Dear Friends,

Just Neighbors has had a busy June.  Thanks to the help of our three summer interns, we have been meeting with many immigrants, refugees, and asylees this month so that we can submit their applications to Immigration before July 30th, when Immigration fees will increase.  Below are some highlights from the month.

Client Story
By Volunteer Pat Onufrak
 
“WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”

Those are the first words that our clients read on the notice from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announcing that they have been approved for permanent residence status. But for Mr. Habib, these words meant much, much more.

Mr. Habib, an engineer from Tunisia, arrived in the U.S. on a visitor’s visa in 1997. He applied for and was granted asylum in 2004. While in the U.S., he suffered a great misfortune. He lost his vision and is now totally blind. But he isn’t letting that stop him. Mr. Habib maintains a positive attitude and he is taking courses toward a certificate in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. His English language skills are already quite impressive; however, he continues to work with a tutor to improve his writing skills.

Just Neighbors assisted Mr. Habib in filing an application to adjust his status to that of a permanent resident. Such cases always involve teamwork ? a volunteer does the initial intake and assists the client with the necessary forms and our staff attorneys ensure that each application package is correctly completed. We often have to make calls to assist the client in getting the necessary medical records and the sometimes hard-to-get vaccination records. And in this case, when Mr. Habib called our office in a panic because of misinformation that he was given by a government official, an attorney calmed him down, explaining the law to him and giving him the correct information. And this time, there was some extra assistance ? because Mr. Habib is currently unemployed, the money for his application fees was donated by the Falls Church Community Fund.

Join us in celebrating with one of America's newest permanent residents. And as for what those words above mean to Mr. Habib? As an asylee, he did not want to risk traveling out of the country; his brother was in a similar situation in Canada. They have not seen each other in more than 20 years. Now Mr. Habib can take that much anticipated journey. Bon voyage, Mr.Habib, and welcome to America!

Get Involved

Individuals from Honduras and Nicaragua who currently have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have until July 30th to renew that status.  Just Neighbors is trying to meet with as many such clients as possible by the beginning of July to assist with their TPS renewal.  If you know of anyone who may need help, please have them call us at (703) 979-1240 to schedule an appointment.

For Just Neighbors’ domestic violence cases, it can be crucial for clients to have a psychiatric or psychological evaluation.  It is essential for the client to undergo an evaluation when he or she has experienced extreme mental cruelty or post-traumatic stress syndrome.  We would like to connect with a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist who would be willing to occasionally conduct one-time evaluations of such clients free of charge.  If you know of anyone who might be able to help, we would appreciate any contacts.  

Around the Office

Just Neighbors is thrilled to launch a new partnership with the law firm of DLA Piper in its Reston, VA office.  DLA Piper has begun taking on some domestic violence cases for clients who live in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties.  The law firm attorneys are working pro bono to assist eligible clients to apply for green cards and work permits so that they may gain legal status in the United States without dependence on an abuser.  As these cases are extremely time consuming, DLA’s involvement will ensure that clients in need will receive help expeditiously rather than spend weeks waiting until Just Neighbors can move forward on the case.

We are appreciative to Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church in Arlington and for St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Vienna for their recent donations to support our work.

We are also pleased to receive a grant from the Seay Foundation, located in Richmond, to fund one of our community clinics this fall. 

Volunteer of the Month

Just Neighbors would like to recognize Lisa Norton as our June Volunteer of the Month.  Lisa is an attorney at DLA Piper’s Reston office and has been instrumental in forging our new relationship with that firm.  Lisa first joined Just Neighbors several months ago as a volunteer at our community clinics in Herndon, and has helped recruit attorneys, paralegals, and others from DLA Piper to assist with our clients.  Thank you, Lisa, for making this new partnership possible!

Sincerely,

Rob Rutland-Brown
Executive Director