Catholic Charities answers growing need for immigrant, refugee services (Migration Week)

New Jersey ranks among the top states in the nation in receiving unaccompanied minors, and the Immigrant & Refugee Services Division at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark is charged with helping these children reunite with family members and guardians in the area.

The Catholic Church considers it a moral obligation to ensure that all children are protected from such harm, consistent with their God-given dignity. “Unaccompanied children are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, domestic servitude, and other exploitative situations,” said Kiera LoBreglio, Director of Immigrant and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities (CCAN).

“Because New Jersey is a top receiving state for unaccompanied minors, we have multiple programs to support these kids,” said LoBreglio. “We provide family reunification services including background check services for custodians who are looking to accept an unaccompanied minor into their home. We also offer a legal orientation program for custodians, home studies to ensure the safety of the placement, and post-release support to help with things like school enrollment, connecting families to adjustment therapy services, and overall mental health services. We also provide direct legal representation to make sure kids have the best chance of obtaining legal status in this country.” 

In 1974, then-Bishop Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio, the refugee resettlement director for the Archdiocese, created what is now the Bishop Francis Center for Legal Immigration Services, which houses all of CCAN’s immigration legal services. Having an attorney to navigate the immigration court system is crucial, said LoBreglio. Not having representation can result in family separation and deportation from the country. The chances of winning a case in immigration court without a lawyer are extraordinarily low, she added. Approximately 3,000 clients seek low or no-cost legal immigration services each year, including asylum seekers and those who have overstayed their visas, LoBreglio said.

The Immigrant & Refugee Services Division has two Newark-based offices, on Broad Street and Miller Street. The Broad Street office, located next to the Federal Building, provides the bulk of the immigration legal services. 

READ: Archdiocese offers services to help migrants and refugees

“We provide legal services from arrival to naturalization and beyond. Our legal team consists of attorneys as well as accredited representatives who are individuals with a lot of immigration experience who are certified by the Department of Justice,” LoBreglio said. “The demand for free and low-cost legal services in NJ far outstrips the capacity of legal service providers.”

The Miller Street location offers Refugee Support Service programs to another 3,000 clients in need of housing assistance, help with enrolling kids in school, and access to public benefits, medical services, English language training, and job placement. A related cash assistance program for refugees has grown from 100 clients to over 1,000 in just three years. LoBreglio said the clients are mainly from Haiti, with a few from Cuba and Ukraine since the war started there.  Haiti’s political instability, poverty, and a series of natural disasters have prompted tens of thousands of migrants to make the harrowing journey to the U.S.-Mexico border hoping to gain entrance into the United States.

John Westervelt, Catholic Charities Chief Executive Officer, said that because Catholic Charities offers so many social support services, it makes sense that migrants and refugees seek them out upon arrival to the area. Each year, the Immigrant & Refugee Services Division helps about 6,000 clients seeking immigration legal services and support such as food, housing, and medical and mental health services.

The Division houses 15 programs run by a staff of 50, with a $7.3 million annual budget.

Catholic Charities also partners with two parishes to house refugees and asylum seekers. The Refugee Resettlement Ministry at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Montclair can house up to 5 families and Sacred Heart in Bloomfield houses up to 2 families. A handful of parishes help by donating food, clothing, and home and school supplies to support Catholic Charities’ efforts. Westervelt said at least half of the Archdiocese’s 212 parishes refer clients to Catholic Charities. “We would like to get more parishes involved either helping those in need for parishes that have significant new arrival populations or for parishes who don’t have a big immigrant population on how they can help,” Westervelt said.

As Pope Francis reminds us, “Jesus was a refugee.”

Catholic Charities programs for immigrants

Direct Representation

Catholic Charities provides low-cost and pro bono legal assistance in all phases of immigration and naturalization proceedings, including removal defense (asylum, cancellation of removal, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status), family petitions, waivers of inadmissibility, humanitarian applications (VAWA, U visa, T visa), TPS, DACA, and naturalization. All cases are handled by an attorney or Department of Justice Accredited Representative. Program staff are also available to provide educational workshops on immigration law and current immigration issues.

Children & Youth

With funding from NJ DHS, we offer free legal representation and case management services to unaccompanied children and similarly situated youth in New Jersey.

Naturalization Assistance

In partnership with Jewish Vocational Services, we provide free naturalization application assistance and interview preparation.

For more information, please email us at immigration@ccannj.org.

Legal Orientation Program for Custodians (LOPC)

LOPC connects sponsors of unaccompanied minors with critical information about Immigration Court proceedings, medical and mental health services, school registration, and community youth programs. Sponsors participate in a 90-minute presentation, including a Q&A session, leave with a packet of resources, and receive a follow-up check-in phone call the week after the orientation. LOPC staff can be reached at LOPC@ccannj.org.

Immigration Court Helpdesk (ICH) and Family Group Legal Orientation Program (FGLOP)

For unrepresented individuals and families in removal proceedings, these programs offer group and individual orientations on court procedures, options for relief, and the rights and responsibilities of pro se litigants. Families on the Dedicated Docket in Newark can contact FGLOP@ccannj.org for more information. The Immigration Court Helpdesk can be reached at ICH@ccannj.org. Walk-in services are available at the Newark Immigration Court Monday – Thursday from 9 – 12, and at our office Monday – Thursday from 9 – 4.

Safe Release Support

The Safe Release Support Program helps reunite migrant children with their families in the United States. Catholic Charities offers family members with crucial assistance in the background check process and provides referrals for legal assistance, medical and mental health services, and other social services for both the sponsoring family members and the children they receive.

For more information, please contact fingerprints@ccannj.org.

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)

RCA is a federal cash assistance program for refugee populations who are not otherwise eligible for direct financial assistance, including Cuban/Haitian entrants, asylees, refugees, and victims of human trafficking. Catholic Charities assists RCA clients in accessing available cash assistance, applying for benefits, accessing medical care, and developing longer-term plans for self-sufficiency.

For more information about RCA eligibility, please call (201) 407-7713 or email refugee@ccannj.org.

Refugee Support Services (RSS)

RSS helps refugees gain economic independence and integrate into local communities by helping to find and maintain employment and addressing barriers to employment including English language instruction, child care, and access to legal services.

For more information, please call (201) 306-1338 or email refugee@ccannj.org.

Refugee School Impact (RSI)

The Refugee School Impact program assists newly-arrived families enroll their children in school and access academic programs and resources.

For more information about refugee social service programming, please email refugee@ccannj.org.

Featured image: Legal assistant/program manager Zarlasht Stanakzai (right) assists a client at the Bishop Francis Center for Legal Immigration Services, a department within Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark that has been helping migrants and refugees since 1976. (File photo)