Arizona Justice for Our Neighbors

Our Mission is to welcome immigrants by providing affordable, high quality immigration legal services to low income immigrants, engaging in advocacy for immigrant rights, and offering education to communities of faith and the public about the impact of immigration policies.

Recognizing the lack of pro-bono and low-cost immigration legal services that are available to low-income immigrants in Arizona, Arizona Justice For Our Neighbors was formed in 2018 to help vulnerable immigrants attain legal representation in their immigration cases.

Arizona Justice For Our Neighbors provides monthly free legal clinics. Additionally, we provide pro-bono or low-cost immigration legal assistance and representation to immigrants living at our below 200% of the federal poverty level. Since we first opened our doors in 2018, over 600 people have been impacted by our work and we have provided 33 free legal clinics. Additionally, we have provided 7 legal clinics for victims of gender-based violence. These monthly clinics are very special in that we tailor the clinic to these client's needs and provide space to not only offer immigration legal counseling, but also to show compassion and a listening ear. Through our "Caminamos Juntos (We Walk Together) asylum program, we provide legal orientation and assistance to asylum seekers in Sonora waiting an opportunity to enter the United States. Each asylum seeker we work with receives 5-10 hours of pro-bono legal assistance.

U.S. immigration law changes every day. Therefore, it is more important than ever to educate our immigrant community about the changes in immigration policy. Arizona Justice For Our Neighbors provides know-your-rights presentations and educational forums to immigrant communities. We also coordinate Border Education Tours to provide education to allies on the impact of anti-immigration policies and the humanitarian work being done in our border region. Additionally, we engage in community organizing and advocacy to promote the protection of immigrant rights.

Testimonials

Rosemary is a victim of domestic violence and spouse of a U.S. citizen who is receiving assistance with her Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petition. She tells us,

"I feel so lucky to be receiving legal assistance from Arizona Justice For Our Neighbors! I know that when my green card comes in, I will be able to escape poverty, I will be able to attend college. I know that I will reach my full potential." -Rosemary

Graciela Medrano who recently became a Lawful Permanent Resident based on her marriage to Gerardo Garcia, her U.S. Citizen husband. Graciela and Gerado married two years ago, in February 2018, and sought the assistance of Arizona Justice for Our Neighbors to help Graciela secure permanent residency in the United States. A few weeks ago, after a long interview with a USCIS officer in Tucson, they received their approval notice just in time for Graciela to visit her ailing mother in Mexico, whom she had not seen in two years.

Graciela tells us,
" I am so happy! I no longer fear being separated by the immigration system from my husband. I trust that we will be together forever now; that nothing other than death can separate us. Arizona Justice for Our Neighbors did more than provide us with legal assistance, they treated us with love and kindness as if we were family. We are so grateful!"