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Inside this issue: A Message from Our Executive Director ..............2 Board of Directors .............2 Bienvenue! Bankwana! ......3 Legal News & Advocacy .............................4 Pro Bono Panel & Asylum Update ................................5 Immigrant Children’s Project .................................5 Donor Spotlight: Ash Cove Pottery ...............6 People’s History of Portland Walking Tour Series with ILAP ................7 Around 207 .........................8 Melting Pot .........................9 Staff News ..........................9 Get Legal Help & Support ILAP ..................................10 BEACON FALL 2021 IMMIGRANT LEGAL ADVOCACY PROJECT The Immigrant The Work Continues / Continued on Page 3 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER @ILAPmaine CONNECT ONLINE www.ILAPmaine.org The I mmigrant L egal A dvocacy P roject helps low- income immigrants improve their legal status and works for more just and humane laws and policies affecting immigrants. Our Mission: I n August, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent Taliban takeover left families in Afghanistan fleeing for their lives and Afghans around the world, including here in Maine, reeling with fear for their loved ones. The tragedy was both sudden and expected. And once again, it revealed the unbearable costs of our broken immigration system. “In Afghanistan, all my life I have lost people. With the Taliban taking over, it is triggering all my trauma. I can’t stop crying,” shared ILAP client N whose identity is anonymized due to security risks for their family. Several of N’s family members worked for the U.S. in Afghanistan and are now in hiding from the Taliban. Many of their family members have already been killed within the last two to three years, including four since the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. “I feel so hurt by the Taliban, but I have to talk about it to help my family.” Reminiscent of when Maine came together to support incoming asylum seekers in the summer of 2019, ILAP is working alongside a diverse coalition to exhaust all legal process and advocacy efforts for Mainers like N and their families. Our partners include leaders of Maine’s Afghan community, Catholic Charities, Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition (MIRC), Maine Law’s Refugee and Human Rights Clinic, Opportunity Alliance, Gateway Community Services, and volunteer lawyers, among others. To spearhead ILAP’s Afghan response, local attorney Catherine Lindgren joined our team in September 2021. Catherine has volunteered as an intake volunteer and pro bono attorney with ILAP since 2010, bringing a wealth of experience. When approached about the role, she didn’t hesitate, “There is so much important work for us to do as quickly as possible. Lives are on the line, quite literally.” The Work Continues: Amid Crisis and Beyond ©Shutterstock/Jazzmany2 • ILAP • Fall 2021 BOARD of Directors SUE ROCHE Executive Director Inside ILAP n A Message From Our Executive Director Alicia Curtis, Esq. President Gloria Aponte C. Vice President SUE ROCHE Executive Director The Ripple Effect of Global Events 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 Associate Kate Chesney, Esq. 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 Loeffelholtz, Esq. (she/her) Immigrant Children’s Project Attorney Philip Mantis, Esq. 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. Senior Staff Attorney, Rural Maine Project Nadine Twagirayezu, DOJ Accred. Rep Asylum Program Paralegal Eben Albert, Esq. Jenny Beverly, Esq. Deanna Harnett Lindsay Kay Peter Landis, Esq. Arnie Macdonald, Esq. Robyn March, Esq. Diane Mutagoma Amy Donahoe Bruning Treasurer Thomas Douglas, Esq. Secretary Priya Natarajan Adele Ngoy Shafaat Qazi Blanca Santiago Leslie Silverstein, Esq. Andi Summers Ronald Stegall Caroline Teschke, M.D. T he human cost of global events has a ripple effect that reaches beyond borders and into our communities here in Maine. We have seen this again, as circumstances in Afghanistan impact local Afghan families with loved ones who worked for the U.S. military, as journalists, and as human rights workers during the conflict. Those still in Afghanistan must now rely on family in the U.S. to search for sponsors, collect money for filing fees, and file immigration applications on their behalf. They must also risk their lives to leave the country so they can be processed at a U.S. Consulate in a third country. The process is long, complicated, and uncertain. Others, who were evacuated, are now being transported to the U.S. for resettlement. Approximately 100 Afghans are expected to arrive in Maine in coming months. When they arrive, they are given temporary work authorization and then must apply for asylum to gain permanent legal status and avoid deportation back to Afghanistan. As in all immigration cases, they are not provided a government-paid attorney to represent them. In this newsletter, you can read about the legal work ILAP is doing to support Afghan families in Maine. You can also read about our new Project Attorney, Catherine Lindgren, who is working alongside Maine’s Afghan community, Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, Catholic Charities of Maine, and others, in this effort. The recent crisis in Afghanistan is one of many that impact immigrant communities in Maine. The effects of political violence, natural disasters, and human rights abuses around the world, including Central America, Haiti, Central Africa, and beyond, continue to be felt in our state. We are fortunate to have a welcoming and supportive community that responds quickly to these events. But ultimately, systemic solutions are needed to ensure that future refugees can find safety and protection through a just and humane immigration system. To stay informed on immigration news, get updates on how to make an appointment at ILAP while we are working remotely, and find our new advisories and self-help materials, visit www.ilapmaine.org. As always, you can also sign up for our monthly “Golden Door” email newsletter at signup.ilapmaine.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you for your support and solidarity.ILAP • Fall 2021 • 3 The Work Continues Continued from Cover Farewell & Well Wishes! BAN KWANA! Wilkommen, Welcome! BIEN VENUE! We are thrilled to welcome Andi Summers to our Board of Directors. Andi was ILAP’s first fully Accredited Representative, working with the organization between 2008 and 2014. She is now the Executive Director of the Foundation for Portland Public Schools. She previously worked as a teacher, the co-director of coaching at Great Schools Partnership, and a community engagement and public school improvement coach in school districts around the U.S. Welcome back to ILAP, Andi! We are excited to welcome Alicia Curtis, Esq. as ILAP’s new Board President! Alicia has served on ILAP’s Board since 2017 and has been instrumental in growing our Lewiston office. She works as an attorney at Berman & Simmons in Lewiston where she concentrates her practice on complex motion practice, appeals, and insurance coverage disputes. As an active member of our Pro Bono Panel, Alicia has helped several clients gain asylum. ILAP is excited to have your leadership as we look toward the future! We share a heartfelt thank you to outgoing Board President Leslie Silverstein, Esq. Leslie provided steadfast leadership to the organization since 2016, during some of the most difficult years in immigration law. Thank you for everything, Leslie. We are grateful to still have your energy and expertise on the Board! ILAP recently said goodbye to long-standing Board member, Anne Kemper . Anne generously served for 18 years, seeing ILAP through a number of transformations and periods of growth. We don’t have the words to thank you enough for all you’ve contributed to ILAP. All the best and thank you, Anne. Read a guest column from Anne on pg. 8! ILAP welcomed several interns this summer who shared their time and expertise. Thank you to legal interns Andrés Kenney (Maine Law Class of 2023), Aisha Simon (Maine Law Class of 2023), Diyaa Yaqub (Bowdoin College Class of 2023) and development and communications intern Joe Celestin (Hunter College Class of 2023). We are grateful for your flexibility, passion, and hard work this summer! Andi Summers Alicia Curtis Catherine explained that ILAP’s Afghan response is threefold: 1. Employ legal remedies to help Mainers seeking assistance for their family members in immediate danger in Afghanistan because of the Taliban takeover 2. Organize legal support for incoming Afghan evacuees 3. Advocate for systemic changes, so more people can find safety in the future Helping Loved Ones Get to Safety ILAP has been working alongside Maine’s Afghan community to file humanitarian parole applications for family members still in Afghanistan. Humanitarian parole is a process that allows people in a serious humanitarian emergency, like many of N’s family members, to apply to travel to the U.S. to find safety. The process is expensive and complex, and it provides only temporary relief rather than a pathway to permanent legal status. Desperate to keep their loved ones’ safe, Maine Afghans are moving forward with these applications without knowing whether their family members will be able to travel to a U.S. embassy to complete the required processing. Despite the many hurdles, ILAP is committed to supporting these critical cases. Welcoming Evacuees Those who had the rare opportunity to safely evacuate Afghanistan in August are now being resettled across the country. Maine welcomed the first Afghan families in October, with up to 100 people expected over the next 6 months. Although these families are receiving some government support upon arrival, they must then face our country’s daunting immigration system to remain in the U.S. Continued on Page 64 • ILAP • Fall 2021 LEGAL NEWS & ADVOCACY Fight for a Pathway to Citizenship Our immigrant friends, colleagues, and neighbors have been waiting decades for immigration reform. The failure to pass any meaningful legislation has left our immigration system full of backlogged cases, separated families, and a workforce that has not unlocked its full potential. The majority of Americans, across the political spectrum, support a pathway to citizenship, but yet again Congress has not been able to break their pattern of inaction. In March, the House passed two pieces of immigration legislation with bipartisan support that were never acted on by the Senate. In August, the House and the Senate both passed a budget resolution that included a pathway to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people. Ultimately, the provision was ruled against, twice, by the Senate parliamentarian - an unelected Senate attorney. The parliamentarian’s rulings were a setback, but not the end. ILAP will continue advocating for legislation that provides permanent solutions. Take Action Today! There are easy, meaningful ways you can make your voice heard and advance justice and equity for immigrants. Visit ILAP’s Take Action Page at ilapmaine.org/take-action! DACA Recipients Still in Limbo In the summer, a Texas federal judge ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is unlawful and blocked the government from granting initial applications to the program. In response, the Biden administration proposed a new DACA rule. Unfortunately, the proposal does not expand eligibility for the program and would separate DACA work authorization from protection from deportation, opening up the possibility for a court to block recipients from obtaining a work permit in the future. ILAP joins our partners in demanding full and permanent protection for DACA recipients. Immigration System Ravaged by Racism, Still Reeling from Trump Administration Many anti-immigrant, anti-Black policies that have existed for decades were exacerbated under the Trump administration and are still having insidious effects on our country’s immigration system, especially at our southern border. The “Remain in Mexico” policy devised under the Trump administration, for example, has been reinstated because of a Supreme Court ruling in August. This policy forces families fleeing violence to await their hearings in border cities in Mexico, where they are often exposed to additional violence, torture, or kidnapping. The Biden administration has announced its intention to issue a memo formally terminating the program. Title 42, another inhumane Trump-era policy, is continuing to be used as unjust justification for expelling asylum seekers without considering their claims. The Biden administration invoked Title 42 to initiate the mass deportations of families to Haiti, which is particularly shocking coming just months after the U.S. government redesignated Haiti for TPS due to violence, political upheaval, and the most recent earthquake. We call on the Biden administration to immediately stop this anti-Black policy and welcome families with dignity. The racism that built our immigration system continues playing out in big and small ways today. ILAP remains committed to working toward re-imagining and re-building an immigration system that centers immigrants and results in real justice. Advocacy for Maine’s Immigrants During the 2021 Legislative Session ILAP was proud to join advocacy efforts during the spring Maine legislative session to advance more just and equitable policies in our state. As a result of the sustained advocacy of many, we successfully passed legislation to expand immigrant rights and advance racial and criminal justice, while soundly defeating xenophobic proposals. Included in these efforts were bills to pilot racial impact statements in the state legislature, collect data on racial profiling in Maine, provide income support and interest-free loans to eligible immigrants, and expand MaineCare funding for pregnant people and children.ILAP • Fall 2021 • 5 Celebrating Pro Bono Panel Wins Congratulations to Pro Bono Panel members Arnie Macdonald of Bernstein Shur and Robyn March for recent wins in Boston Immigration Court! Arnie was instrumental in securing asylum for a client from Burundi and Robyn worked for years to secure the safety of an Iraqi client. An asylum seeker is five times more likely to win their case in immigration court if they have a lawyer. To find out more about providing life-changing asylum representation, visit ilapmaine.org/pro-bono-panel or contact Michelle Gentry at mgentry@ilapmaine.org. Shared Learning through Panel Trainings This spring, ILAP teamed up with local immigration attorney and ILAP Board member Jenny Beverly and Boston attorney Stephanie Marzouk to host “Updates in Immigration Court,” a training to help attorneys get started with an immigration court case. Special thanks to Jenny and Stephanie for sharing their time and expertise! ILAP attorney Barbara Taylor also led a training on Asylum “Crimmigration,” focusing on how criminal issues can affect an asylum case. Because many cases wait years for decisions, this information helps attorneys protect clients from the consequences of contact with the criminal legal system. Thank you, Barbara! Continuing Community Legal Education Asylum Outreach Attorney Felix Hagenimana hosted Facebook Live community workshops on how criminal charges can affect immigration status in French, Lingala, Portuguese, Spanish, and Kirundi/ Kinyarwanda. You can find recordings on ILAP’s Facebook page and a schedule of upcoming workshops at ilapmaine.org/uaw. Mainers Taking Advantage of Mendez Rojas Settlement In late 2020, ILAP launched the Mendez Rojas Project to provide screenings, consultations, and legal assistance to people who may qualify as class members of the Mendez Rojas Settlement Agreement. The settlement provides another chance to apply for asylum if someone missed the one-year filing deadline due to U.S. government errors. Spearheaded by local attorney Karen Fox, we have met with nearly 150 people across Maine to help them navigate becoming class members , a process riddled with procedural barriers. Our hope is that as many people as possible can take advantage of the Mendez Rojas Settlement opportunity before the deadline in April 2022. PRO BONO PANEL & ASYLUM UPDATE Immigrant Children’s Project Continues to Grow ILAP launched our Immigrant Children’s Project last fall, and it has quickly become an integral part of our work. Every month we meet new children and youth who can benefit from Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), a path to permanent residency for non-citizens under age 21 who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both of their parents. The Project works to facilitate SIJS representation by pairing young people with a pro bono attorney or providing legal representation in-house. Preti Flaherty has been a critical partner since the project’s beginning and seven more of the firm’s attorneys have recently taken on representation of young people seeking a SIJS Predicate Order in Maine state courts, the first step towards a SIJS application. We are incredibly grateful to the entire team at Preti for their dedication and diligence in expanding access to immigration representation of vulnerable young people in Maine. This fall, Immigrant Children’s Project Attorney Maggie Loeffelholz and ILAP Supervising Attorney Melissa Brennan collaborated with local attorney Tori Stenbak from Palla Sinclair to provide a two-part training on SIJS for Maine practitioners. ILAP also launched a new digital Attorney Resource Library with practice advisories, guidance, and sample materials to support pro bono attorneys in their representation of immigrant youth. Immigrant Children’s Project STAY INFORMED: n Visit signup.ilapmaine.org to receive ILAP’s Golden Door monthly email updates on laws and policies affecting immigrants in Maine. ©clipart.com6 • ILAP • Fall 2021 THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT ILAP. This year, Susan Horowitz of Ash Cove Pottery found an especially creative one! Susan started Ash Cove Pottery in 1986 and has been creating beautiful ceramics out of her Harpswell studio ever since. Beyond enriching Maine’s community through art, she also has a long history of giving back through an initiative she calls “Pots for a Cause.” This year, Susan chose ILAP as a beneficiary of her limited-edition “36” Bowls. After the pandemic delayed plans to mark her 35th anniversary, Susan realized the significance of celebrating her 36th year of making pottery in Maine. “In Hebrew, the letters that spell ‘Chai,’ which means Life, have the value of 18,” she explained. “36 or ‘Double Chai’ is a special number for Good Luck, and donations and gifts are often in multiples of 18.” Susan committed to donating $18 to ILAP for each of her “36” Bowls sold. The bowls, while great for holding soup and other yummy things, also hold a lot of meaning. “I made these “36” Bowls during the Jewish holiday of Passover, which is celebrated by telling the story of the 10 Plagues, the escape from slavery, and the pursuit of freedom,” Susan reflected. “We are reminded to love the stranger because we were once slaves in a strange land, and also acknowledge that we are not free until all of us are free.” Susan recently sold her last “36” bowl and surpassed her original fundraising goal, collecting $1,200 from sales to support ILAP’s work. We are so grateful to Susan for sharing ILAP’s story with so many and putting her creativity to work for our mission! Donor Spotlight: Ash Cove Pottery We expect the majority will need to apply for asylum and, as in all immigration cases, they will not be provided with an attorney to help them. Drawing strength from our partners and dedicated Pro Bono Panel, ILAP will organize legal guidance and representation for these families throughout their asylum cases. Reimagining a Better Way Forward The last few months have reminded us that a broken immigration system is not just inconvenient, it actively puts people in danger. Among those still in Afghanistan are allies who have been waiting years for a visa to the U.S., left stranded because of backlogs and bureaucratic delays. While we work to support the immediate legal needs of Afghan families in Maine, we must recognize the urgency of building a more just immigration system that works to protect people - instead of leaving them behind. Stories about Afghanistan are already fading from the news, but the road to safety and family reunification will be long for many Afghan families. As we have done before and will do again during the next crisis, ILAP is here to provide legal guidance and support throughout the many months and years ahead. As we go to print, there are efforts being organized across the state to welcome Afghan families. If you are interested in joining, we encourage you to connect with groups working in your community. n The situation in Afghanistan is still changing rapidly and we urge you to check our website and social media for updated information. Afghan families looking for immigration legal help can contact ILAP by calling (207) 780-1593 or visiting ilapmaine.org/get-legal-help. The Work Continues Continued from Page 3 Visit Ash Cove Pottery at ashcovepottery.com. If you’re feeling inspired and want to find out how to plan your own benefit for ILAP, visit ilapmaine.org/grassroots-fundraising!ILAP • Fall 2021 • 7 ILAP Supporters Learn Roots of Region’s History This October, in place of our regular India Street Society Gathering, ILAP offered “People’s History of Portland” walking tours with Seth Goldstein from Atlantic Black Box for our India Street Society, Advocates for Justice, and dedicated volunteers. The walking tour series, generously sponsored by Norway Savings Bank, began at One India Street, home of ILAP’s first offices, and took us throughout downtown Portland, ending at the Abyssinian Meeting House. The tour highlighted stories too often untold about our region’s historically marginalized communities , including the Wabanaki people, generations of the African diaspora, immigrants, and others who were critical in shaping our shared history. It is based on Daniel Minter’s markers for the Portland Freedom Trail and researched by Seth and his colleagues at Atlantic Black Box. “It has changed the way I see our town and region, and I am so grateful for that perspective,” reflected one attendee. Another attendee particularly enjoyed “learning more about Portland’s growth and economic dependence on slavery and the Underground Railroad in Portland.” To reimagine the future, we must better understand our past. We hope these tours are part of an ongoing conversation about Maine’s history and its future. Special thanks to the Portland Food Co-op and Snell Family Farm for generously providing refreshments for the tours. THE ATLANTIC BLACK BOX is a grassroots historical recovery project that empowers communities throughout New England to research, reveal, and begin reckoning with the region’s complicity in the slave trade while recentering the stories of its racially marginalized groups. To learn more and support their work, visit atlanticblackbox.com. People’s History of Portland Walking Tour Series with ILAP 8 • ILAP • Fall 2021 AROUND 207 Rural Maine Project: Reaching More People with Technology Rural Maine is large, with many small immigrant communities and seasonal workers, widely spread out, and often isolated. The pandemic spurred the Rural Maine Project’s expansion of remote services as the project’s work transitioned from on the road to online. Although these changes were necessitated by a moment of crisis, we have seen that they lower the barriers to accessing our services and benefit our organization in many ways. Technology allows us to be more responsive, effective, and wide-reaching. Aligned with these learnings, ILAP and other service providers working with farm and seasonal workers around the state came together to launch a central website specifically for farmworkers, accessible from anywhere. This digital hub includes updated referral information and a wide range of resources in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. Special thanks to Amy Hagemeier for spearheading this project! Rural Maine Project Senior Attorney Barbara Taylor also helped assemble over 800 resource bags for distribution to broccoli, potato, and blueberry workers throughout the summer and fall. The bags, packed with important information and resources, in addition to masks and snacks, were given out by our partners as part of worker welcome programs. ILAP is now working to assemble hundreds more to distribute to apple and wreath workers later this fall and winter. Visit the newly published Farm Workers Resource Hub at sites.google.com/view/ farmworkersmaine. Lewiston: Reflecting Back on 20 Years ILAP has had a presence in Lewiston for over 20 years. In 2001, many immigrants from Somalia started arriving in Lewiston. Housing in Portland had become very tight, and the Somali families were well served by the apartments that had been vacated by the Franco-American families. These folks were refugees and needed to obtain green cards and then citizenship. ILAP attorney Barbara Taylor came to Lewiston Adult Education’s Learning Center to provide much needed legal information to many. ILAP’s service to the community was invaluable, as many families had no way to get to Portland. As Lewiston’s immigrant community grew with the addition of asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Angola, and other countries, ILAP decided to dedicate even more time and resources. At first, ILAP staff came two to three times a week. Later, an office was established on Lisbon Street where even more of the city’s immigrants could take advantage of ILAP’s services. Interpreters were provided, pro bono lawyers helped to lessen the load and Bates college students provided a variety of needed services. ILAP is entering a new phase in Lewiston with their new office. Many thanks go to ILAP’s staff and Board for making this needed investment in the Lewiston community! GUEST COLUMN by Anne Kemper Anne Kemper has served on ILAP’s Board for the last 18 years. As she prepares to finish her last year on the Board, she reflected on the growth and transformation of ILAP in Lewiston and the city itself. ILAP is excited to be entering a new phase in Lewiston with our move into a new office space at 95 Park Street! This new location is centrally located, larger, and will allow us to continue growing into the future. We look forward to welcoming you to our new office once it is safe to do so. Special thanks to Women Giving Back who donated supplies and furniture for our new office. Thank you for your kindness and support! Above: Supervising Attorney Alice Kopij stands with Lewiston’s Legal Program Assistant Nolwenn Robison in front of ILAP’s new office building.ILAP • Fall 2021 • 9 n Julia Brown virtually attended the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) National Day of Action. She and other immigration attorneys met with staff from Maine’s Congressional delegation to advocate for legislation to create a pathway to citizenship and called for the end of immigration detention and Title 42. n Julia met with Berman & Simmons's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee to share ILAP's mission, activities, and day-to-day challenges. She also spoke to Professor Nicole Kellett's class at UMF called "Incarceration Nation: Understanding and Imagining Freedom and Justice" about the immigration system and how federal and state policy can directly impact the lives of immigrants in Maine. n Treva DeMaynadier and Barbara Taylor hosted an information session about Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for services providers and community organizations. You can find a recording of the workshop on ILAP’s Facebook at facebook.com/ ILAPMaine/videos. n Julia Brown and Phil Mantis contributed to Freedom & Captivity, a state-wide initiative launched this year to engage Maine’s communities in imagining an abolitionist future. You can find Julia’s essay and Phil’s podcast episode, along with a calendar of events and much more at freedomandcaptivity.org. n ILAP continues to collaborate with local organizations in Lewiston to support the victims of a devastating apartment fire on Blake Street this fall. Lewiston’s Alice Kopij and Nolwenn Robison have been working with families to recover lost immigration documents and update their addresses with immigration. n Laura Simocko joined other Maine fundraisers to present about Community Centric Fundraising at the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Northern New England annual fall conference. If you would like to connect with CCF’s chapter in Maine, please email maineccf@gmail.com. Read ILAP’s 2020 Annual Report to learn more about our impact last year and the many supporters who make our work possible: ilapmaine.org/ annual-report 2020 STAFF NEWS n Asylum Program Director Jennifer Bailey was awarded the 2021 Thomas P. Downing, Jr. Award from the Maine Justice Foundation. The award was established in Downing’s memory to recognize legal aid staff for their dedication to access to civil justice for vulnerable Mainers. “In addition to her decades of devoted work on behalf of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers around the world, Jennifer led ILAP’s asylum program through an extremely turbulent period in asylum law,” said Sue Roche. A well-deserved honor for a steadfast advocate for immigrants. Congratulations! n Immigration Forms Program Supervisor Treva DeMaynadier was accepted into CLINIC’s highly competitive Partial to Fully Accredited Representative training program, which will put her on the path to represent clients in immigration court. Congrats and good luck, Treva! Marijuana Public Awareness Campaign Maine is among the many states to have recently legalized recreational marijuana. Despite this state-level legalization, marijuana remains illegal under federal immigration law. This means immigrants who are not yet U.S. citizens can still face harsh immigration consequences if found to have ever used or grown marijuana or worked in a marijuana business – even when marijuana is legal under state law. This summer, ILAP launched a public awareness campaign to inform noncitizens of the dangers of marijuana and share tips for staying safe now that marijuana is legal in Maine, creating multilingual materials and videos along with a social media toolkit for our partners. For more information about marijuana and immigration, plus resources for attorneys and advocates, visit: ilapmaine.org/marijuana. MELTING POTIMMIGRANT LEGAL ADVOCACY PROJECT P.O. Box 17917, Portland, ME 04112 ph 207.780.1593 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 64 PORTLAND, ME ILAP staff are working remotely and we are here to help! To get legal help while our offices are closed to the public, you can: Call (207) 780-1593 Leave a voicemail message. Please include your full name, contact information, and a brief description of your legal problem. Fill out our online intake request form. You can find the form at ilapmaine.org/get-legal-help. It is available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. We will do our best to contact you within three business days. Please note that ILAP is a small organization and we are not able to help everyone who asks for assistance. We are monitoring public health guidelines and we will share information on re-opening our offices to the public on our website and social media when it is safe to do so. Thank you for your understanding. Get Legal Help SUPPORT ILAP Advance the cause of justice for immigrants in Maine by supporting ILAP today: n Visit ilapmaine.org/donate to give online or begin a monthly gift n Sign up to volunteer at ilapmaine.org/ volunteer n Transfer a gift of stock to ILAP or make a legacy gift. Contact Laura for more details at LSimocko@ilapmaine.org n Send a gift via check to: Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project P.O. Box 17917 Portland, ME 04112 n Members of the Maine Bar can contribute to ILAP’s work by donating to the Campaign for Justice, a special collaborative fundraising effort by Maine’s legal community to support legal aid. Visit campaignforjustice.orgNext >