The Tri-State area’s inaugural “Immigration Clinic†will be held on Saturday, February 14, to provide free assistance to members of the Hispanic community whose immigration status prevents them from working at local companies.
WorkOne Southwest, Catholic Charities with the Diocese of Evansville, Community Action Program of Evansville, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Henderson and Ivy Tech Community College will present the event from 8 a.m. to noon (CST) at the Ivy Tech campus in Evansville, 3501 N. First Ave.
The project grew out of recruitment efforts by area companies needing to fill many open jobs, and at the same time, bring diversity to their workforce. Through outreach to local community groups, it became apparent that immigration challenges are keeping Hispanic residents from filling these positions. The project is especially timely in light of President Obama’s recent executive order targeting immigration.
Seven attorneys and two trained counselors from Indianapolis, Bloomington and Evansville who specialize in immigration issues are donating their services to meet one-on-one with those who lack the documentation necessary to apply for jobs. The volunteers will hold confidential discussions to understand the individuals’ immigration circumstances and offer direction on how the problems should be addressed. They will not be entering into attorney-client relationships during the event, nor will they be helping to complete any documents that may ultimately be required.
Attorneys David Guerrettaz and Osman Mufti of Ziemer Stayman Weitzel Shoulders, LLP; and Keith M. Wallace and William Royal Gearhart II of Bowers Harrison, LLP, both Evansville law firms, will be participating. Christie Popp of Popp Law Office and Laura Pontius of Pontius Law, LLC, both of Bloomington, will also offer their services, along with Lara Aziz, who is the directing attorney at the Immigrants’ and Language Rights Center with Indiana Legal Services, Inc., in Indianapolis. Cesilie J. Cordovilla, multicultural liaison with Catholic Charities, and Megan Alvarez, program chair/assistant professor of paralegal studies at Ivy Tech, will also offer assistance. The Mexican Consulate in Indianapolis will send a representative.
Sponsors of the event include: Azteca Milling, HOLA, and Diversity & Inclusion Institute For Change.
Reads like it’s an “Illegal Alien” clinic so local businesses can hire minimum wage workers.
WOW! Pretty anti American huh? Just can’t believe the Catholic church is now against us Americans. Probably trying to get some payback for us outing their little boy molesters. Just cannot trust those Catholics. Would never let my child be any where near a priest.
The Catholic Church is for family-unity and the dignity of all human life, regardless of immigration status. The with all of the aging baby-boomers, who do you think will fill the work force as they retire? Who will support social security? I’m an immigration professional. This is my expertise. I’d love to chat about it with you!
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