ARS expands immigration practice
Minnesota is home to nearly half a million immigrants, including citizens and non-citizens, workers and students, and refugees. Immigrants strengthen Minnesota in countless ways—from our businesses and schools to our cultural institutions. They are our colleagues, neighbors, friends and family.
Many new immigrants are also among the most vulnerable members of society. They may be here seeking a better life, only to face barriers. They may also face legal challenges due to our complex immigration laws, without the resources to hire a lawyer.
In 2024, Adult Representation Services expanded its immigration practice, making it possible to take on more cases with greater complexity. ARS now has two attorneys who handle immigration cases, along with an accredited representative, which is a non-attorney who has been authorized by the U.S. Department of Justice to practice immigration law. Clients also receive wraparound supportive social services from ARS’ interdisciplinary team.
Expanding the practice was clearly needed. By the end of September 2024, ARS received more than 210 referrals for immigration legal services. They opened more than 140 cases for immigration legal services in 2024, compared to 59 in 2023. Behind those numbers are clients who ARS has helped to get new green cards, become citizens, obtain work permits, and more.
In the past year, ARS has also formed key partnerships within county and community organizations. Partners include the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, the Advocates for Human Rights, Comunidades Organizando El Poder y La Acción Latina, and many others. Together with these partners, the ARS immigration team will provide services to both adult and youth victims of labor law violations, human trafficking and other crimes.
Cases with community impact
Members of the ARS immigration team
The immigration team is part of the broader Community Impact team, which ARS created in 2023. The focus of the Community Impact team is to reduce harms for clients and help them achieve stability. The team encompasses immigration, child support modifications, the Health Equity Legal Project (HELP), Supportive Decision Making, appeals, and community engagement.
“What I appreciate most is the holistic services and interdisciplinary nature of our work,” said Anne Carlson, a senior attorney on the team. “Our clients have multiple, often overlapping needs. I love that I can connect my immigration clients to a housing or guardianship attorney or social services staff with ease.”
Case in point: the ARS’ immigration team received a referral from the housing unit. They discovered that client was a long-time permanent resident who was eligible for naturalization. The client was extremely nervous to apply, but the team supported them through a successful naturalization process.
“After becoming a U.S. citizen, the client expressed that they were looking forward to voting for the first time and visiting their home country, which they had not seen in over 20 years,” said Carlson.
The immigration team also helped multiple Ukrainian families fleeing the war apply for temporary protected status and renew their parole documents, enabling them to work and remain safely in the U.S.
“We’re working on cases with very high stakes for our clients,” said Meg Hennessy, another attorney on the immigration team. “It’s incredibly important for us to help safeguard their rights and help them tell their story and advocate for what they want.”
Published 11/25/24