SLIDE 1
Alex R Gulotta, Executive Director Legal Aid Justice Center 1000 Preston Avenue Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-977-0553 alex@justice4all.org
What Roles Might We Play? Alex R Gulotta, Executive Director Legal - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
What Roles Might We Play? Alex R Gulotta, Executive Director Legal - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
What Roles Might We Play? Alex R Gulotta, Executive Director Legal Aid Justice Center 1000 Preston Avenue Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-977-0553 alex@justice4all.org The Landscape is Uncertain . . . Currently the exact role of LSC
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
The Landscape is Uncertain . . .
Currently the exact role of LSC programs in representing
persons impacted by CIR is uncertain.
The ability for LSC programs to participate in the areas listed
below will remain ambiguous until the final bill becomes law.
Some portion of each of the activities listed below likely will be
permissible, at least with regard to the subset of individuals eligible for LSC funded services.
Once the bill is final we should work with NLADA to help define
the permissible parameters of our work.
Your board may need to review or revise priorities to allow for
this representation.
SLIDE 4
SLIDE 5
What will CIR look like?
Status is uncertain; something, sometime?!
- S. 744 is the Senate version
NILC has decent summaries http://www.nilc.org/irsenateS744faq.html http://www.nilc.org/s744goodbadtable.html
SLIDE 6
SLIDE 7
SLIDE 8
SLIDE 9
As A Convener . . .
Most work in the area of CIR is likely to be regional or statewide
with a number of interested providers.
Due to the legal nature of the work needed to implement CIR,
and the fact that we are part of statewide justice communities, we are uniquely positioned to exercise a leadership role in CIR implementation efforts.
Coalitions need coordination – a conference bridge, a listserv, a
person‐in‐charge, a cat herder – and we can play that role particularly if we are connected to the communities impacted.
SLIDE 10
SLIDE 11
As A Trainer of Trainers . . .
As CIR unfolds, there will be a huge need to interpret and
simplify the parameters of the law for other service providers and for the affected communities.
Information from the national sources (NILC, etc.) will need to
be personalized to your region or state and linked to the available resources.
As new guidance is released, we can take charge of digesting it
and pushing it out to our partners in the coalition.
We can develop best practices and a system for distributing
them to our community partners.
SLIDE 12
SLIDE 13
As Technical Assistance . . .
Many immigration providers use non‐attorney advocates to
process immigration applications.
Legal aid programs can develop collaborative projects with
immigration assistance providers to provide on‐call technical assistance to partner advocates.
Some programs may choose to take referrals of the tough cases,
those at the margins, that may require a higher degree of legal differentiation, background work, or finesse.
We can play a significant role in the development and/or
interpretation of regulations and policy directives.
SLIDE 14
SLIDE 15
As A Frontline Provider . . .
Particularly in areas outside of cities, where non‐profit
immigration assistance providers are scare, we can provide direct services to client communities impacted by CIR.
The proverbial “floodgates” can be controlled by case
acceptance guidelines that narrow the funnel to acceptable levels; such guidelines could take a variety of forms so as to target limited resources.
Clinics and other forms of limited assistance also may be
effective models with appropriate support and follow‐up assistance.
Pro bono is another potential resource – possibly as a signature
project of a state‐wide or specialty bar.
SLIDE 16
SLIDE 17
Indirectly . . .
Even if immigration related services are – and will remain –
- utside your purview, CIR will bring millions of low‐income
families and individuals “out of the shadows.”
Your state CIR coalition needs to know what you can do – and
for whom. LSC‐ineligible parents may have US citizen children with unmet legal needs appropriate for referral to your offices.
The level of blatant, shocking, legal abuse of undocumented
workers and their families is appalling; many households are of mixed status and some viable legal claims may be brought by LSC‐eligible household members.
Notario abuse will be rampant – creating opportunities for
important consumer work and administrative advocacy.
SLIDE 18
Alex R Gulotta, Executive Director Legal Aid Justice Center 1000 Preston Avenue Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-977-0553 alex@justice4all.org