Imagine not knowing when you will see a family member next just because the government has the final say in a case that is nothing less than exceedingly complex.
Imagine being able to speak hardly any English, yet yearning for one final plea to be reunited with a loved one while living in a primarily English-speaking community.
For many immigrants living in the state the proposition is not a “what-if”, it’s a harsh reality of life that the United Methodist Church is trying to make a little more manageable.
On January 23 the organization Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON) hosted its first monthly legal intake clinic for people dealing with immigration issues in Southeastern Michigan, as 35 volunteers came together to help provide services at Dearborn: First United Methodist Church.
Since then JFON Southeastern Michigan has hosted two more intake clinics in Dearborn and another one is set for April 17.
It might be exactly the kind of “social justice” TV megastar Glen Beck fears is brainwashing churchgoers, but the United Methodist Church believes it’s precisely the kind of work God has called his disciples to.
JFON operates two clinics in West Michigan, at sites in Grand Rapids and Holland where they have been serving since 2004, and through the funding of local churches and support from the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries and UMCOR its operations continue to expand.
Treading through deep water
It is a national ministry dedicated to providing free, high-quality immigration legal services.
JFON-SEMI is one of 28 regional clinics around the country that operate with the support of denominational staff members and it is a ministry close to the hearts of many — particularly Southeastern Michigan Regional Director Paul Perez, who also serves as a Deacon at Newburg UMC in Livonia.
Perez said he has spoken with a number of attorneys in Metro Detroit who agree the need for legal counseling for immigrants is enormous, especially since the Immigration Reform and Immigration Act of 1996 and the Patriot Act following 9/11.
It’s more than just creating a supply for the demand to Perez though — it’s personal.
Perez is the beneficiary of a successful immigrant story in his own heritage, so he takes the dire needs of some immigrants right to heart.
“For me it kind of all connects to my own immigrant story. On my dad’s side my grandfather was an immigrant from Mexico, on my mom’s side (there were) immigrants from Germany and Ireland. So that’s just sort of my personal history and many people’s personal history,” he said. “And it’s also hearing stories of folks in immigrant communities who are United Methodists in Metro Detroit, and the stories of having to wait decades in order to pass through the immigration process. Stories of families being split apart, parents who have been deported and no longer have contact with their husbands and children who are U.S. citizens.”
Expanding a vision
JFON focuses most of its efforts on family immigration law, as well as victims of domestic violence and abuse as covered in the Violence Against Women Act.
Perez said it is a basic missionary service to help people understand their legal status and figure out if and how they can be reunited with their nearest and dearest.
“Due to the current U.S. legal and immigration system many times family members who are citizens or legal residents can petition for other family members to enter the country or get legal status,” he said.
The Dearborn clinic is just the first tangible step of the new ministry, and Perez said the goal is to have clinics set up in the Ann Arbor and Detroit East districts and a full-time attorney hired for the trio of centers by this summer.
Perez said JFON-SEMI has already started raising funds for a full-time attorney, but those efforts could be expedited if people contributed to the Ministry Jubilee Project of the Detroit Conference Board of Church and Society (MJ#1133) through their church.
Danny Upton is a travelling national program attorney for JFON who will provide services for Southeastern Michigan until that point.
Upton says the program exists primarily for the most vulnerable immigrants, who have fled their countries seeking refuge from domestic abuse or religious or political persecution
“It’s an opportunity for us to translate our faith and our moral and religious convictions into actions – into service,” he said in a 2009 article by United Methodist News Services.
As JFON makes waves in the lower half of the state, Perez said it is essential to build a solid volunteer base as a backbone.
Driven by the people
Help is always needed at the monthly clinics, as well as through advocacy groups and fundraising teams.
JFON holds single-evening training sessions for people working intake clinics, teaching them how to perform basic first-step interviews with potential clients and create welcoming environments.
“The JFON model is local-church based and volunteer driven. We make sure as much as can be done by volunteers is done because JFON is understood as a ministry and mission in the United Methodist Church,” Perez said. “It’s helping someone move through the immigration process and it’s also great for our volunteers to be able to hear the stories and build relationships 1-on-1.”
After the initial interview process is completed an attorney will determine whether they will take a case or if all they can offer is some sound, free advice — even if it’s not what a client was hoping to hear.
“If our clients meet our income requirements they will receive high-quality, free legal aid. It’s as simple as that,” Perez said.
The clinics are held the third Saturday of every month, in Holland and Grand Rapids on a rotating bi-monthly basis, and strictly in Dearborn for Southeastern Michigan clients until further notice according to Perez.
Potential clients can schedule appointments by calling the Southeast Michigan JFON hotline at (734) 709-1151 and clinics open at 9 a.m. on their scheduled weekends.
Perez said while the ministry is starting to take off, it isn’t without its share of challenges.
“One practical challenge is the language barrier. We work really hard to make sure we have folks who can provide translation for the different language groups,” he said. “Part of it too is really working to build relationships of trust where folks in these communities feel safe and welcome.”
And through building trust Perez said the goal of the ministry is to share the gospel and the true meaning of love with people all across the nation.
“For me, this kind of work is what the church is called to do,” he said. “It is a calling of mission, to share the Good News in both word and action, and in ways that offer God’s love and hospitality in very concrete and some ways, risky ways.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment