies such as the Administrative Appeals Office and Board of Immigration Appeals. The Staff Attorney also provides legal services in the form of community outreach and legal education, legal workshops, legal intake, legal research, individual legal representation as well as supervising caseworkers and/or law student interns. As a Staff Attorney you will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Attorney and/or Managing Attorney. You will also work with a team of Legal Assistant/Paralegal and other Cabrini Center staff.
Qualifications
The Expertise We’re Looking For
- You have a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school is required
The Skills and Assets You Bring, and More
- As a successful candidate you will be detail-oriented and organized, with excellent time management and collaboration skills
- You have 0-2 years of work experience as a licensed attorney in the State of Texas, or a recent graduate from an ABA-accredited law school taking the next available Texas Bar Examination and be admitted to the State Bar of Texas within twelve months of hire, or has an active license from another U.S. jurisdiction and is eligible to waive into the State Bar of Texas within 12 months of hire
- It is preferred that you are fully bilingual in Spanish and English (read, write and speak)
- You have excellent legal research and legal writing skills
- You have excellent verbal and written communication and negotiation skills
- You can handle a high-volume caseload, multiple deadlines, and other tasks simultaneously
- You have knowledge and proficiency in basic typing skills and computer applications such as MS Office, Adobe and other databases
- You have demonstrated multi-cultural skills and sensitivity
- You can handle and maintain confidential information
- It is strongly desirable that you have experience working with low-income immigrant community
- You have strong analytical, conceptual, problem-solving and decision-making skills
The Value You Deliver
You join Catholic Charities and help people in southeast Texas by providing caring, compassionate services and advocating for social justice in collaboration with parishes and communities.
What you Deliver
- Citizenship Workshop: You develop and implement pro se citizenship workshops by recruiting pro bono attorneys and volunteers to staff the workshops, organize and conduct pre-workshop CLE training for volunteers, review legal screening to assess suitability for workshop placement, manage workflow at the workshop and collaborate with other NAC partners in organizing mega-regional citizenship workshops.
- Direct Representation: You provide direct representation to immigrant clients before the USCIS. Asylum Office or Immigration Court on matters such as family petition, removal of conditional status, adjustment of status, naturalization, asylum, removal defense, and any immigration proceedings. Direct representation encompasses the following tasks: conduct legal intake and screening, interview with clients, affiants, witness, experts, case managers, and others who can provide information or statement in furtherance of the principle client's immigration matters; draft, prepare and assemble relevant immigration petitions; conduct legal research; write a memorandum of law, motions or briefs in support of applications and petitions filed before USCIS. Asylum Office. State, Immigration and federal Courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, Administrative Appeals Office, EOIR, and other immigration agencies; prepare clients for interviews or court hearings. Maintain a minimum of 30-40 active cases.
- Case Management: You maintain client physical and electronic files according to program requirements, including case notes, correspondence, filings, calendars, and dockets. Maintain a case status list and case service statistics for Cabrini Center and program funders. Participate in case reviews with Senior Attorney, Managing Attorney or Legal Director as applicable.
- Meetings: You attend and participate in mandatory unit and Cabrini staff meetings, and other agency meetings. You participate in calls and meetings organized by funders, city-wide advocacy groups, local service providers, and national support centers when appropriate and helpful.
- Supervision: You provide supervision and direction to Legal Assistant and/or Paralegal on a full range of legal services provided by the program.
- Contract and Agency Compliance: You comply with all contract requirements. You provide data and statistical information for grants, contracts, and other reporting purposes. Provide accurate and timely monthly data, time logs, and reports for internal use, funder use, and other entity use. Participate in trainings, meetings, calls, etc. as required by funders or to serve program needs.
- Outreaches: You participate in Charlas by presenting and performing legal consultations. Participate in program and agency community legal education and outreach efforts (Spanish and English), particularly as they relate to issues of immigration law, providing direct information to prospective clients, attending information sessions on asylum, deportation, and other immigration relief.
- You perform other duties as assigned by the Legal Director and supervisors, such as assisting and training staff in legal and regulatory changes, participating in coalition activities, participating in staff retreats, United Way activities, agency fairs, speaking engagements, assisting with special organization projects/events, etc.
How Your Work Impacts our Organization
The work you do will help us advocate for the vulnerable among us, a network of support services to people of all ages and from all walks of life and religious backgrounds.
Click here to apply.
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Cabrini NLW - Houston, TX
United States
CLINIC’s Policy Recommendations for the Biden-Harris Administration: The First 100 Days and Beyond
CLINIC congratulates President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris and welcomes them to their new positions of leadership in the United States. As an organization whose mission is to fight for the rights and dignity of immigrants, CLINIC is particularly elated by the historic moment and future that Vice President-Elect Harris ushers in, as a Black daughter of immigrants.
CLINIC urges the incoming administration to prioritize building a just and humane immigration system. In order to address the Biden administration’s stated priority of systemic racism, the supremacist structures enshrined in U.S. immigration law throughout history must be dismantled.
Read CLINIC’s letter to President-Elect Biden here.
CLINIC’s 2021 Administrative Advocacy Priorities:
Click here to read CLINIC’s immigration policy vision for 2021. CLINIC’s advocacy efforts are guided by our Catholic identity, counseled by our team of in-house experts and informed by our network of approximately 370 agencies (“affiliates”).
Transition Policy Papers:
The below set of policy papers written by CLINIC experts — as well as with partners — represent CLINIC’s aspiration on immigration policy for the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration and beyond. For policy inquiries please contact advocacy@cliniclegal.org.
- CLINIC Transition Paper: Preserving Access to Naturalization for the Most Vulnerable Applicants: The Citizenship Test and Disability-Based Waiver
- CLINIC Transition Paper: Promoting and Encouraging Immigrant Integration
- CLINIC Transition Paper: Rebuilding and Restoring the Foreign-Born Religious Workers Program
- CLINIC Transition Paper: Remedying the Separation of Families at the U.S.-Mexico Border
- CLINIC Transition Paper: Restoring Protections for Immigrant Children and Youth
- CLINIC Transition Paper: Restoring the Integrity of the DOJ Recognition and Accreditation Program
- CLINIC Transition Paper: Restoring the United States Commitment to Asylum
- CLINIC Transition Paper: Rethinking ICE and CBP Sensitive Locations
The following transition papers were written by CLINIC and partners or otherwise endorsed by CLINIC:
- 2021 Immigration Action Plan
- Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) Strategy Group Transition Recommendations
- Temporary Protected Status Advocacy Working Group Transition Recommendations
For the media:
Read CLINIC’s press release on transition priorities here. For media inquiries please contact ltramonte@cliniclegal.org.
