A Mother’s Determination: Shahenaz’s Story
Click below to watch Shahenaz tell her story
Written by Dominique Poirier, Director of Legal Services Recently, several of our Just Neighbors’ staff headed over to Dar Al-Hijrah mosque for our monthly, walk-in legal clinic where we provide immigration legal advice to any immigrant who needs assistance: One of the many wonderful social services Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center provides to needy community members …
Volunteer Spotlight: Beth Hamilton
“Beth is not only a volunteer attorney at Just Neighbors, she is a superwoman,” says Cristina Sproul, Just Neighbors staff attorney. Beth Hamilton has been that superwoman, disguised as a volunteer attorney at Just Neighbors for over five years, providing casework and going above and beyond to help clients. She is such an integral part …
Change is in the air – New Board Leadership!
Joseph A Keyes, Jr, who has served on the board since 2014 and as Board President since 2017 has rolled off the Board of Directors as of this month. Joe has been a volunteer attorney with Just Neighbors following his retirement as Chief Legal Officer at the Association of American Medical Colleges. He has been …
Statement on Treatment of Haitians at the U.S. Border
Just Neighbors condemns the deplorable treatment of Haitians seeking safety here in the U.S.: On May 22, 2021, the U.S. government redesignated Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to the political crises and the devastation still wrought by the Haitian earthquake 11 years ago. Announcing the TPS designation, DHS Secretary Mayorkas noted: “Haiti is …
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Marakira’s Journey to Becoming a U.S. Citizen
Marakira came to the United States in January 1990 from Guatemala to escape the threats of violence that she and her family were experiencing. As a single mother of three children, Marakira wanted to provide a better life for her family. She has now been in the U.S. for the last 31 years, spending most …
Volunteer Spotlight: Nancy Gonzalez
Nancy Gonzalez began volunteering with Just Neighbors in December 2019. She heard about Just Neighbors through the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia and thought volunteering would be a great way to practice her professional English skills. Originally from Venezuela, Nancy came to the United States in 2016 and has been enthusiastically learning English since then. …
Estela’s Story
Estela*, originally from El Salvador, came to the last Just Neighbors rural program clinic seeking legal assistance to see if she qualified for any immigration status. In the past, she had met with a friend of her sibling who had filled out some immigration paperwork for her. Because she did not read or write, she …
Teresa’s Courageous Journey to a Work Permit and Independence
Content Warning: This story contains descriptions of physical abuse and sexual assault. Teresa came to the US from Peru in 2000 with her 8-year-old son. A few years later she met Marco at the local mechanic shop in Arlington. They eventually exchanged numbers and began to date, but Marco was very jealous. Earlier on, he …
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Post-Inauguration Statement
Dear Neighbors, As we ended 2020, we looked to 2021 with hope. Hope that the vaccine will speed the end of the pandemic and a return to “normal.” Hope that a new administration will begin to reverse the policies that have been so damaging to immigrants and refugees. Hope that the divisiveness of the last …