By
BRIAN D. WALLACE
Fairfield County Catholic,
August 4, 2007
The Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) has approved the application of Catholic
Charities of the Diocese of Bridgeport to practice before the Board
of Immigration Appeals in matters of immigration and naturalization.
"This official recognition
expands our capabilities and enables us to appear at official hearings
as the formal representative for immigrants who seek our help," explains
Bill Hoey, Catholic Charities vice president. "Prior to this, we could
only advise from a distance. Now we can more fully participate in the
legal process and serve as advocates for those in need."
AN ENLARGED IMAGE
OF ALEX ARÉVALO'S PASSPORT photo shows a youth almost too young to be
sent on his dangerous journey to the United States. Now an accredited
representative of the Department of Justice for immigration, the Catholic
Charities immigration counselor recounted his experiences for a Conference
on Migration held at Fairfield University. (PHOTO BY JEAN SANTOPATRE/FAIRFIELD
UNIVERSITY)
The accreditation
extends to Catholic Charities' Immigration Counselor Alex Arévalo, who
can now represent immigrants at DHS hearings, including Border Patrol
and Immigration & Customs Enforcement hearings.
Although Arévalo
is not an attorney, the new accredited representative status now gives
him the ability to appear in person at a hearing, prepare or file briefs
or other documents, and to petition the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) Immigration Board on behalf of clients in Fairfield
County.
Only the federal
government can authorize representatives to practice before the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security and the Board of Immigration Appeals
in cases concerning foreign nationals. A non-profit agency can apply
for recognition as an accredited representative to provide partial or
full legal services.
Expanded Services
Catholic Charities
expanded immigration services last year in response to the growing number
of undocumented immigrants in the diocese and in line with the national
effort by the Catholic Church to step up outreach to immigrants, as
demonstrated by the Justice
for Immigrants campaign of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB).
Arévalo, a native
of El Salvador, says the new designation is important because a growing
number of immigrants are at risk of deportation or being separated from
their families as authorities crack down on illegal immigration in Connecticut
and across the U.S.
"With every single
case that comes through my door, I know there's a family involved, and
I'm concerned that more families will be separated in the future," he
says.
Along with Sister
Nancy Charlesworth, S.S.M.N., who is serving as director of the Catholic
Charities Immigration Services Program, Arévalo regularly works with
immigrants at the Hispanic Center of Danbury; the inner-city soup kitchens
sponsored by Catholic Charities (Thomas Merton Center in Bridgeport
and New Covenant House of Hospitality in Stamford); and other locations
where they seek help. In addition, he fields up to 16 calls a day from
people looking for help to clarify their status.
"Not enough pro-bono
attorneys are available for the immigrant population," Arévalo continues.
"As a result, immigrants often turn to consultants or notarios
who are untrained, have no legal authority, and, in some cases, are
unscrupulous, leading to large expenditures of money and very poor filing
of immigration papers."
Reality Check
Arévalo sees his
job as a "reality check" for immigrants who are often fearful and may
also have unrealistic expectations about what the law allows. "If they
go to a notario, they may pay up to $200 for an hour's consultation,
or $2,000 just to open a case," Arévalo says. "We try to help them before
they get locked in and spend $5,000 on a case they have no chance of
winning." He sometimes recommends that people go back to their native
country rather than squander their savings, but he always works to determine
what their rights are under present immigration law.
While many people
think of immigration law as a matter of pursuing illegal aliens who
cross the border at night, many immigration cases deal with the "gray"
area in the law. For example, Arévalo recently worked with the parents
of a naturalized citizen who overstayed their visa.
"People don't know
what the next step is under immigration law," he says. "Getting legal
status could mean getting a work permit. The benefit that everybody
looks for is a green card with lawful permanent residency, which is
the stepping stone toward citizenship."
Family
Separations
Arévalo believes
that the recent separation of 11 families in New Haven and the ongoing
tensions in the Danbury area reflect the national tensions over the
issue and will, unfortunately, lead to a greater need for legal representation
for immigrants until laws are clarified and reformed.
TAKE A BOW -
Catholic Charities employees who work in Bridgeport gather on the steps
of the Catholic Center for a group photo. After the government, Catholic
Charities is the largest provider of social services in Fairfield County.
(PHOTO BY JOHN GLOVER)
In the meantime,
the USCCB has outlined the basic elements it believes are important
in any reform package: legalization of the undocumented who have built
equities in our country; expanded opportunities for legal entry for
work or for reunion with family members; establishment of an appropriate
temporary worker program; reestablishment of due process rights; and
other safeguards.
In addition to legal
counsel, Sister Nancy works in education and advocacy among Fairfield
County's civic and religious groups.
"The social message
of the Gospel of Christ is too little understood and lived," she concludes.
"The value of human life and the family is at stake."
(Catholic Charities'
Immigration Services is assisted by a newly-formed advisory board that
guides its work as it reaches out to individuals and parishes. For more
information, call Alex Arévalo: 416-1306 or Sister Nancy Charlesworth:
416-1313.)
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