Just Neighbors Ministry

Just Neighbor is located in an area where approximately thirty percent of the population is born outside the United States. This constitutes to a large number of residents who need immigration legal assistance in order to become self-sufficient and thriving members of the community. However, many of these families cannot afford private attorneys. In fact, a 2014, report on poverty in Fairfax County shows that 50 percent of the people who live in poverty in our community are foreign born residents (31,729). When this low-income population has no recourse to affordable and reliable help, it 1) prevents them for applying for immigration benefits that would allow them to work and get out of poverty and/or 2) forces them to choose between paying for their legal status and basic needs of food and housing. Just Neighbors believes it is essential to address the root problem if this poverty which is the ability to work legally in the United States and become self-sufficient. Research around the country illustrates that an immigrant’s legal status is the single and most potent barrier to socioeconomic mobility in the United States. Naturalized citizens have higher employment rates and are half as likely to live below the poverty line as noncitizens. When someone without proper immigration papers secures documentation, he also gains a 25 percent increase in income. Low-cost legal services for immigrants in Northern Virginia are limited, and many low-income immigrants are persuaded to pay large amounts of money for unnecessary paperwork or are over-charged for simple procedures. Some immigrants try to file immigration papers on their own and commit errors that create further complications. Many find it difficult to understand the requirements for obtaining legal status, and many cannot afford legal assistance. The immigration system within the Department of Homeland Security, with its procedural intricacies and processing errors, is incredibly difficult to navigate, even for the highly-educated, English-speaking immigrant. Low-income immigrants face the additional challenges of language, literacy, cultural barriers, and lack of education. In addition, some immigrants turn to low-cost notarios, which are people who claim to offer reliable legal assistance. These individuals are not trained in immigration law, provide incorrect legal advice, and can make serious, irreversible errors that have dire consequences. Without a reliable and trustworthy alternative for information and guidance, some individuals, who may be steps away from legalizing their immigration status, may instead face removal from the United States or years of waiting and uncertainty. In addition to the immediate need for immigration legal services, there is also the need for compassionate understanding about immigrants and refugees in our community. The community is often bombarded with images of refugees and immigrants in the news. Individuals don’t have the opportunity to learn more about their neighbors. There are a lack of opportunities for many people to have positive encounters with their immigrant and refugee neighbors.