Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in gaining more volunteer experience or are interested in immigration, law, human rights, or altruism, here are some opportunities that might interest you!
1. Free Immigration Screenings by Project Rousseau
About: Project Rousseau is offering free immigration screenings to newly arrived asylum seekers in NYC. They are seeking Spanish-speaking interpreters for these conversations to support their volunteer attorneys.
What is needed:
- Spanish-speaking interpreters that feel comfortable conversing in Spanish and interpreting from English to Spanish/Spanish to English with accuracy.
- Volunteers do not need formal training.
- Sign up for 1-2 hour slots at times that suit their schedules (can sign up for as few or as many as they want, and must be aged 16).
Where: WhatsApp video call.
How to get involved: Laura Assanmal ([email protected])
2. Friend of the Court Volunteer by Immigrant ARC
About: This program seeks to ensure that these newcomers will have access to legal help, orientation, and referrals at the moment they need it most – when they are appearing before an immigration judge. Guidance and training will be provided.
What is needed:
- Volunteer attorneys, law students, and people fluent in Spanish or Haitian Creole to join us at the Court to assist newcomers on the morning of their scheduled hearings.
- Engagement can be limited to volunteering in person at the immigration court on a few mornings or even with experienced attorneys via WebEx.
- EOIR will not require you to enter an appearance, nor are you obligated to offer ongoing representation.
Where: the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) 290 Broadway Immigration Court.
How to get involved: fill out the google form to get in touch with Immigration ARC.
3. Mini-Clinicas” by Central American Legal Assistance
About: Newly arrived immigrants who wish to apply for political asylum must do so within one year of arriving in the U.S., and they are not able to obtain work authorization until they do so. CALA provides legal consultations for hundreds of these newly arrived immigrants each month, but the need for assistance has outpaced CALA's capacity.
What is needed:
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) attorneys with experience preparing I-589s.
- Volunteers who do not need to be attorneys who are willing to be trained to complete Asylum Applications under CALA supervision. (Preferably folks who speak Spanish, but if we can get translation assistance, we can incorporate volunteers who do not).
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) translators who may not be interested in completing the application but are willing to lend a hand interpreting so that non-Spanish speaking volunteers can get involved.
Where: Red Cross Building at 520 W 49th St.
How to get involved: Heather Axford, (haxford@centrallegal.org)
