Service Groups and Faith Alliance Meeting
Apex Immigration Services
September 21, 2021
Attendees:
David Brown, President of Apex Immigration Service
Nicole Bernard
Niki Miller
Apex Chief Armstrong
Danica Coleman
Jim Ahler
Kim Adcock
Nancy Hagan
Gaby Iduate
Gladys D’Estefano
Marisol Paren
Officer Kenneth Ragland
Deb Vinci
Western Wake CM
Mindy Varkevisser
Western Wake CM
919-619-3952
Nicole introduced the connection of Undocumented Immigrants and their vulnerability to trafficking. Nancy Hagan has expertise in this area and will contribute as appropriate.
David Brown has led charge for Immigration Services in the Apex area and Nicole came to know him from Western Wake Crisis Ministry. This is a key service for United Methodist Church.
David has been in Apex since 1995 and retired from GSK and is not a lawyer. He shared the following information about Immigration Services of Apex via slides with us:
FOUNDED WITH:
Trusted source of information and low-cost, high-quality immigration legal services and funded by 4 Methodist churches in our area and individuals.
Nonprofit formed in 2016 serving since 2017…Pam Kenan serves as head of organization
Their offices are open Wednesdays from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Apex Immigration is DOJ-recognized to provide low-cost immigration legal services. David is DOJ rep accredited by DOJ to practice immigration law as a non-lawyer…43 total firms in NC that offer low-cost immigration legal services. 4 in Raleigh, 4 in Durham, 1 in Cary, 1 in Apex
CLINIC OPERATIONS:
- Partially accredited DOJ Rep… can’t represent client in front of judge or in detention with ICE
- Client services/data entry
- Staffed by volunteers and 2 parttime paralegals
- Currently have a Spanish translator only
- Can only provide immigration legal advice
- Charge nominal fee based on income
WHO WE HELP:
- Low-income refugees and immigrants from all over the world who need:
- Green card
- Family Visas
- Citizenship applications
- DACA applications
- Travel documents
- Temporary protected status applications
- Referral networks of attorneys and agencies for complex cases
CLIENT PROFILE:
- Refugees are from all over the world
- Many immigrants from Latin and Central America
- Clients from all over the state, most are referred by a church
- Those who need help with DACA renewal, citizenship and Green card renewal make up over 50% of services
David shared client success story Equadorian who is now citizen
Another story about Eh who was refugee from Burma who has started interpreter business to help clients and became citizen this year.
Takes a lot of work to help these folks…takes a family to help a family.
UNDOCUMENTED
- High level of fear and mistrust – forging partnership with local church and community support organizations
- Over 95% we cannot help as they have no path to a Green Card. Issues include entry without inspection, falsification of documentation SS#, Multiple exits and entries to US, most face a 10 year or lifetime ban to reentry into US if they leave
- They help with Power of Attorney planning in case of deportation of one or both of parents
FUTURE PLANS
- Train staff on social justice issues ie, possible victims of abuse and human trafficking and public benefits
- Expansion of offsite support close to specific areas of NC where the need is greatest
- Develop and implement pro-bono attorney network
SUPPORT NEEDS
- Help identify collaboration opportunities to better serve their clients
- Increase awareness of resources among refugees and immigrants
- Donations of time or funds are always welcome
PRIMARY NEEDS:
- Income for their clients/job opportunities
- Help with Schooling and other needs of their client’s children
- Domestic Violence psychological support
- Emotional Abuse psychological support
- Food
QUESTIONS:
If specialist/professional wanted to offer life skills classes, are you able to accommodate for that? They are not, but partner agencies are able to do so for them, such as Fiesta Cristiana. Needed classes would include ESL, Citizenship class, teaching Spanish-only speaking clients how to read and write in Spanish.
There is a Battered Immigrant Program offered by Legal Aid. However, hard to get through by phone and requires patience.
NC Human trafficking commission (Nancy) shared she has been working with a group of attorneys and service providers (pro-bono) to compile list of information on the complex issues of immigration and will it eventually be posted on NC Human trafficking website. Unethical legal providers take advantage of those that need help. Immigration reform is so needed.
First United Methodist Church in Cary participant…multiple re-entries question. Must have protected status to exit and re-entry.
Risk of exploitation: Nicole noted many possible vulnerabilities of immigrants during David’s presentation: couch surfing (homeless); work needed. David shared that if serving refugee, they have protected status and will not be deported. For immigrants, pay attention to the details of their story in order to assist appropriately – utilize community resources so they can get into the system to receive good reliable advice.
Nicole asked if Nancy would she provide indicators someone might be exploited: legal status matters, ie spouse has legal status and other doesn’t so it can be a point of abuse; apply for status through a family member which creates dependence; temporary work visas (seasonal) and have expiration date create tie to the employer allowing opportunity for abuse.
David also shared there are cases when an individual has been cheated out of wages, but resolution is almost impossible.