Dear Friends,

May has been a busy and exciting month for Just Neighbors….. please read on!

Client Story for this Month

We recently helped a woman from Mexico in our Herndon office at Floris United Methodist Church.  She had left Mexico 6 years ago to come to the U.S., and had gotten into an abusive marriage.  We were able to get a green card for her (because a U.S. citizen husband abused her & and because she had entered the U.S. with proper documents); and with that approval she got a visa for her son in Mexico.  She had left him as an infant with the hope of bringing him to the loving home of a stepfather in a short time.  She came back to our office last week for copies of her paperwork because she was returning to Mexico to see her son for Mother's Day.  She hasn't seen him in six years and hopes she can get the U.S. embassy there to issue his visa.
 
When she stopped by last week, she was ecstatic to learn of a home health aide job training program that also runs out of Floris UMC by an organization called GRACE Ministries.  She has signed up for the next course. 

If she didn't have neighbors here reaching out to her, she'd still be in hiding from the husband who should have treated her humanely and who should have petitioned for her immigration benefits.
--Allison Rutland Soulen, Director of Legal Services

Did You Know?
In 2005, Just Neighbors handled 646 cases.  This represents 523 clients from 84 countries!  Visit “Our Clients” at www.justneighbors.org to see more information.  We are grateful and proud to be able to work with the community to assist so many people from around the world.
 
Fundraising News
Just Neighbors has been awarded a General Advance (#803002), which is an official channel for designated giving within the United Methodist Church. The Advance is called designated giving because it is a way for individuals, church groups, congregations, districts, and annual conferences to select specific ministries to support voluntarily.  As a General Advance, Just Neighbors is authorized to seek voluntary contributions (up to the approved Advance asking amount) from across the United Methodist Church.
Holland & Knight LLP in Washington, DC donated $1,000 as we begin partnering with the law firm to provide meaningful pro bono opportunities.

Just Neighbors received a $5,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to support our efforts to assist immigrants in situations of domestic violence.  We are appreciative of Verizon’s generosity and support of our mission.

Volunteer News
Just Neighbors would like to recognize Priscilla North as our Volunteer of the Month for May.  Pris, an attorney who recently moved to the area, has devoted 30 hours per week since March to Just Neighbors meeting with clients, closing client files, organizing events, and much more.  As a thank you, Pris will receive a $50 gift certificate to Lebanese Taverna, a popular restaurant in the area that will generously be giving such gifts to a deserving Just Neighbors volunteer each month.

Our Domestic Violence Work
Just Neighbors is always searching for ways to assist low-income immigrants and their families to successfully navigate the complex United States immigration system.  In 2005, Just Neighbors gained a valuable tool.  Through a Virginia Domestic Violence Victim Fund monetary grant, our office has been able to provide advice, legal representation, outreach, and education to low-income immigrants in northern Virginia that suffer from domestic violence, including immigrant children. 
 
Using a piece of Congressional legislation called the Violence Against Women Act as well as provisions within immigration law, Just Neighbors is able help low-income immigrants that have suffered physical and/or extreme mental cruelty attain legal status in the United States without having to remain with or rely on their abuser.  Abused spouses that are or were married to a United States citizen or permanent residence (green card) holder are able to petition the government themselves for a permanent resident card as long as the abused spouse fulfills certain requirements such as demonstrating that abuse occurred during the marriage as well as that the abused immigrant married his/her spouse in "good faith" and not for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits.  The law also protects child immigrants of United States citizen or permanent legal resident abusers. 
 
In addition, Just Neighbors uses legislation and laws providing protected legal status to those that assist law enforcement and/or prosecutors with their criminal investigations to help those domestic violence victims in situations where the abuser is not a United States citizen or permanent legal resident.  Under the U visa interim (temporary) relief immigration law provisions, immigrant victims and possibly their children can apply to be given U interim visas which provides protected temporary status and work authorization as long as a law enforcement official certifies that the victim was helpful to the investigation and/or prosecution of the law-breaker and the victim can document their experience and show a need for work authorization.  As the regulations for this program have not been yet completed by the United States Immigration and Citizenship Service, there is not yet a provision providing these U visa recipients with a permanent status in the United States.  However, it is hoped that in the future, those that receive a U visa will eventually be permitted to apply for a green card.
 
Using these legal tools, Just Neighbors staff is able to assist clients and their children by evaluating their eligibility for the program, obtaining necessary documents and completing the necessary immigration forms to apply for legal immigration status.  Through the grant from the Virginia Domestic Violence Victim Fund, Just Neighbors has been able to reach out and educate low-income immigrants on their legal rights as well through partnerships with domestic violence shelters, government entities, and social service providers.  This unique combination of outreach, education and legal representation has enabled Just Neighbors to provide hope and empowerment to those immigrants that seek to escape the torment of their abusers.  For further information, please contact Just Neighbors.
--Pallavi Rai, Staff Attorney

As always, know that contributions from supporters like you enable us to keep our doors open to low-income immigrants in need of legal services.  Please consider making a tax-deductible donation via check or online at www.justneighbors.org.  Thank you!

Sincerely,
Rob