Belinda won her claim for asylum and ultimately became a green card holder.

Belinda is a transgender woman from Asia. She suffered terrible trauma in her home country, where LGBTQ people are often subjected to violence and cannot get any protection from the police. She came to the U.S. on a student visa, but quickly decided she could not return home and wanted to apply for asylum.​

CLA represented Belinda in her asylum case, preparing a detailed application, including a long statement by Belinda describing her past suffering and future fears and evidence of the persecution faced by LGBTQ people in her home country. CLA also prepared Belinda for her asylum interview and attended the interview with her. Two weeks later, Belinda was approved. In another year, she will be able to apply for her green card. Belinda is now living safely in the U.S as her true self.​

CLA helped Ramona apply for Citizenship with a full fee waiver.

Ramona was 90 when her son first contacted CLA. She had been a Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder) for more than 20 years but had never  applied for citizenship. She was becoming very frail and, although she was still able to communicate, she had been diagnosed with dementia. She was also on a very limited income and couldn't afford the application filing fees. Her son wanted to help her become a Citizen before her physical and mental health deteriorated further. CLA helped Ramona apply for Citizenship with a full fee waiver. CLA also helped Ramona get a waiver so she would not have to take the civics test. In addition, CLA was able to arrange for the interview and oath ceremony to be held at Ramona's apartment. Although it took a lot of advocacy, Ramona was recently sworn in as a proud new U.S. Citizen. ​

Karina’s deportation case was dismissed.  She was able to remain in the US and finished her treatment successfully.​

Karina was a Russian immigrant living alone in New York and battling stomach cancer.  When Keiko met Karina she was undergoing chemotherapy and was facing deportation. Ten years earlier, on the advice of a private immigration attorney, Karina filed an application for an immigration benefit for which she was not eligible. Believing this immigration attorney, she continued the long process which she thought would result in a green card, only to end up before an immigration judge facing deportation.  Keiko appeared with Karina on the day of her hearing and argued for Karina to be allowed to stay in the U.S. based on the fact that she was in need of further medical treatment, that she made her application in good faith, and that she had no criminal history.  A settlement was reached and Karina’s case was dismissed.  She was able to remain in the US and finished her treatment successfully.​

Wilma passed her naturalization interview and was sworn in as a U.S. Citizen.

Wilma was a 79 year senior citizen when she started working with Ann. She was originally from the Caribbean and received her green card through her son. Although she was eligible, Wilma had never naturalized. She did not have the money to pay the filing fee and was also concerned that she was not a strong enough reader to study for the civics test. Ann first helped Wilma apply for a fee waiver. She then arranged for Wilma to study for the test by listening to the questions and answers. A month after her 80th birthday, Wilma passed her naturalization interview and was sworn in as a U.S. Citizen. ​

Ann helped Theresa file an application under VAWA - the Violence Against Women Act - without any involvement of her abusive husband.

Theresa was born in the USSR. She was brought to the US by her mother as a teenager and lacked a lawful immigration status. Eventually, Theresa fell in love with and married a U.S. Citizen. Theresa’s husband became severely abusive towards her, physically, emotionally and financially. Although he promised to file for her to get a green card, he never did. Theresa eventually fled from her husband, but struggled to support herself and their children without status. Ann helped Theresa file an application under VAWA - the Violence Against Women Act - without any involvement of her abusive husband. The VAWA application was approved, allowing Theresa to obtain for a green card. Once she has her green card for 5 years, Theresa will be eligible to become a U.S. Citizen.​

CLA was able to assist Ms. Golin in renewing her green card and was able to identify and assist with several matters beyond her immigration issue.    ​

Ms. Terry came to CLA for help with an immigration matter.  Her mother’s green card was expiring and needed to be renewed.  Ms. Terry’s mother, Ms. Golin, is a 98-year-old wheel chair bound woman originally from Haiti who came to the United States in her 80s.  Despite being a green card holder, Ms. Golin does not currently qualify for Social Security benefits.  Having no independent income, she relies on her daughter for support.  CLA was able to assist Ms. Golin in renewing her green card and was able to identify and assist with several matters beyond her immigration issue.    ​

Although Ms. Golin was still communicative at the time, due to her advanced age and medical conditions, CLA suggested a Power of Attorney so that Ms. Terry could handle her mother’s affairs.  Using the newly executed Power of Attorney, CLA was able to complete the green card renewal application with Ms. Terry acting on her mother’s behalf.  Due to Ms. Golin’s lack on income and limited resources, CLA applied for a fee waiver so that she would not have to pay for the cost of renewing her green card.  When the time came to recertify Ms. Golin’s Medicaid, the Department of Social Services was hesitant to renew because Ms. Golin was still waiting for her new green card and therefore could not prove her immigration status.  CLA wrote an advocacy letter explaining that Ms. Golin was still a Lawful Permanent Resident awaiting a new green card. Ms. Terry was able to use the Power of Attorney and the advocacy letter to recertify Ms. Golin’s Medicaid. After about 9 months, Ms. Golin’s green card was renewed.  As she approaches 100 years of age she is less communicative but has the peace of mind of knowing that her daughter, whom she trusts, can act on her behalf when other issues arise.​

Ann helped Marco prepare a self-petition under VAWA (the Violence Against Women Act), a powerful law that protects many people.

Marco came to the US for a visit in 2016. He met and quickly fell in love with Daniel, a man who lived in NYC. They got married and began their life together. However, what began as a loving, happy relationship quickly became unbearable for Marco as Daniel became violent, possessive and controlling. After a very violent encounter about a year after they were married, Marco left Daniel for good. Soon after, Marco met Ann at CLA to consult about his options. Ann helped Marco prepare a self-petition under VAWA (the Violence Against Women Act), a powerful law that protects many people, not just women, by allowing them to obtain green cards without the knowledge or involvement of their abuser. Marco's application was recently approved, and he is now on his way to obtaining permanent residence. He is safe and living free from abuse.​

Saheed’s asylum application was approved.

Saheed contracted Polio as a baby, leaving him paralyzed for life.  Intolerance in his community extended to his family, who believed him to be a “devil’s child.”  He was beaten and humiliated often as a young child by his entire community.  By the age of 13, Saheed left his home in rural Nigeria to escape his parents’ abuse and neglect.  As a teen, Saheed lived under a bridge for years with no way to support himself and without even a wheelchair to get around. Often, he was beaten by the police for his disability and was targeted by gang members who threatened to kill him.  Determined to overcome his circumstances, he began to play Para-Sports, including tennis and basketball.  With his talent and a little bit of luck he was able to secure an invitation to play tennis in the U.S.  Once in the U.S. he knew that he could not go back because he would continue to be a target on the streets.  The gangs or the police would surely kill him.  CLA helped Saheed with an application for asylum, which was ultimately approved. As an Asylee, Saheed is able to work and is in a job training program at the homeless shelter where he lives. Saheed is now eligible for a green card and hopes to one day be a U.S. citizen.​

Marie came to the U.S. from the Caribbean to escape political persecution, but her application for asylum was denied. She decided to stay to take care of her daughter, a U.S. Citizen. Marie went to school and worked hard, supporting her daughter through college and graduate school, as well as her elderly, frail mother. Over the years, Marie had explored different options for obtaining a green card, but none was successful. This meant that she had a complicated immigration history. As soon as her daughter turned 21, CLA helped Marie file her green card application with her daughter as the sponsor. Despite her complex history, Marie was approved for her green card within 6 months. She is now a lawful permanent resident, and already counting down the time until she can apply to become a U.S. Citizen.

Herman came to the U.S. from South America as a teenager. He had applied for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) when the program was first announced. He was approved and received a work authorization card. Unfortunately, Herman's DACA and work authorization had been expired for more than a year. In August 2017, CLA helped Herman apply to renew his DACA. He was approved in less than a month. Although there is a lot of uncertainty about the future of DACA, for now, Herman has his approval and work authorization.