Expanding Economic Mobility with ProBAR's Access to Work Clinic
In partnership with Good Neighbor Settlement House and the City of Brownsville, ProBAR’s Access to Work Clinic has helped nearly 3,000 migrants and asylum seekers paroled into the United States by providing free assistance to complete and file their work authorization applications.
A video highlight of the clinic shows how dedicated staff and volunteers turned an opportunity to respond into a life-changing project. “We identified a need, were approached for service, and we responded,” ProBAR’s Deputy Director, Aimee Korolev, reflects. ProBAR’s call to action has resulted in applicants receiving their work permit and Social Security number in as little as one month, avoiding spending hundreds of dollars to apply for work authorization and waiting months to receive it. Access to Work instantly creates opportunity for stability and economic mobility in the U.S., no matter the destination.
ProBAR’s Access to Work Clinic also serves as an opportunity for volunteers to gather and provide work authorization services on the border, a unique experience for law students and law firm volunteers alike. Karen Grisez, Pro Bono Counsel and long-time ProBAR volunteer, describes how supporting this clinic gave her a sense of satisfaction, knowing services are started and completed in the same day. Volunteers connect with individuals arriving every day in a detention-free environment, making a concrete impact on the ability of hundreds of people to financially support themselves while their immigration cases are pending. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, Access to Work services continue to change the lives of hundreds of people arriving at the border.
Here’s a snapshot of the overall impact the clinic has made so far:
– Nearly 3,000 people have been assisted since January.
– 46 pro bono volunteers have participated in the clinic, including members of the Commission on Immigration, law students, and law firm volunteers.
– Countries of origin for those assisted have included Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, and Peru.
– In addition to Spanish, we’ve met the need for critical language access in French and Portuguese to clients in need of translation services.
Access to Work continues to blossom in response to the critical need for work authorization services. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue these services with the support of the Jones Day Foundation and Texas-New Mexico-Oklahoma chapter of AILA. Thanks to their generous gifts, we have had the opportunity to make an impact on thousands of migrants and asylum seekers and address a key need affecting major cities across the nation that welcome newcomers to our country.
ProBAR’s Access to Work Clinic is truly a game changer for families and communities. Interested in volunteering or donating to support our mission? Stay connected with ProBAR!