PENNSYLVANIA IMMIGRATION RESOURCE CENTER

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS; PIRC PROVIDES SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH TWO PROGRAMS: 1) THE IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS PROJECT AND 2) THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE / MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP PROJECT. THE IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS PROJECT IS A CRITICAL PROVIDER OF IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. ISP PARTNERS WITH VICTIM SERVICE AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE IN A UNIQUE MODEL OF SERVICE DELIVERY THAT PROVIDES COORDINATED AND HOLISTIC SUPPORT TO HELP SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT STABILIZE THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS, ALLOWING THEM TO ACCESS LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN AS THEY CREATE NEW LIVES OF SAFETY, ECONOMIC WELL-BEING, RESILIENCE, AND ACOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR ABUSERS. THIS, IN TURN, BENEFITS LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY INCREASING THE STABILITY, SAFETY, AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF ALL RESIDENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEMAND FOR THESE SPECIALIZED SERVICES OUTWEIGHS THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE SERVICES ACROSS THE STATE, WITH PIRC BEING ONE OF THE FEW STATEWIDE PROVIDERS IN THIS AREA. AT THE CLOSE OF 2024, ISP HAD APPROXIMATELY 396 OPEN LEGAL CASES, HAVING CLOSED OUT 49 DIRECT REPRESENTATION CASES AND 78 CASES OF CONSULTS OR OTHER BRIEF SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE PROJECT / MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP: IN 2022, WELLSPAN HEALTH AND PIRC LAUNCHED A MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS HEALTH-HARMING LEGAL NEEDS OF PATIENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS OR AFFORD SUCH SERVICES. THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES NEEDS PROACTIVELY IN SUPPORT OF HEALTH. IN 2024, THE MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP PROVIDED LEGAL SERVICES TO 24 NEW REFERRALS WITH MEDICALLY COMPELLING IMMIGRATION LEGAL NEEDS. IN 2023 PIRC LAUNCHED THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE PORJECT TO COMPLEMENT THE WORK OF THE MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP BY OFFERING ADDITIONAL LEGAL SERVICES AND LEGAL INFORMATION TO IMMIGRANTS IN YORK COUNTY WITH EMERGENT NEEDS WHO WERE NOT BEING REFERRED BY WELLSPAN HEALTH. THESE ADDITIONAL SERVICES ALLOW MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO STABILIZE THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS AND OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION, STRENGTHENING LOCAL COMMUINTIES AND PROVIDING A MORE STABLE FUTURE THESE FAMILIES. IN 2024, THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE PROJECT SERVED 50 INDIVIDUALS WITH CONSULTATIONS, BRIEF SERVICES, AND DIRECT REPRESENTATION. IN MARCH OF 2025, THE ORGANIZATION LOST THE WELLSPAN MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP.

DIRECT REPRESENTATION: PIRC PROVIDES DIRECT REPRESENTATION AND PRO SE ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT IMMIGRANTS THROUGH THE NATIONAL QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM (NQRP), THE PENNSYLVANIA FAMILY UNITY PROJECT (PAIFUP), THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN'S PROGRAM (UCP), AND TO OTHER PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS (PVP). NQRP PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR DETAINED IMMIGRANTS DETERMINED BY THE IMMIGRATION COURT TO BE INCOMPETENT TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES DUE TO MENTAL ILLNESS OR OTHER CAPACITY LIMITATIONS. THESE CASES ARE COMPLEX DUE TO ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION AND COMPREHENSION BARRIERS AS WELL AS THE LACK OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THIS POPULATION. SECONDLY, PIRC PROVIDES DEFENSE AGAINST DEPORTATION THROUGH THE PAIFUP COLLABORATIVE PROJECT JOINTLY WITH NATIONALITIES SERVICE CENTER AND HIAS-PA. THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO BRING UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION TO DETAINED IMMIGRANTS IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS IN PA. CASES ARE SELECTED ON A MERITS-BLIND BASIS, SCREENED ONLY FOR INCOME RELATED AND RESIDENCE ELIGIBILITY. THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO SCALE THE PROJECT USING DATA AND EFFICACY TO SHOW THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE THAT REPRESENTATION MAKES TO INDIVIDUALS FACING DEPORTATION WITHOUT COUNSEL. IN 2024 PIRC ALSO BEGAN REPRESENTATION OF UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN FACING DEPORTATION IN OUR REGION UNDER THE UCP. FINALLY, PIRC PRESENTS OTHER SELECT CASES BASED ON PARTICULAR VULNERABILITIES SUCH AS ILLITERACY, LIMITED ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY, AND TRAUMA FROM PAST PERSECUTION OR TORTURE. IN 2024, PIRC STAFF PROVIDED PRO SE ASSISTANCE OR DIRECT REPRESENTATION BEFORE DHS OR EOIR TO 73 INDIVIDUALS FACING DETENTION AND/OR DEPORTATION.