As Mrs. C began to tell her story, tears began to flow down her cheeks. Looking 20 years older than her actual 40 years of age, the Institute's lawyer quickly understood the lines on her face.

     Growing up in abject poverty in a small Honduran fishing village, Mrs. C, the mother of five children, got caught up in the political violence and repression that was sweeping her country. Her oldest son, who was active in local politics and had became the target of both the guerrillas and of the government, was mutilated and killed in front of her. Her second son was also killed. Forced to flee for her life, Mrs. C escaped to the United States.

     Hearing from a friend about the work of the Institute's Immigration Law Center, she sought our help in filing for political asylum. The Institute's lawyer helped her through the time-consuming process of gathering and preparing the necessary evidence for submission to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. So strong was her case, that she was granted asylum and was now able to rebuild the pieces of her shattered life.

     The Immigration Law Center was established to offer legal assistance to clients like Mrs. C. The mission of the Law Center is to provide quality legal services to an ethnically and linguistically diverse population of immigrants and refugees in the state of New Jersey. Recognized to represent aliens by the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Institute meets a critical need in immigrant communities.

     Rumor is often rampant and many people make life-altering decisions based on erroneous information. Immigrants also fall prey to "notarios" and other charlatans who exploit immigrants and new Americans eager to reunite with their families or to regularize their status in the United States.

     The Law Center deals with a complex and ever-changing array of legal questions and situations. We help clients to petition for family members; obtain, extend or change their immigrant visas; process labor certifications; file for political asylum; become citizens; petition for adjustment of status to permanent residency; and file for Temporary Protected Status.

     We also counsel and represent individuals in immigration court and file appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Our staff give seminars or workshops to inform particular ethnic classes of immigrants on recently available remedies and opportunities to obtain legal status. Finally, we are active in advocating for fairer and more equitable immigration laws.

     The International Institute is one of the few agencies deeply committed to and experienced in offering pro bono or low cost legal services to battered women and children under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Domestic violence against some alien women and children by American spouses is a common problem. We provide expert and confidential help to women in this predicament.

For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please call Jose' Saud.

Phone: 201-653-3888 ext.120
Fax:      201-963-0252
E-mail: law@iinj.org

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