Client Story

Sitting in the courtroom, surrounded by one hundred family and friends, Amir focused only on his son.  His son had cared from him after his car accident in Iran, the car accident that had left him disabled.  His son continued to lead the family as they fled religious persecution in Iran to seek safety in the United States.  Family and friends were there in the courtroom because Arash had been so helpful, so friendly to everyone; he helped find jobs; he helped find medical care; he had always been such a nice, friendly, outgoing boy.  “Here I am in a strange land; I speak no English; I cannot walk well; I will be 80 next year;  Arash cares for me and for his mother; he got us safely out of Iran.  And now what is to become of him?  What is to become of me?”

Nine months earlier, the police had come to the apartment and arrested Arash.  The police had papers, but Arash could not understand the papers or the police.  The officer who placed the handcuffs on him was kind, explaining exactly what she was doing.  But Arash, in his late twenties, was bewildered.  Arash’s parents were scared.

Arash was taken to jail.  At the court hearing, there was a Farsi interpreter.  Arash learned that he was accused of very bad crimes involving a neighbor’s child.

Arash called his parents from the jail.  “Do not worry,” he consoled them, “this is a high-tech country; I am innocent; they will know that I am innocent in a few days, and I will come back home.”

But the days passed, and Arash was not released.  The prosecuting attorney asked the Judge to deny bail, explaining that because Arash was a refugee here, he had no roots in the United States and would flee if released from jail.  The prosecutor and the Judge did not know that all of Arash’s family was here in the United States and that he felt so very fortunate to be here. 

Arash called his parents from the jail every day.  They cried.  They told him they did not understand.  Arash continued to be optimistic for them, but his attorney told him that the charges against him could send him to prison for life.

Arash knew he needed a good attorney.  He and his family decided they needed to hire a new attorney.  The friends and family that Arash had helped over the years now stepped forward to help him.  They loaned him the $50,000 the criminal defense attorney charged.

After seven months, the DNA test came back – negative as expected.  The defense attorney began to explore the case more fully.  Problems with the investigation by the detective came to light.  The attorney also learned that Arash was the third man to be accused by the parents of the child. 

Life in jail was not happy.   Arash could not see the sunlight.   Arash awoke one night to see his cellmate swinging a large box at him.  Arash remembers a flash of light and then nothing until he awoke in the hospital.  He had been beaten almost to death.   He was kept in the hospital a long time, and then in a small recovery room in the jail.  At other times he was held in a room with 10 other men, a toilet in one corner and a shower in another.  His English improved rapidly.

Arash remained optimistic that the truth would set him free.  He also believed that the government would help him out once he was proved innocent.   He hoped that funds would be given to repay him for the defense attorney. 

At court, the Judge said he had never seen anything like this case; the Judge did not understand how the case could have come to trial.  The defense attorney said he’d never seen so many family and friends coming to support the defendant.   The Judge found Arash not guilty on any of the charges.  There was such cheering and rejoicing in the classroom that the Judge had to ask them to be quiet.

Amir sat quietly amidst the hub-bub, as tears of joy and hope trickled down his cheeks.  His son would soon be coming home.

The family and friends gathered outside the jail.  An officer stepped out and said, “I’m sorry, but we cannot release him tonight.  Please come back tomorrow.  We know that he is supposed to be released.”  They all came back.

Arash had arrived in the United States in 2005, as a refugee with his parents and younger brother.  In 2006, he applied for his green card, just as he was supposed to do.  Then in 2007 came the arrest.  Immigration placed his application on hold, waiting to see what would happen with the charges.  In 2009, the application now back on track, Arash had an interview.  Immigration could not understand the criminal charges, and denied his application for a green card.

Arash called Just Neighbors, and we have the record of what he told us.  He said, “Right now, all of my family has received green cards except me – they received them two years ago.  Immigration dropped my case because I had a terrible experience.”  He explained that he had spent nine months in jail.  He was released and started processing his green card again, and Immigration told him his fingerprints were expired and he had to come again and get fingerprints.  He did it again, got a few letters, and then Immigration asked him for paperwork from his criminal lawyer and from criminal court to make sure he had no more court and was acquitted.  He brought them the paperwork.  Immigration sent him another letter that said he was not eligible for the green card because he still needed more paperwork.  He went to Immigration and asked, “I’m trying to provide you what you want, what do you need from me.?“  He took his social worker with him, who spoke with them.  Immigration said, okay, fine, you can apply again, and you’ll have to pay again, and we’ll start processing your case again.  “I am currently in a bad situation,” Arash continued, “my father is disabled and my mother is sick; I have to take care of my parents and I do not have enough money to pay for the green card.  I am really struggling.  I would appreciate any possible help. “

Just Neighbors met with Arash at one of our Tuesday evening clinics.  Volunteers conducted his intake.  Another volunteer attorney went to the court several times to get all of the appropriate paperwork.  Administrative mistakes had been made in the charges, so it was not easy to see that Arash had either been found not guilty or the charge had been dropped.  The volunteer attorney wrote up a detailed explanation, stating that Arash’s “arrest and subsequent acquittal involved a lengthy and somewhat confusing trail of criminal court records, which we will attempt to clarify.” 

Arash was scheduled for an interview in April, 2010.  He was nervous.  He stayed up the night before, praying. 

At the interview with Immigration, he explained his ordeal to the Officer.  The Immigration Officer said, “I’m sorry.”  “I’m sorry for all that you have been through.  But you found the right people to help you, and I will approve your green card.” 

Arash found the right people at Just Neighbors, where committed volunteers and experienced attorneys worked to end his ordeal.  Arash is still repaying his family and friends.  But he is married now, very happily married.  His parents are alive and Arash and his wife live with them and take care of them.

Amir gives thanks daily that Arash has returned home.

Volunteer of the Month

Carlos Dimas ingratiated himself early to Just Neighbors.  After learning about our work through our Mennonite Service Worker Nancy Sharpe, Carlos and his wife offered to cook lunch for the staff and volunteers one day!  After 15 of us enjoyed the feast together, Carlos wanted to become more involved in our work so that he could better understand the needs of the immigrant community. Carlos is the Area Director for South Arlington Young Life and has made time to assist regularly at Just Neighbors.  His enthusiasm and cheerful spirit make Carlos a true joy to be around.  Thank you Carlos!

In the month ahead, Just Neighbors will undergo some significant staff transitions.  Allison Rutland Soulen, our longtime Director of Legal Services, as well as a co-founder of Just Neighbors, will be headed with her family to Scotland for 15 months. 

Allison writes:

I have passports and visas for my family and am packing my bags, reversing the footsteps of my clients AWAY from the United States.

I am grateful for Just Neighbors graciously allowing me to take a sabbatical year with my family.  I will leave  Just Neighbors at the end of June; my family will spend the academic year in St. Andrews, Scotland and we will travel the summers of 2010 and 2011.  The hardest part about planning this adventure was deciding to leave Just Neighbors.   I love my job.  I love my clients and my colleagues and the volunteers who make Just Neighbors work.

Just Neighbors has been very accommodating of my request for leave, so my departure is only temporary.  I will be able to continue to work some remotely.  I will mentor the pro bono attorneys from law firms who work so well with our clients who experience domestic violence.  I will be able to "Skype" into staff and attorney meetings.  I will also be studying Spanish.  My re-entry in September 2011 will be easier because I will have kept in touch with changes in the office and in immigration law.  I should also be able to converse in Spanish- in a Scottish brogue.

While Allison is certainly irreplaceable, Just Neighbors will be increasing our overall staff attorney hours during her time away.  One of our immigration attorneys, Sarah Milad, will increase to full-time hours, and we have hired an additional attorney to work full-time as well who starts next month.

We also prepare to say good-bye to our fabulous Mennonite Service Worker, Nancy Sharpe, who will leave at the end of June after two years of service as our Legal Assistant.  More from Nancy next month.