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ANNUAL REPORT 20202 MISSION The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) helps low-income immigrants improve their legal status and works for more just and humane laws and policies affecting immigrants. Cover (L to R): Yassin with his family; Fowsia and Fawa; Leandre; Jocelyne and her children Page 2: Kifah Photography by Molly Haley3 Dear Friends, This past year was like no other and we hope that you and your families are healthy and safe. We are grateful for the hard work of staff, the dedicated commitment of our board, volunteers and supporters, and most of all, for our clients’ resilience and the strong leadership of our community partners, especially immigrant-led organizations. Working together, we continue to respond to many challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, while we strive for a just and equitable immigration system. Our clients were impacted disproportionately by the pandemic, with higher rates of infection and greater job loss. Many did not qualify for the safety net of the federal stimulus programs. At the same time, harsh immigration policies were enforced, immigration backlogs grew, and more people needed legal assistance. While working remotely since March, ILAP provided direct legal serves and outreach to over 3,000 people in 2020. Pro bono attorneys donated 3,917 hours of their time, representing over 200 people in asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases. We used technology to increase access to information and services with a new online intake system, multilingual self-help materials and videos, and a weekly Facebook Live asylum workshop. We provided translated information packets to migrant farmworkers and other immigrants in rural Maine and connected with clients and community partners by video and phone. At the end of 2020, we launched an Immigrant Children’s Project to help eligible young people apply for legal status, and a Mendez Rojas Project to help qualifying class members apply for asylum so they might avoid deportation after missing their one-year filing deadline. With a new administration in the White House and national momentum towards racial justice, we are optimistic for real change. In December, ILAP staff and board approved a bold new strategic plan with goals that align with our vision of a world where systems are rooted in justice and equity and where everyone reaches their full potential without barriers created by racism and injustice. Thank you for your partnership and support! Warm regards, MESSAGE FROM ILAP’S LEADERS Sue Roche, Esq. Executive Director Leslie Silverstein, Esq. Board President Leslie Silverstein, Esq. Board President Sue Roche, Esq. Executive Director4 WHO WE ARE STAFF Jennifer Bailey, Esq. (she/her) Asylum Program Director Sarah Barton (she/her) Development & Communications Associate Melissa Brennan, Esq. (she/her) Supervising Attorney, Portland Office Julia Brown, Esq. (she/her) Advocacy & Outreach Director Emily Burns (she/her) Program Assistant Kate Chesney, Esq. (she/her) Senior Staff Attorney/Intake Supervisor Treva deMaynadier, DOJ Accred. Rep (she/her) Immigration Forms Program Supervisor Michelle Gentry, Esq. (she/her) Asylum Program Attorney Felix Hagenimana, Esq. (he/him) Asylum Outreach Attorney Alice Kopij, Esq. (she/her) Supervising Attorney, Lewiston Office Maggie Loeffelholz, Esq. (she/her) Immigrant Children’s Project Attorney Philip Mantis, Esq. (he/him) Legal Director Danny Muller Operations Coordinator Francine Ngabu Intake Paralegal Nolwenn Robison (she/they) Legal Program Assistant Susan Roche, Esq. (she/her) Executive Director Chelsea Russell (she/her) Legal Program Associate Laura Simocko (she/her) Development Director Barbara Taylor, Esq. (she/her) Senior Staff Attorney, Rural Maine Project Nadine Twagirayezu, DOJ Accred. Rep Asylum Program Paralegal Eben Albert, Esq., Bernstein Shur Gloria Ines Aponte C., Maine Community Foundation Vice President Amy Bruning, Elder Institute of Maine Treasurer Alicia Curtis, Esq., Berman & Simmons Tom Douglas, Esq., Douglas, McDaniel & Campo Lindsay Kay, National Domestic Workers Alliance Anne Kemper, Retired Rebecca Klotzle, Esq., Curtis Thaxter Secretary Peter Landis, Esq., Landis, Arn & Jaynes Arnie Macdonald, Esq., Bernstein Shur Robyn March, Esq., March Law Offices Diane Mutagoma, Bernstein Shur Priya Natarajan, Portland Public Schools Adele Ngoy, Women United Around the World Shafaat Qazi, Abbott Blanca Santiago, Portland Public Schools Lisa Scali, Ocean’s Balance Leslie Silverstein, Esq., Leslie S. Silverstein, Attorney at Law President Ronald Stegall, Retired Caroline Teschke, M.D., Retired BOARD OF DIRECTORS5 WHAT WE DO Direct Legal Services 574 individuals received legal advice during a consultation or brief intervention 683 individuals received immigration forms assistance 388 individuals received full representation by ILAP staff or pro bono attorney 1,431 individuals attended 62 community legal education events 3,076 immigrants in Maine received legal support from ILAP in 2020 Provide a continuum of direct immigration legal services based on client needs and priorities, encompassing full representation, consultations, brief interventions, and forms assistance Systemic Advocacy Community Legal Education Serve as a trusted source of accurate, accessible, and timely information on immigration law issues for immigrant communities and service providers from York to Aroostook counties Collaborate with immigrant-led groups and other partner organizations on systemic advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels to advance equity and justice for immigrants I mpact In 20206 HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2020 Immigrant Children’s Project ILAP launched our new “Immigrant Children’s Project” in fall 2020 in response to a growing need for legal support among Maine’s immigrant children and youth. Within the first months, we paired 17 young people with pro bono attorneys at Preti Flaherty to help them pursue Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), a pathway to permanent residency for children and youth under 21 who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both of their parents. “It can open doors to life-changing opportunities at a critical time, but it’s a very confusing process that requires multiple courts and multiple lawyers,” explained Maggie Loeffelholz, Immigrant Children’s Project Attorney. “This Project is providing continuity and support for youth in Maine and ensures no young person slips through the cracks.” ILAP’s past advocacy work to align state and federal law has meant more youth are newly eligible for SIJS and now, we have more ways to support them. Key partners include Preti Flaherty, Hopeful Links, Maine Law, Preble Street Teen Center, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, and Tori Stenbak and other local family law attorneys. Advocacy 2020 became a call to action for systemic change in response to the pandemic’s disparate impact on communities of color and public reckonings with racism after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many other Black people killed by police. ILAP stood by our values, joining with you and our partners to advocate against devastating asylum rules, the exclusion of many immigrant families from pandemic relief, and the over-policing of Black and Brown people. We also cheered the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, reflecting years of activism led by immigrant youth and communities. And we sought to hold immigration agencies accountable through impact litigation with ACLU of Maine and Maine Law. The Biden-Harris administration came as a much-needed respite from the ongoing attacks of the previous four years. Yet, ILAP recognizes the flaws in our immigration system are rooted in a long history of racism and oppression, and we will work to rebuild and reimagine our immigration system with an unyielding commitment to racial justice. Asylum Navigating the challenges of the pandemic, ILAP’s Asylum Team found creative ways to continue providing vital information to people seeking asylum in Maine. And our 175-member Pro Bono Panel, who donated 3,781 hours of their time, represented 190 asylum seekers during one of the most trying years for asylum law. “Several pro bono attorneys who had been waiting for years to argue their client’s case faced sudden cancellations,” said Asylum Director Jennifer Bailey. “But Panel members showed their resilience and mettle.” Despite the year’s hurdles, we joined the Panel and clients in celebrating many legal wins, including a father from Rwanda who won permanent residency, a Gabonese family who secured asylum, and legal 7 advocacy for someone detained at the height of the pandemic. ILAP also provided consultations and translated online self-help resources for people applying for asylum without an attorney. Asylum Outreach Attorney Felix Hagenimana joined local translators for online workshops on common questions about asylum. We ended the year with a new initiative for asylum seekers who may benefit from the Mendez Rojas settlement agreement, which may help people avoid deportation if they missed the one-year deadline for filing asylum applications. We have found that many people in Maine qualify, including some who stayed at the Portland Expo Center in summer 2019. Rural Maine Project The Rural Maine Project started the year responding to increased immigration enforcement in Maine’s rural areas, including at bus stations and other transportation hubs. ILAP acted quickly, providing know-your-rights outreach and sharing information on how to navigate immigration arrests and detention. Typical in-person outreach was interrupted by COVID-19, just when thousands of essential seasonal workers were arriving, despite the pandemic, to fill agricultural jobs. To ensure access to essential information and support, ILAP, Maine Mobile Health Program, and Mano en Mano distributed hundreds of welcome packets with health, labor, and immigration resources in multiple languages. “One of the most moving distributions was organized in Milbridge. A caravan of local vehicles festooned with banners, welcoming seasonal workers and thanking them for their labor, paraded to local blueberry worker housing with music, food, packets, and posters of gratitude,” recalled Barbara Taylor, Rural Maine Project Senior Staff Attorney. We also used technology in new ways to communicate across distance and maintain closer ties with our clients and partners, developing tools that will help us well into the future! Michelle and José with their son, 2018 O ur c lIents In 2020 ILAP clients originated from 15 counties in Maine and 90+ countries around the world. The most common languages spoken include French, Lingala, Portuguese, Spanish, and 30+ other languages. 32% under 18 65% ages 18-60 3% over 60 Age: Race/Ethnicity: 78% African/African American 14% Latinx 3% White 2% Asian 3% Other8 2020 FINANCIALS For transparency and accountability to our donors and supporters, ILAP undergoes annual external audits. The following information is from audited financial statements for January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020: *In-kind Contributions and Program Expenses include the value of donated pro bono attorney time. ** A portion of this surplus was transferred to ILAP’s Board-restricted fund, which was created in 2017 REVENUE Grants (28%)$801,168 Pandemic relief funds (7%)$190,317 Donations (30%)$866,568 Events (1%)$30,756 Fees, interest & other revenue (<1%) $12,508 In-kind contributions* (33%)$947,247 TOTAL$2,848,564 EXPENSES Program* (88%)$2,204,429 Fundraising (8%)$204,583 Management & general (4%)$88,929 $2,497,941 CHANGE IN ASSETS**$350,6239 2020 SUPPORTERS ILAP VOLUNTEERS Volunteers help drive ILAP’s mission and our work would not be possible without them. This group is made up of dedicated language and legal volunteers; pro bono attorneys and other professionals; and committee members. 2020 Volunteer Awards are noted in italics. Dana Abdulhay Kristy Abraham Rita Aceto Valerie Adams, Esq. Melissa Albert Kathleen Ashley Jennifer Atkinson, Esq. Cheryl Ayer, Esq. Mariana Baron Richard Bayer, Esq. Andy Bernstein, Esq. Alex Bertoni Jenny Beverly, Esq. Cara Biddings, Esq. Christopher Boots, Esq. Ann Brandt Zachary Brandwein, Esq. Yolanda Brooks Tim Bryant Charles Burton-Callegari Ricardo Cabezas Noelia Calcano Alexandra Camilo Elizabeth Campbell Soren Christensen Roger Clement, Esq. Jeffrey Cohen, Esq. Kristin Collins Robin Colombin Gillian Coyne Isabel Crane Alicia Curtis, Esq. Caroline Daigle Kevin Decker, Esq. Anthony Derosby, Esq. Scot Draeger, Esq. Kerry Eielson Fanning Hans Eysenbach, Esq. Karin Francis Eileen Frazier, Esq. Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Karen Frink Wolf Mary Giglio Jennifer Gillies, Esq. John Gleason, Esq. Jeremy Gould Ruth Grady Marty Hamre Sahra Hassan Sara Hellstedt, Esq. Maya Hernandez Melissa Hewey, Esq. Lucky and Toby Hollander, Supporting Immigrant Youth Award Orson Horchler, Grassroots Fundraising Award Miriam Johnson, Esq. Daniel Keenan, Esq. Andrés Kenney Kate Knox, Esq. Lauren Kousaie, Esq. Ivan Lamas-Sanchez Chris Lanoue Kyle Lansden Becca LaPierre Nelson Larkins Megan Latta Lisa Lavoie Justin Leary, Esq. Lindsay Leone, Esq. Susan LoGuidice, Esq. Jisel Lopez, Esq. Magalie Lumiere Amy Lyons Wells Lyons, Esq. Arnie MacDonald, Esq. Kellie MacDonald, Esq. Cecilie MacIntyre Jane Makela, Esq. Roberta March Robyn March, Esq. Sarah Marx Dan McDonald, Esq. Tara McDonough Katherine McDonough, Esq. Amy McGarry Lynn McGovern Micayla Mead Maura Melley, Esq. Alysia Melnick, Esq. Jon Mermin Michael Messerschmidt Kirsty Mogensen Marie Mueller, Esq. Allaina Murphy Kyungu Musonda Giselle Nadeau, Esq. Adele Ngoy Brittney Nielsen Ambrosia Noyes Hazel Onsrud Kelsey Ouellette Marcos Pacheco Soto Hanni H. Pastinen Nadine Pembele, Language Volunteer Award Mariah Peric Julia Perillo Richard Peterson Sean Pethybridge David Potel, Esq. Aaron Pratt, Esq. Robin Ragan Dan Rapaport Alby Recierdo Christine Richards Laura Rideout Adrián Rivas Dave Robertson, Esq. William Rogers Camryn Romph Louise Rosen Andre Saade Lisa Scali, Development Volunteer of the Year Matthew Schaefer, Esq. Connor Schratz, Esq. Sig Schutz Elyse Segovias David Shultz Leslie Silverstein, Esq. Aisha Simon Dan Sonneborn Laila Sousa Ferreira Gretchen Stanton, Language Volunteer Award Tori Stenbak Robert Stier, Esq. Tom Studwell, Esq. Corin Swift, Esq. Ben Tettlebaum, Esq. Amy Titcomb, ILAP Hero Joanna Tourangeau, Esq. We are grateful to every one of you, including those listed below and those who have chosen to remain anonymous, for partnering with ILAP to advance equity and justice for immigrants in Maine. Thank you!Next >