ERIN MCKENNEY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Friends,
In 2023, Just Neighbors saw record growth in clients served, cases filed, calls received, clients requesting services, and unfortunately, clients referred out. What does this mean? While we continue to increase our capacity, the need for immigration legal help far exceeds our ability to provide it.
With a 27% increase in call volume (even with essentially closing intakes in December) immigrants are hitting brick walls in trying to get much needed assistance with their immigration applications. This isn’t limited to Just Neighbors. Even many private attorneys are at capacity, especially for asylum and removal defense.
There are many reasons for this problem. The backlog of cases being adjudicated by the US Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) has reached 3 million, meaning wait time for work permits, green cards and visas has, in some cases tripled from a year ago, extending wait times from months to years! This is exacerbated by the number of immigrants crossing the border fleeing war, climate change, persecution, gangs, cartels, economic collapse and more.
The Washington metropolitan area and our entire footprint spanning from Waynesboro, Virginia to Baltimore, Maryland continues to be one of the largest per capita resettlement areas for immigrants and refugees. That pattern is unlikely to change anytime soon.
We have been fortunate to rebuild our volunteer support post-pandemic, particularly our volunteer attorneys, which stretches our budget by more than 50%.
We have continued to actively advocate for issues that affect immigrants in our community on the federal, state, and local levels, pushing congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act (so far unsuccessful), supporting the establishment and/or renewal of Temporary Protected Status and championing humane border policies.
As we begin 2024 working on our new strategic plan, we recognize the need to continue growth, but that is dependent on funding. We are excited by the opportunities which lie ahead but recognize that we are dependent on the great generosity of ALL of our funders: Local, state, and federal governments, foundations, faith communities, businesses and the many individuals who have so generously supported us in the past.
We are inspired by the resilience of our clients, the commitment of our volunteers, and the generosity of our donors. We are blessed with a dedicated, passionate, outstanding staff. We look forward to helping many more of our immigrant neighbors thrive.
We are grateful for your support and look forward to another strong year.
Erin
Our Greatest Accomplishments
Just Neighbors expanded client outreach efforts, translating all communications into Spanish for language accessibility, streaming removal defense presentations on Facebook Live, connecting with immigrant communities at immigrants’ rights rallies, participating in advocacy days, and more.
Just Neighbors significantly expanded the legal clinic program across Virginia, Maryland, and DC to continue meeting the high demand for advice and counsel consultations, hosting a total of 44 legal clinics throughout our footprint.
As more states impose anti-immigrant legislation, the Just Neighbors community advocated for immigrants’ rights on the local, state, and federal level to make the communities we live in (and beyond) more equitable and just for all, regardless of immigration status.
Just Neighbors formally launched medical legal partnerships in Virginia to offer immigration services at medical clinics. By partnering with local clinics that serve the uninsured, Just Neighbors helps address a social determinant of health - even helping some discover a pathway to status that they believed didn’t exist for them.
The Immigrants We Serve and Their Stories
In 2023, 2,588 immigrant families asked for our assistance - a 27% increase from 2022. Of those, we were only able to provide immigration legal services to 17% of the people who need it. Each person and their family has a unique immigration journey, and we are proud to have assisted them along the way.
Top 10 Countries
of Origin
El Salvador
Honduras
Mexico
Guatemala
Afghanistan
Cuba
Bolivia
Cameroon
China
Ethiopia
TYPES OF HUMANITARIAN CASES
By focusing on humanitarian cases, Just Neighbors staff attorneys and volunteers serve the community's most vulnerable immigrants. Our clients are:
- Refugees and asylees
- Survivors of domestic violence and violent crimes
- DREAMers (immigrants brought to the U.S. as children)
- Those issued Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to armed conflict or natural disasters in their homelands
- Families seeking general advice about their status
- Trafficking victims
MARYLAND
17% live in Maryland
VIRGINIA
52% live in Northern Virginia
30% live in Rural Virginia
WASHINGTON D.C.
1% live in Washington D.C.
Success at Just Neighbors Means Success for Immigrants
Click on each photo to learn more about the stories of some of the people who took their immigration journeys with Just Neighbors in 2023.
WHAT DO JUST NEIGHBORS CLIENTS SAY?
We can spend all day telling you about Just Neighbors and how we think we're positively impacting our clients. Instead, see what they have to say about their own experiences.
I was able to travel to my home country and see my family that I hadn’t seen in over 30 years! Getting my green card renewed to travel had a big impact in my life. Thanks so much!
Everyone is awesome and I’m really grateful I was recommended to reach out to you guys. I am a better person today because I wasn’t alone during my darkest days, I had you.
With you, I was able to fix part of my status and thanks to your work and especially to my lawyer I now have a work permit and hopefully, if God wants, residency.
It is a blessing to have you as help in our immigrant community immigrant as family... thank you for existing. May God bless you always and all your work.
I do not have enough words to say how wonderful Just Neighbors is. Everyone was wonderful in helping me. I’m so happy.
When I started with Just Neighbors in 2019, I didn't know anything about U.S. law. I had three lawyers who helped me. Now I can get a job like anybody else, take any job. That has a big effect on me.
We Love Our Volunteers!
Without our volunteers, Just Neighbors would not be able to serve as many immigrant families as we do every year. In fact, they helped to extend our budget by more than 50%! The incredible generosity of our team of 268 volunteers helps to answer every single request for assistance we receive to make sure every single person leaves Just Neighbors with more resources than before. Without them, we would not have the same impact. We cannot thank them enough for their time! We truly appreciate each and every one of you!
How This is Made Possible
We truly wouldn't be able to serve as many immigrants and their families without generous donors, foundations, faith communities, businesses, and government support. Thank you for your continued support!
TOTAL FUNDS RAISED IN 2023
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS
100WomenStrong
Abell Foundation
Accotink UUC
ACACIA Center for Justice
ACT for Alexandria
Alexandria Fund for Human Services
Alexandria Rotary Foundation
AmazonSmile Foundation
Annandale UWF
Arlington Community Foundation
Arlington Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development
ATA Management
Baltimore - Washington Conference of the UMC
Baltimore - Washington Conference Hispanic Latino Ministry
BASH
Bethany UWF
Centreville UWF
City of Alexandria
Clare and Don's Beach Shack
Commonwealth of Virginia
Community Foundation of Central Blue Ridge
Community Foundation of The Northern Shenandoah Valley
Crossroads UMC
Daniels Run Peace Church
Epworth UMC
Eugene & Agnes E. Meyer Foundation
Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
Fairfax Department of Human Services
Fairlington UMC
Fairlington UMM
Fairlington UWF
Faith Lutheran Church
Faith UMC
First Christian Church
Friendship UMC
Gannett Foundation
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
Immigration Law & Justice Network
Kathleen & Eddie Hearts of Love Fund
Kiwanis Club of Alexandria
Leesburg UWF
Loudoun County
Maryland Bar Foundation
Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
Maryland State Bar Association
Mason Hirst Foundation
Meyer Foundation
Montgomery County
Morrison & Foerster Foundation
Mount Olivet Foundation
Mount Olivet UMC
Northern Piedmont Community Foundation
NOVA District Conference of the UMC
NOVA Catholic Community
PATH Foundation
Paxton Memorial Trust (BENEFIT)
Philip L. Graham Fund
Potomac Health Foundation
Presbyterian Church USA
Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church
Rita Susswein Gottesman Fund
Rock Spring Congregational UCC
Sentara Cares
Severna Park UMC
Seward Group of TTR | Sotheby's
Shenandoah River District of the UMC
St. Anne's Episcopal Church
St. John Neumann Church
St. Mark Catholic Church
St. Mary of Sorrows
STRADA Education Network
The Closet of the Greater Herndon Area
The CO3 Fund
The Kresge Foundation
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
United Christian Parish of Reston
United Way of the National Capital Area
United Way of the Northern Shenandoah Valley
Vera Institute of Justice
Virginia Department of Justice
Virginia Department of Social Services
Virginia United Methodist Foundation
Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community
Virts Miller Foundation
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Meet the Team
At the heart of Just Neighbors is a team of twelve board members, ten attorneys, six administrators, and one client advocate. This team has moved mountains for countless families, changing Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia for the better one immigration case at a time. We are endlessly grateful for each person's hard work, dedication, and compassion. Thank you for being a part of Just Neighbors!
Staff
Beth Hamilton
Immigration Attorney of Northern Virginia
Dominique Poirier
Director of Legal Services
Allison Rothschild
Immigration Attorney DC & MD
Cristina Sproul
Managing Attorney of Northern Virginia
