VECINA
Freedom of Movement (for Afghan Nationals)
Assist Afghan nationals requesting permission to enter the United States
Posted November 3, 2021
Background & Context
After years of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, our country has officially withdrawn its presence. Almost immediately, the Taliban overthrew the government and seized power, throwing the country into chaos. Many have died, and thousands more are being hunted, looking for a way to escape.
Immediate Problem
VECINA has received several inquiries asking for assistance for Afghan nationals in hiding to apply for humanitarian parole as a way for them to enter the United States.
Humanitarian parole is an application compiled with forms and documents, along with a filing fee, and sent to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Work & Deliverables
For this project, lawyers will be preparing and filing a request for humanitarian parole on behalf of an Afghan national. Law students will be paired with attorneys and assist in filling out the forms and preparing the documents.
While the amount of time required to complete a case varies widely, we anticipate that in most cases approximately 5-10 hours of attorney and/or student time will be needed.
Attorneys will enter appearances as the attorney of record when filing the petition. We expect these cases to last several months, but it could be longer, depending on how long USCIS takes to adjudicate cases.
Speaking Dari, Farsi, or Pashto will be useful for this project but is not required.
Preparation Phase
- Complete VECINA training
- Wait to be paired with a client
Collaboration Phase
- Respond to Requests for Evidence from USCIS, if applicable.
- Prepare and file humanitarian parole application (with mentorship from VECINA)
Wrap Up
VECINA
VECINA’s mission is to empower immigrant justice advocates through mentoring attorneys, educating communities, and mobilizing volunteers. Immigrants are facing one of the most difficult times in our nation’s history, so it’s more important than ever that immigrant justice advocates fight on behalf of immigrants’ rights. Immigrant justice advocates are battling fierce opposition, fatigue, and a constantly-changing landscape. Many attorneys are looking for ways to help but don’t have the tools necessary to provide effective representation. VECINA has expert mentors and training attorneys ready to equip pro bono attorneys with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide zealous advocacy.
VECINA
VECINA’s mission is to empower immigrant justice advocates through mentoring attorneys, educating communities, and mobilizing volunteers. Immigrants are facing one of the most difficult times in our nation’s history, so it’s more important than ever that immigrant justice advocates fight on behalf of immigrants’ rights. Immigrant justice advocates are battling fierce opposition, fatigue, and a constantly-changing landscape. Many attorneys are looking for ways to help but don’t have the tools necessary to provide effective representation. VECINA has expert mentors and training attorneys ready to equip pro bono attorneys with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide zealous advocacy.