Al Otro Lado
Border Asylum and Humanitarian Parole Screenings
Asylum attorneys provide legal screenings for migrants trapped at the border.
Posted April 29, 2021
Background & Context
The Al Otro Lado Border Rights Project works with asylum seekers on the Mexican side of the border, providing legal education and screening for legal support. Border policies initiated by the Trump Administration had stranded thousands of asylum seekers on the Mexican side of the border since early 2018. The implementation of Title 42 weaponized the pandemic to shut down all access to asylum under the guise of health and safety protocols. As a result there are now thousands of vulnerable families of asylum seekers who have been stuck in Mexico for years who are in need of education and support.
Immediate Problem
We need immigration attorneys with at least a year of defensive asylum experience to sort through the thousands of people in need as quickly as possible to identify the most vulnerable and advocate on their behalf with immigration authorities for parole. We also need to provide a basic assessment of their asylum claim so they can make an educated decision about their future.
Work & Deliverables
Experienced asylum attorneys review information from intake conducted by volunteer. Ask follow up questions of client as necessary. Identify potential forms of relief for asylum seeker and explain to client.
Preparation Phase
- Fill out Volunteer Application form
- Schedule training
- Sign up for shifts
Collaboration Phase
- Conduct client screenings remotely during scheduled shifts
Wrap Up
- Provide feedback on the system, inform if you can no longer participate.
Al Otro Lado
We are a bi-national, social justice legal services organization serving indigent deportees, migrants, and refugees in Tijuana, Mexico. Our mission is to provide legal services and to uplift our immigrant communities by defending the rights of migrants against systemic injustices in the legal system. Our comprehensive cross-border programming and litigation work integrate trauma-informed practices. We engage vital partnerships and thousands of volunteers to provide essential legal services to migrants at the Southern Border in Tijuana and throughout Southern California. Al Otro Lado’s work is also centered in fighting for all families that have been torn apart by unjust immigration laws.
Al Otro Lado
We are a bi-national, social justice legal services organization serving indigent deportees, migrants, and refugees in Tijuana, Mexico. Our mission is to provide legal services and to uplift our immigrant communities by defending the rights of migrants against systemic injustices in the legal system. Our comprehensive cross-border programming and litigation work integrate trauma-informed practices. We engage vital partnerships and thousands of volunteers to provide essential legal services to migrants at the Southern Border in Tijuana and throughout Southern California. Al Otro Lado’s work is also centered in fighting for all families that have been torn apart by unjust immigration laws.