FLORENCE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE RIGHTS PROJECT

THE FLORENCE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE RIGHTS PROJECT PROVIDES FREE LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN ARIZONA IMMIGRATION DETENTION THROUGH ITS ADULT LEGAL PROGRAM, CHILDREN'S LEGAL PROGRAM, AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM. THE FLORENCE PROJECT ADDITIONALLY PROVIDES LEGAL ORIENTATIONS AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER AND ENGAGES IN ADVOCACY TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS. THROUGH OUR ADULT LEGAL PROGRAM, WE SERVED DETAINED ADULT INDIVIDUALS AT FACILITIES LOCATED IN ELOY AND FLORENCE, ARIZONA. WE PROVIDED CASE ASSISTANCE OVER 2,364 TIMES AND MAILED OVER 7,545 LEGAL EDUCATION PACKETS TO PROVIDE SELF-HELP CASE SUPPORT. WE PROVIDED DIRECT REPRESENTATION TO 216 ADULTS, INCLUDING 106 PEOPLE WHO WERE APPOINTED COUNSEL AFTER A JUDGE FOUND THEM UNABLE TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES. WE ALSO REPRESENTED ADULTS ON APPEAL AT THE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION APPEALS AND THE 9TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS. OUR CHILDREN'S LEGAL PROGRAM DELIVERED "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" PRESENTATIONS TO 17,562 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN. WE MET WITH 14,520 CHILDREN TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL CASE ASSESSMENTS. OVER 1,050 CHILDREN RECEIVED FULL LEGAL REPRESENTATION. WE REMINDED EACH CHILD THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAFETY AND PRIVACY WHILE IN GOVERNMENT FACILITIES. WE INQUIRED AS TO THE LENGTH OF THEIR STAYS IN DETENTION AND ASKED THE CHILD IF THE GOVERNMENT POSED OBSTACLES TO THEIR REUNIFICATION WITH FAMILY. WE ADVOCATED ON THEIR BEHALF IF THEY WERE SEPARATED FROM THEIR CAREGIVERS OR DENIED MEDICAL CARE. OUR SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDED LIFESAVING SOCIAL SERVICES TO 490 PEOPLE. BECAUSE IMMIGRATION REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS ARE COMPLEX AND MAY TAKE YEARS TO COMPLETE, OUR SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM ENSURES PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS, IN DIRE NEED OF MEDICAL SERVICES, AT RISK OF TRAFFICKING, OR IN NEED OF ADVOCACY ARE HOLISTICALLY SUPPORTED. OUR SOCIAL WORKERS CREATE BRIDGES FOR PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE NEW PROCESSES THAT MAY BE UNFAMILIAR DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN CULTURE, LANGUAGE, OR IMMIGRATION STATUS. OUR LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES TEAMS RESPONDED TO 120 CASES OF FAMILY SEPARATION WITH ADVOCACY TO REUNIFY FAMILIES, INCLUDING 63 CASES BETWEEN A PARENT AND A CHILD. OUR LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES TEAMS ALSO AIDED 270 CHILDREN WHO WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 5, MANY OF WHOM WERE PREVERBAL OR HAD DIFFICULTY EXPRESSING WHAT HAD OCCURRED TO THEM. EACH ONE OF THESE CHILDREN HAD AN ATTORNEY AND A SOCIAL WORKER ASSESS THEIR CASE DUE TO THEIR TENDER AGE AND THE NEED FOR INTENSIVE SUPPORT. AT THE BORDER, WE PROVIDED LEGAL ORIENTATIONS TO OVER 4,164 ADULTS IN NOGALES, SONORA, MEXICO, THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTED OVER 5,406 PEOPLE WHEN CONSIDERING THE ACCOMPANYING FAMILY MEMBERS. WE PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS TO OVER 393 PEOPLE AT THE BORDER TO EXPLAIN CURRENT POLICIES AND TO PROVIDE GENERAL LEGAL EDUCATION ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS. FURTHERMORE, WE HOUSE A ROBUST PRO BONO PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MENTORSHIP TO ATTORNEYS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO EXPAND OUR REACH. IN 2023, WE MENTORED PRO BONO ATTORNEYS THROUGH 53 NEW LEGAL MATTERS. OUR PRO BONO PARTNERS ENGAGED IN VARIOUS LEGAL MATTERS RANGING FROM INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION TO MAJOR LAWSUITS. THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY TEAM, WE ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS WITH VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. WE OPPOSED POLICIES AND REGULATORY CHANGES THAT LIMITED ASYLUM ACCESS AT THE BORDER BECAUSE THE LAW DICTATES THAT PEOPLE BE ALLOWED TO SEEK ASYLUM IN THE U.S. REGARDLESS OF MANNER OF ENTRY. WE PURSUED LITIGATION TO OPPOSE THE UNJUST TREATMENT OF PEOPLE AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND IN DETENTION. WE LITIGATED 30 INDIVIDUAL CASES BEFORE THE COURTS OF APPEAL (THE COURTS IMMEDIATELY UNDER THE SUPREME COURT) AND RESOLVED AT LEAST 13 OF THOSE CASES, INCLUDING SOME MAJOR WINS. WE SIGNED OR DRAFTED AT LEAST 7 AMICUS BRIEFS, FILED 10 ORGANIZATIONAL OR JOINT COMMENTS ON PROPOSED RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND JOINED MORE THAN 50 JOINT ADVOCACY EFFORTS. WE FOUND EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO A VISION WHERE ALL IMMIGRANTS FACING REMOVAL HAVE ACCESS TO COUNSEL, UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS, AND ARE TREATED FAIRLY AND HUMANELY.