Statements
Mission
Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors provides free or affordable immigration legal services, advocates for immigrant rights, and educates the public on immigration issues.
Background
Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (TnJFON) is a part of a national network of immigration legal clinics created by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in 1999. At present, there are 19 JFON clinics throughout the country. On average, the JFON network serves over 2,500 clients each year. Tennessee JFON has been conducting monthly immigration intake clinics since April 2008, launched by Belmont and Hillcrest United Methodist Churches. Beginning in 2009, TNJFON accepted immigration cases for victims of domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse and their family members. TnJFON now also helps with DACA renewal and a host of immigration issues.TNJFON has provided legal assistance for more than 2,300 children, adults and families since 2008. Clients are low-income immigrants from 19 countries including Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala. TnJFON is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit agency.
Impact
In 2020, TnJFON responded to more than 1,500 calls or e-queries from individuals and families seeking immigration options. Most got information and/or referral from TnJFON's legal advocate. Where a form of relief was identified, such as U-visas for victims of crime, T-visas for trafficking victims, asylum, or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for children and teens who have been abused, neglected or abandoned, TnJFON provided direct legal representation or referred to a pro-bono attorney.
In 2020, Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors staff opened 496 cases and closed 389. Of those new cases, 194 were "dreamers" who worked to renewer their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals and the remaining cases include cases seeking adjustment of status (green card), abused, neglected or abandoned children in need of Special Immigrant Juvenile status, victims of crime eligible for U Visas and Violence Against Women Act relief, representing individuals from 18 countries. At the close of the year, we have a caseload of 388 active cases. We worked with more than 50 volunteers, presented immigration information to more than 4000 individuals, launched a virtual legal clinic with law students, shifted our legal services program from in-person to remote, launched a Spanish language educational program and podcast, promoted a part-time Assistant Director of Education and Outreach to a full-time staff attorney, all while continuing to serve clients safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Needs
1. Operating support. 2. Bilingual volunteers.3. Pro bono attorneys to take on immigration cases 4. Legal volunteers (law students and paralegals) 5. Volunteers with nonprofit management experience willing to consult or take on leadership roles. 6. Community leaders willing to advocate on behalf of immigrants and refugees. 7. Congregational leaders who can introduce the work of JFON in their religious communities.
CEO Statement
Victims of gang violence, terrorism, or human trafficking arrive daily in Middle Tennessee, sometimes alone, more often with children. Victims can often qualify for some form of immigration status, but only if they know where to get help. Other immigrants are victims of crime in the US. Some come out of the shadows to report and testify against criminals, risking arrest and deportation. They can be eligible for a U-Visa, a years long, technical process. Children brought to the US by their parents formerly qualified for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Those who qualified before the DACA was shuttered must file renewals, a complicated process. And while these families and individuals have a legal right to remain, they are doomed without assistance. The US does not provided court-appointed counsel to immigrants, even those facing deportation. Only 37% of immigrants and 14% of detained immigrants go to court with lawyers on their side. Immigrants, including young children on their own, with limited English and no understanding of America's complex immigration system, are forced to present their cases without representation. They face well trained and well funded government agencies. In a study of children in immigration court, 73% who had lawyers were able to remain in the US. Only 15% of those children with no attorney are allowed to stay. Adults are 16 times more likely to get relief if they have an immigration attorney. In Nashville, demand FAR exceeds the supply for immigration help. Private immigration attorneys are pricey. Charlatans, notarios and fly-by-nights swoop in to make money off the desperate, leaving them poorer but rarely professionally represented. TnJFON provides free/reduced cost, immigration legal advice or representation. TnJFON determines, for free, whether immigrants have a reasonable legal claim. They pay NO intake or first visit fee (charged by notarios and for-profit entities), nor do they pay large fees for applications doomed to failure. Those with legitimate claims then receive expert client representation by a JFON attorney, or partnering pro bono attorney. DACA renewals are completed by trained law students, or volunteer attorneys. At JFON, the success rate for these vulnerable families is greater than 90%. JFON clients gain the freedom to work legally, and live without constant fear of deportation.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Crime & Legal - Related - Legal Services |
| Secondary Category: | Human Services - Ethnic/Immigrant Services |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors provides services to Tennessee immigrants. The majority of clients live in Nashville/Davidson County.
| TN - Davidson |
| TN |
