Dozens of people received orientation during Immigration Clinic organized by Juana Matías
By Bethania Apolinar
The Office of State Representative Juana Matías organized an Immigration Clinic offering free consultations to dozens of people and families in the city of Lawrence with concerns about their immigration status.
Some 30 experts from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) offered free and individual consultations on Saturday, 15th of this month, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Lawrence High School.
During the Lawrence Immigration Clinic a number of resources were also provided to attendees, such as: documents on the rights of people in their workplaces, and what to do if immigration officers arrive to their place of employment, among others.
More than 115 people received counseling from experts on immigration, criminal and family rights issues, according to information provided by Juana Matías.
Interviewed for Rumbo, Matías explained that her office organized the Immigration Clinic due to the need for advice and consultation in the community, mainly on immigration issues.
She said that her office receives many calls from people who do not know what to do in case of arrest of relatives or who have pending cases in migration.
“I did it because the people asked for it, because I see there is a need for advice and consultation in the community on immigration issues,” Matías said.
She said that in conjunction with her legislative assistant Victor Manny Cruz contacted the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) to advise not only undocumented immigrants but residents and citizens interested in petitioning relatives.
Several people who came to the clinic considered it positive because they found the necessary guidance in each of their cases. “I came with a lot of anguish and I’m more satisfied thanks to those who organized this activity,” said one of those consulted.
Odalis Hernandez, who manages the Family Resource Center at Lawrence High School, said that as a school, they were responsible for disseminating information throughout the school district and in the community at large to reach parents interested in information.
