During my internship at Just Neighbors, I had the opportunity to assist two Lawyer in the Library events at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore City. I supported individuals and families by helping them fill out a general demographic questionnaire in both English and Spanish before they had their meeting with the attorney. I also served as the first point of contact for those who attended the event, which meant I was the first person they interacted with in a potentially overwhelming situation. I quickly realized it was important for me to create a welcoming and calm environment for the attendees who may have been nervous or unsure of what to expect. After completing these questions, I was able to observe the meeting between the attorney and the Baltimore residents to learn more about why they came to speak to an immigration attorney.
There were several people from different backgrounds who came to talk to the attorney, but one thing stood the same: they all dreamed of a future where they would prosper in the United States. Their dreams included those of a sixteen-year-old girl, who spent twelve years of her life living and going to school in the US. She came to ask for an explanation of DACA and if she would be eligible to apply. Unfortunately, she wasn’t even born early enough to meet the 2007 residency requirement to qualify for DACA. Her story lingered with me because she spent the majority of her life in the United States, yet she could not gain the protections she was hoping for. Many asylum seekers also came to ask questions about the application process and where they can find affordable representation. Due to the high demand for immigration legal services, after getting their initial questions answered, they were only able to receive a list of different nonprofits in the area where they could join a waitlist or a list of private attorneys whom they would need to pay out of pocket for.
Many of these cases sat close to home for me. Both of my parents are immigrants from Peru and had very distinct means of becoming United States citizens. However, they both navigated a difficult system on their own, with little guidance from any immigration attorney. The resources that Just Neighbors provides through their Lawyer in the Library events are one of a kind. Although they cannot represent everyone, their presence in the community serves as a vital first step for many who have questions about the immigration process. I am grateful to have played a small role in this process and will carry these stories with me as I continue my journey in public service.
Andrea Quispe is a rising senior at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and was a Maryland Public Service Scholar placed at Just Neighbors this summer.