JAMLAC Migrant Legal Aid Informational Clinics
JAMLAC has teamed up with other organizations and coordinated immediate legal aid orientations and Know-Your-Rights presentations to the migrants arriving in Denver. We did 3 clinics the past weeks serving over 500 migrants. One clinic was held in the rec center where migrants are being sheltered and the other two clinics were held at near by libraries. We have 5 more scheduled.
“The response from the legal community has been amazing. A father of one of the volunteer attorneys came here for the holidays and ended up being one of our translators. Some attorneys have been doing group sessions; others are even bringing paralegals from their private firms to help. But as you know, there is still lots to do, and we’re continuing to engage volunteers to serve during these upcoming weeks!” – Nikki Koster, JAMLAC’s Development Director.
The most significant need is for attorneys willing to meet with migrants one-on-one to answer their basic legal questions at clinics—these are limited-scope legal orientations. We have found that most of the questions involve basic information about the process of asylum, definitions of legal terms, where to find forms, questions about documents, and working in the United States.
We are grateful to be working in partnership with Colorado Immigrant Justice Fund, Colorado Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AIILA) Rapid Response Subcommittee, City of Denver Office Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center (RMAIN), Catholic Charities of Denver, Colorado Bar Association and hopefully others in the future.