Thread: Virginia residents reach out to immigrants

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Thursday, February 14, 2008
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Story URL: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/was ... x?id=78403
Story Retrieval Date: 2/14/2008 6:44:35 PM CST



Virginia residents reach out to immigrants
by Nicole Kallmeyer
Feb 14, 2008
WASHINGTON – Once a month, a group of Virginia volunteers forgo their Saturday sleep-in, grab a caffeinated beverage, and dedicate their morning to helping immigrants in their suburban community.

These volunteers are recruited by Just Neighbors, a Northern Virginia-based nonprofit organization that provides legal services to immigrants. The income of the people served is no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level – that’s about $20,800 annually for an individual.

Paying for a private lawyer can easily cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, said Rob Rutland-Brown, executive director of Just Neighbors. Those who seek legal counsel at the clinic pay a one-time $50 fee, which is waived for victims of domestic violence or those who simply cannot afford even that much.

Immigrants from more than 80 countries come to the two Just Neighbors clinics for a variety of reasons. Some are in America legally and want to bring family members to the U.S.; some want to renew their eligibility to continue working legally in the U.S.; some are refugees applying for green cards; and some are undocumented and want to know if there is a way they can stay in the country.

“About a third are undocumented and we’re not able to help them,â€

WHY, with so many LEGAL immigrants that need help, do people want to spend efforts helping lawbreakers?? It seems this group is basically doing the right and honorable thing in helping LEGAL residents.