Who are the most vulnerable
Asylum seekers
Asylum-seekers are courageous and resilient individuals and families who were forced to flee from their home countries because they were severely harmed or threatened by their governments or at their government’s acquiescence, on account or their race, religion, ethnicity, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.
A team of RILA staff members and volunteers work with RILA clients over time to represent them in their asylum cases- through attending court hearings and asylum interviews, and preparing applications, testimony and affidavits, evidence and legal briefs.
Children Eligible for SIJS
SIJS (Special Immigrant Juvenile Status) is a legal pathway for and immigrant children who have been abused or abandoned are among the DC region’s most vulnerable populations.
RILA provides legal representation to help these vulnerable kids achieve stability and protection. We represent them in court and apply for legal status on their behalf– leveraging expertise in both family law and immigration law
WHY LEGAL SERVICES
Applying for and ultimately obtaining legal status is life-changing and sets these populations on a path toward stability, security, and hope. However, even if a person is clearly eligible for legal status, such as asylum, it is almost impossible for that person to successfully be granted status without legal representation, due to the complexity of the US immigration system. In the US, immigrants who have legal representation are five times more likely to obtain legal status than if they are not represented. However, legal representation can be out of reach, since many immigrants do not have the resources to retain a private immigration attorney.