Backup — original pdf

Backup

OUR WORK IN 2023 African American Resource Advisory Commission 03/05/2024 WHO ARE WE? Serving the Austin community for over 30 years - since 1987 Originally known as the Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA) 501(C)(3) non-profit Providing immigration legal services, advocacy, and education OUR LEGAL SERVICES... Legal Representation ● Survivors of crime & family violence ● Asylum ● DACA ● Family-based Immigration ● Deportation defense ● Coordination of pro bono representation Pro Se representation ● Translations ● Legal orientation at detention centers & Immigration Court ● Legal clinics & workshops Outreach ● Community education for immigrant community & service providers 12,000+ We served over 12,000 individuals in 2023 with legal services. $1,100,000+ Over $1,100,000 worth of volunteer and pro bono attorney hours leveraged to assist our clients Legal Pro Se Assistance Program - Pro Se I-589 The goal is to complete 48 asylum applications, improving or protecting their immigration status and/or ensuring their right to obtain or maintain employment authorization. ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHAT WE DO Assist individuals with specific legal needs Service any upcoming court appearance or deadline and that can be done with Pro Se Legal Assistance rather than full legal representation. Assist individuals in Removal Proceedings who have Notices to Appear Help those with time-sensitive deadlines for filing applications and forms so they are able to meet deadlines and become eligible for benefits, such as work permits. EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSES IN 2023 ❏ Green card granted to Eritrean national based on marriage to USC spouse. ❏ Juvenile Visa granted (SIJS) to 13-year-old Guatemalan child ❏ Asylum granted to politically active Cameroonian national ❏ Asylum granted to politically active Haitian national ❏ Asylum granted to politically active Venezuelan national ❏ 5-year-old entered on consular processing national Salvadoran immigrant visa after ❏ Many cases of work authorization granted, proceedings removal dismissed, and deferred action for victims of crime granted CITIZENSHIP CLINICS In 2023, our staff took on over 1,000 new cases We represented a family unit that fled the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. In DRC, the family suffered horrific harm on account of their political opinion. The father was stabbed and left for dead. They fled to Angola but the daughter suffered harm there. They then fled to the U.S. where the family unit was granted asylum. Jojo was persecuted in his home country after speaking out against a corrupt politician. He traveled through many countries to arrive in the U.S., facing even further danger. After being detained for eight months, he was released to Casa Marianella, an Austin shelter for refugees. There, he learned about American Gateways. He worked with an American Gateways attorney for six years before finally winning asylum. He now owns two businesses in the U.S. and is building a prosperous life. Thank you for your partnership!