New World Outlook - Summer 2017 - Open - 38

38 N E W W O R L D O U T L O O K . O R G

that I began to realize, waiting in line
is not a realistic option for many who
work in our fields.
A recent client, a grandmother in
her 70s who has worked for 12 years
at a fast food restaurant, finally obtained her US citizenship. She came
to us for help to file a relative petition to bring her daughter in Mexico
to the US. If she pays immigration
the $535 fee to fill out the form, it
will likely be approved within five to
seven months. But the current wait
time for her married daughter to
apply for a visa to move to the US is
22 years.
"Veintidós años?!" She exclaimed.
Sì, 22 years.
In 22 years the mother would be
in her mid-90s. If she does not live to
see her daughter come, her daughter
will have to embark on a separate and
difficult process involving a "substitute" petitioner.
Unaccompanied teenagers and children are often put in immigration detention centers at the border before
being released, pending immigration
court proceedings. Fleeing from poverty, violence, sexual, and other abuse,
they are often in need of medical care
and counseling once they arrive. A recent preteen client arrived after being
repeatedly raped as a young child by
an older male relative. We celebrate
that she was recently recommended
for approval for asylum.
We are thankful that our United
Methodist Church community can
be a lifesaving presence for those
who seek refuge in this country and
contribute so much that we take for
granted, from harvesting produce to
sharing the rich cultural traditions of
their home countries.

Janet Horman is a Church and Community Worker (Advance #3022259) and
the executive director of the South Florida
Justice For Our Neighbors in Miami.

Nebraska

Extending Service to Immigrant
Communities
by Dawn Bashara
Omaha, Nebraska, is a dynamic, influential city in the heart of the United
States, with several outstanding attractions: the world-class Henry Doorley
Zoo, Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway headquarters, and Justice For Our
Neighbors-Nebraska (JFON-NE), to name a few.
JFON-NE's mission is to welcome immigrants into our community by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy.
As the largest site in the JFON network, the JFON-NE legal team worked on
more than 2,700 cases in 2016 for clients from 47 countries, with an average
success rate of 98 percent. Clients received free professional services from 10
full-time, licensed attorneys; six legal staff; two administrative assistants; and
three management staff members-all supported by 125 volunteers.
For several years, JFON-NE clients confided that they have additional legal
needs beyond immigration legal services, yet they have nowhere to turn for
help if they cannot afford a private attorney. Looking forward from our strategic
plan, staff members crafted a detailed business plan with forecasts of needs
for staff, operations, budget, and funding for three years that was approved by
the JFON-NE Board of Directors in March 2016.
The plan includes forming partnerships with immigrant-serving organizations which have clients with legal needs that intersect with immigration law.
The three-year partnerships are being launched as pilot programs to determine which are most viable for client impact and organizational sustainability.
These pilots bring additional expertise in the areas of fair workingconditions, health care, custody, guardianship, and divorce cases-
matters of high importance
for employees, children,
families, and domestic violence survivors. This holistic approach positions
JFON-NE to address the interwoven legal issues that
prevent immigrants from
fully participating in their
communities.

Growth and
Sustainability Pilot
Programs JFON-NE

Immigrant Worker's Legal
Partnership with Heartland
Worker's Center-added
a full-time attorney to assist immigrant workers who

PHOTO: ISTOCK PHOTO/ JULIEF514

http://www.newworldoutlook.org

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