This fall, Just Neighbors celebrates its 15 Year Anniversary. We are grateful to the countless supporters and volunteers who have enabled us to serve over 5,000 immigrants throughout Northern Virginia. We have come a long way since our beginnings in a small room at Culmore United Methodist Church, and we are reminded daily by callers seeking help that our services remain as vital as ever. Stay tuned for celebratory events in the months ahead as we aim to meet the growing need for immigration legal services among our immigrant neighbors.
Client Story
As we reflect back on our fifteen year history, we would like to share a bit of our past with you. In doing some spring cleaning, we came across several files of "detention letters" handwritten by immigrant detainees throughout Virginia in 2001. Ten years ago, Just Neighbors received many such letters because we were on a list of providers who could serve immigrants who had been detained for various reasons. These letters, and the meticulous responses given by a Just Neighbors staff attorney, provide a sobering glimpse into the frustrations and challenges of immigrants who found themselves detained. Here are some excerpts:
November 2001: I am in the Piedmont Jail. I have been here since October 16 and I haven't seen nor talk to nobody. I have put in numerous request to find out my status or talk to someone that will advise me on my options. I just want to know something or talk to someone. I was born in Jamaica and I have Canadian citizenship.
I wanted to be deported to Canada but the prosecuter wants me deported to Jamaica. I didn't have my Canadian citizenship papers to prove so they wanted to deport me to Jamaica. Please if you can help assist me going to court I will be deeply appreciate it. After doing 1 1/2 years I am dying to be free with my family.
Just Neighbors response: I'm assuming from your letter that you have already seen the Immigration Judge and he ordered you deported to Jamaica because you didn't have any proof of your Canadian citizenship at that time. Did the INS have proof that you were a Jamaican citizen? Have they tried to contact the Jamaican embassy to verify that you are Jamaican?... If you would let me know the answers to the above questions, that would be great. In the meantime, I'll see what I can find ouf from INS.
December 2001: I left Nigeria when I have a problem with some people who want to take away my life. When I arrived at the airport Immigration picked me up and I told them that I wanted asylum. I told Immigration everything that happened to me in Nigeria, then they took me to jail, since five months I have been in jail nobody among my friends has come to visit me. I got a lawyer who was able to fight for me, but I got a bail of $2,500...and I need a place to stay when I go out....
Just Neighbors response: I am glad to hear that you have a lawyer to help you with your case. Unfortunately I do not have the money to pay your bond and I can't offer you a place to stay because our organization only does legal work...
December 2001: I am currently incarcerated as a detainee for immigration at the Piedmont Jail, and I entered into the United States approx. 4 months ago, running from the government of my country. They took the lives of both my parents and currently I am applying for political asylum to reside in the states and I need help obtaining information on the political condition of my country to support my case...
Just Neighbors response: I have enclosed some information about Eritrea. I have also enclosed a packet that describes who is eligible for asylum and how to prepare your application on your own if you do not have a lawyer to help you. I wish you the best of luck.
Over the past fifteen years, Just Neighbors has strived to take on immigration cases based largely on the community needs at the time, filling in service gaps as possible. Thankfully, there is now another organization, the CAIR Coalition, that focuses on sending attorneys to detention centers to assist with detained immigrants, so Just Neighbors refers these clients to CAIR. Our work has shifted to focus on volunteer-friendly cases that focus on bringing about family unification, serving victims of crimes (including domestic violence), and assisting with authorization to work.
Around the Office
Just Neighbors is proud to announce a new collaborative with The Women's Center, whose mission is to "improve significantly the psychological, career, financial, and legal wellbeing of women and families." A Counselor from The Women's Center, Claudia Sanchez, has begun coming to our office each week to meet with Just Neighbors clients who have self-identified as wanting free counseling services. This counseling will improve our clients' wellbeing, as many have been victims of domestic violence or other crimes, or have suffered intense hardships as refugees or asylees. In addition, Claudia can directly impact their immigration cases by providing evidence of psychological abuse through her written expert evaluations.
Claudia received her Bachelor's in Psychology at George Mason University and completed her Master's in Counseling at Marymount University. She is a Chilean-American who has enjoyed putting her Spanish skills to use at our office.
Claudia Sanchez
Just Neighbors is grateful for a strong group of five summer interns, including three law school students and two recent college graduates. We are enjoying the youthfulness and energy that the interns bring. As in years past, Just Neighbors will take a hiatus from its community clinics during July and August and instead conduct all of its client intakes during office hours, thanks largely to our law school interns who each maintain a caseload with the supervision of staff attorneys.
Volunteer of the Month
Mariapaz del Rio, a native of Chile who has lived in the area for twenty years, has assisted at Just Neighbors' community clinics in Falls Church since January. Like many of our clinic volunteers, she has proven invaluable at helping serve our clients despite no formal training in immigration law. Mariapaz has worked with several clients in English and Spanish, diligently asking the questions on our interview forms, taking thorough notes, and sharing the information with our staff attorneys who can then advise the clients. Mariapaz says "I love helping people solve their problems, and I always try hard to do it well." A part-time Spanish instructor, Mariapaz is seeking full-time employment.
Client Note
One of our clients emailed this note to her Volunteer Attorney at Just Neighbors after we helped her reunite with her teenage children that she had not seen in years:
Hello, I want to share my happiness to all of you thanks to the chance you gave me to bring my children from Guatemala. I register them for a soccer league here which has bear much fruit. Thanks to Just Neighbors my children and I are very happy. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help. Thanks a million. May God bless you.
Show your support for Just Neighbors by clicking the Facebook Like button on our homepage at www.justneighbors.org.
