County of El Paso: Office of New Americans

July 28, 2021
Laura Nino

Last October, El Paso, Texas, joined the growing list of cities supporting their foreign-born residents when it created the Office of New Americans, or ONA. The county commissioner’s court sought to support and welcome the growing population of refugees and asylum seekers in El Paso County. The ONA connects newly arrived residents to resources, promotes integration through advocacy efforts, and enhances communication and collaboration with local nonprofits, grassroots leaders, community-based organizations, and interfaith organizations.

The ONA has taken great care to facilitate welcome efforts in response to changing immigration policies. To create an infrastructure that would withstand such changes, the ONA turned to local advocacy groups to promote immigrant integration in the community and increase support for local nonprofits and organizations welcoming migrant families daily. While the ONA has been operational for just under a year, the office has already established key relationships with local partners. Initially these conversations were occurring one-on-one until Hope Border Institute, a local grassroots organization and partner of ONA, suggested the office expand their outreach to include other cities in Texas, Juarez, Mexico, and parts of New Mexico. Together they launched and began to co-convene the Frontera Welcome Coalition to support and strengthen the work of the Annunciation House, a local organization run by volunteers that has provided shelter, clothing, food, and other necessities for thousands of immigrants and refugees along the U.S.-Mexico border, for the last forty years. Like most organizations, Annunciation House needed additional support due to the pandemic.

The Frontera Welcome Coalition has more than 100 members with individuals representing nonprofits, faith-based groups, and national and international leaders. The goal for the Frontera Coalition is to be “as prepared as possible to welcome new families,” said Lorey Gonzales-Flores, community outreach coordinator at El Paso’s Office of New Americans. Members of the coalition identify and assess the gaps in services and resources that hinder integration in the region. Thus far, the Frontera Welcome Coalition has assisted the Annunciation House in recruiting volunteers; providing transportation to families and individuals, coordinating donation and food drives, and forming working groups to ensure shelter providers have enough resources to welcome families. The work of the coalition has recently expanded to include advocacy on the Title 42 Expulsion Policy, the dwindling of the Migrant Protection Protocol and engaging with the Biden administration to emphasize the communities’ commitment to welcome newcomers. Lastly, the Frontera Welcome Coalition created the Bienvenidos 2.0 Welcoming Plan to prepare communities to welcome and integrate asylum seekers and migrants throughout the region. “Marisa Limón Garza and Hannah Hollandbyrd at Hope Border Institute are subject matter experts and because they have an extensive history doing advocacy and on-the-ground work, we have collaborated in facilitating discussions for the group. [We are] truly grateful to be able to work alongside them and learn from them,” said Gonzales-Flores.

In addition to supporting local organizations, the ONA is in the process of creating El Paso’s Welcoming Strategic Plan, a countywide plan that will offer transparency to communities and highlight the mission of the Office of New Americans. It will gather feedback from the community and include short and long-term goals with plans of action. “In reaching out to other [Offices of New Americans and Offices of Immigrant Affairs] throughout the nation, we compiled a list of programs and initiatives to be implemented. The plan will help El Paso be inclusive and integrate new residents from around the world into the social fabric of our county,” said Gonzales-Flores. The ONA intends to work alongside nonprofits, various county departments and national organizations. They are preparing to apply for the Gateways for Growth Grant, a competitive grant that offers grantees with customized reports of their community, technical assistance, and monetary support. The ONA also hopes to utilize CLINIC’s Immigrant Integration Surveys once they are ready to engage community members. Although the Welcoming Strategic Plan is still forthcoming, it will include recommendations that have been successful in other communities, such as: a countywide language access plan that will facilitate communication between people who have limited English proficiency; a community or municipal ID that immigrants can easily obtain; scholarships to cover fees for the USCIS N-400 and DACA applications; citizenship and naturalization clinics; a collaboration with VERA to create a legal defense fund to help support legal service providers; and cafecito with an officer to build trust between the community and local law enforcement. Lastly, the ONA intends to promote access to services and civic engagement by bringing awareness and education to how the city and county functions and the services offered.

Gonzales-Flores’ recommends that elected leaders interested in promoting integration create an office dedicated to supporting immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the community. “Having such an office [of New Americans] with the city or county will remind elected officials and administrations of being intentional with policy that is inclusive and welcoming,” said Gonzales-Flores. “Immigrants should not be an afterthought but because they are present and part of our community, they should be part of the planning process.” “Many Offices of New Americans and Offices of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs stay in constant contact and bounce ideas for implementation off each other,” she added. “These ideas for programs and initiatives begin to pile up and becomes overwhelming especially for new offices BUT you are also reminded that you are not alone. In my experience, other ONA/OIRAS are ready to provide guidance, national programs are ready to provide technical assistance, and many local NGOs are ready to support…I just remember to, do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

CLINIC applauds the County of El Paso Office of New Americans, the Hope Border Institute and its coalition of allies and advocates in promoting an integrated region along the U.S.-Mexico border!
 

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RIS Staff Attorney (Supervisory)

Summary Description:

The Staff Attorney has responsibility for providing direct legal immigration services to dioceses and religious institutes sponsoring foreign born religious workers; upholding a high level of legal responsibility in analyzing and applying complex immigration law and policy; developing, maintaining, and managing attorney client relationships; assisting the section to develop priorities and strategies to fulfill its mission; maintaining client data in LawLogix; supervising paralegal; and maintaining expertise on religious immigration law.

Primary Responsibilities:

Legal Representation

  • Represent approximately 150-175 individual cases before Department of Homeland Security and Department of State.
  • Provide accurate and comprehensive legal advice to dioceses and religious institutes on immigration options for individuals they are sponsoring and how immigration regulations impact the dioceses and religious institutes.
  • Provide accurate and comprehensive legal advice to foreign nationals for long-term planning on immigration status, nonimmigrant status, travel issues, permanent residence, and naturalization.
  • Maintain a broad knowledge and understanding of U.S. immigration law and be informed about changes in immigration regulations and policies.
  • Exercise independent legal judgment and discretion in clients’ work.
  • Prepare and provide strategic planning to dioceses and religious institutes to assist them in complying with immigration regulations.
  • Analyze complex legal issues with long-term implications.
  • Analyze individual’s immigration documents and organization’s qualifying documents.
  • Review client’s immigration history and background.
  • Develop strategies tailored to individual cases which impact major life decisions.
  • Communicate and consult daily on immigration matters with clients and potential clients.
  • Respond daily to email, phone calls, faxes, etc. from clients.

Case Management

  • Manage cases from the initial non-immigrant stage through permanent residence and naturalization.
  • Maintain expertise in managing caseload through the Section’s case management software, LawLogix.
  • Update LawLogix on a daily basis with case notes, reminders, call-ups, and new documents.
  • Regular review of all active files to ensure compliance with immigration law, current information and documents, and to determine immediate or future action.
  • Prepare monthly case reports for RIS Director.
  • Participate in weekly case management meetings.
  • Advise clients on record keeping and strategic planning for immigration purposes.
  • Maintain client confidentiality in providing dual representation for dioceses/religious communities and religious workers.

Advocacy

  • Work with CLINIC’s Advocacy Section to develop priorities and strategies for advocacy.
  • Provide Advocacy Section with compelling stories of religious worker cases.
  • Work with Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to assist with individual advocacy of specific cases.
  • Contact members of Congress on individual constituent cases.
  • Respond to government regulations affecting religious worker cases.

Supervisory Duties

  • Direct supervisor for RIS paralegal.
  • Provide guidance on case preparation, legal standards, ethical issues, and client communication.
  • Review leave requests. Granting or denying leave in accordance with CLINIC and/or section guidelines.
  • Performing yearly performance evaluation of paralegal with guidance on matters such as areas of improvement and professional development.
  • Review cases prepared by paralegal and provide feedback for improvement

Training and Technical Assistance

  • Prepare and provide trainings for staff of dioceses and religious institutes, through seminars, workshops, and webinars.
  • Prepare and or contribute to a quarterly newsletter and pamphlets on religious immigration issues to inform clients on religious immigration issues.

Outreach and Development of Organizational Clients

  • Promote on-site and web-based consultations for religious institutes, dioceses and seminaries to review their policies and procedures on religious immigration cases and help them establish appropriate internal procedures regarding foreign-born religious workers.
  • As assigned, accept opportunities to speak at conferences held by religious institutes, dioceses and seminaries.
  • As assigned, writes articles and participates in seminars on religious immigration issues sponsored by other organizations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

  • Juris Doctor Degree
  • One to three years of immigration law practice
  • Member in good standing of the Bar of the highest court in any State or the District of Columbia
  • In-depth knowledge of immigration law
  • Strong legal analytical skills
  • Able to successfully make recommendations that affect the entire Section and, on occasion, the entire organization
  • Ability to travel on occasion for trainings, site visits, and conferences
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Able to multi-task and manage priorities
  • Experience using LawLogix or other online case management software
  • Strong organization skills
  • Demonstrate knowledge of and support the organizations mission, vision, value statements, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior
  • Fulfill CLINIC’s expectations that all staff abide by the following Organization Behaviors
    • Serve with integrity
    • Develop innovative solutions
    • Promote learning – for themselves, for their colleagues, and for our network
    • Cultivate constructive relationships
    • Model stewardship
    • Maintain a positive attitude
    • Exhibit leadership skills and initiative
    • Communicate effectively
    • Own your work
    • Teamwork and cooperation with colleagues
    • Resolves conflicts effectively and makes effective decisions

Work Environment:

  • This position may require extended periods of standing, sitting, as well as some repetitive movements, bending and repetitive lifting of significant weight.
  • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the key components and primary responsibilities.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Commitment:

CLINIC considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, family responsibilities, religion, age, disability, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. CLINIC also provides “reasonable accommodations” to qualified individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. All interested individuals, regardless of background, are encouraged to apply.

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

PLEASE SEND RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO CAREERS@CLINICLEGAL.ORG

This position is REMOTE until COVID restrictions have been lifted. You will then be required to report to work in the Silver Spring, MD office.

Closing Date

Employment Type

CLINIC

Employment Level

Job

Hours

Full Time

Classification

Non-Exempt

Reports To

Managing Attorney, RIS

Position

RIS Staff Attorney (Supervisory)

Organization

The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

Job Location

Silver Spring, MD 20910
United States