USCRI's Immigrant Services DivisionThe U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) has served immigrants in the United States on a national level and through its field offices and affiliates for over a century. In 2012, USCRI reorganized its programs to reflect its increasing organizational involvement with immigrants and created USCRI’s Immigrant Services Division (ISD), which includes legal support for unaccompanied immigrant children, the Post Release Services Program, and the National Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Program. Our division is developing plans to expand existing international work in Mexico and Central America, where staff have conducted trainings with government officials, service providers, and community members on issues surrounding migration. Legal Support and Pro Bono Services for Immigrant ChildrenThe number of unaccompanied immigrant children crossing the border into the U.S. has risen dramatically in recent years: Over 16,000 unaccompanied children entered the U.S. in Fiscal Year 2012, and 24,000 children are expected to arrive in 2013. While the majority of these children come from Central America, some travel from as far away as China, Iraq, Russia, and Nigeria. Many are fleeing domestic abuse, gang violence, human trafficking, or poverty. Some simply want to reunite with their family.
USCRI’s Immigrant Services Division works with over 275 law firms and thousands of attorneys throughout the U.S. to provide these children with pro bono legal representation. This program was formerly known as the National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children. In addition to mentoring individual pro bono attorneys, ISD conducts trainings and maintains updated materials on immigration law at USCRI’s online resource library. ISD has conducted migration awareness workshops in Mexico and Central America and hosted international conferences on child immigration issues. To date, ISD has made a difference in the immigration cases of over 4,000 children.
Post Release Services ProgramMany children entering the U.S. without documentation are apprehended. These children are typically placed in the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s custody before being released to a family member, otherwise known as a “sponsor” in the United States, who will care for the child until a decision is made in the child’s immigration case. Once they are released to their sponsors, some children who have endured traumatic experiences before or during their journey to the U.S. are eligible for case management services, also known as “post release services.” USCRI’s Post Release Services program serves children nationally through the following locations: Raleigh, NC; Washington, DC; Greenville, SC; Atlanta, GA; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; Los Angeles, CA; and Santa Ana, CA. USCRI’s case managers monitor children’s safety and well-being and ensure access to legal, educational, medical, and mental health community resources, as well as youth development activities and other services. Case managers also provide support to sponsors while the children adjust to their new caregivers and communities. National Human Trafficking Victim Assistance ProgramUSCRI is one of three Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) National Human Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (NHTVAP) grantees responsible for the administration and oversight of comprehensive case management services for foreign national victims of human trafficking who are seeking HHS Certification. USCRI administers NHTVAP in 29 states and six American territories. In partnership with local service providers in our service area, USCRI works to assist survivors and family members in rebuilding their lives and re-establishing independent living.
Contact USCRI's Immigrant Services Division StaffPlease contact us to learn more about our programs or for information about intern or volunteer opportunities. Director Ricardo Gambetta Legal Support for Immigrant Children
Post Release Services
National Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Program To contact NHTVAP, please call 1-800-307-4712
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