On a Monday evening in January, South Brooklyn Sanctuary is bustling with volunteers, translators, and migrants seeking answers to urgent questions about their pending asylum cases and fears of potential deportations under the incoming Trump administration. The organization is preparing for increased deportation defense, ICE watch, and anti-family separation work as a response to potential policy changes. South Brooklyn Sanctuary is one of many groups operating as a pro se community, teaching migrants to represent themselves with volunteer support. The organization has assisted over 5,000 migrants since 2022 and is expanding its services to accommodate the growing number of migrants, particularly from African countries.
The organization was founded to help migrants navigate the complex legal system and fill the gap left by overwhelmed legal clinics in New York City. Many migrants face challenges in obtaining legal representation and are often unprepared to appear in immigration court alone. South Brooklyn Sanctuary offers support and guidance to asylum seekers, encouraging them to provide detailed evidence to strengthen their cases. Volunteers like Maria Meneses, who was once an asylum recipient herself, play a vital role in assisting migrants through the asylum process.
Despite the emotional toll of recounting traumatic experiences, volunteers like Meneses are inspired by the growing community support and dedication to helping migrants build better futures in the U.S. One such success story is Emelis, who received a work permit and found employment after assistance from South Brooklyn Sanctuary. The organization continues to prepare for potential policy changes ahead, including fundraising for a full-time staff attorney and expanding its services to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse migrant population.
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