Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy welcomes the expiration of Title 42, a public health law that was manipulated to expel vulnerable asylum seekers at our border since March 2020. At the same time, we express our grave concern that the Biden administration’s “transit ban”, which becomes effective immediately upon the expiration of Title 42, will deny asylum to vulnerable migrants who do not first seek asylum in countries through which they transit on their way to the United States.
With the anticipated surge in migration, we urge the community to consider the humanitarian crisis underlying this fraught political issue. As an organization, we are prepared to adapt and pivot to the changing legal environment to serve the best interests of our clients. We will continue to advocate for policies to ensure fair and humane treatment of migrants and pledge to continue our internal efforts to assist asylum seekers in our community. It is more important than ever that we have sufficient staffing, resources, and coordination among organizations working with migrants on both sides of the border. These efforts will ensure due process and the equitable treatment of all people seeking protection.
Our newly arrived neighbors should know that help is available. As they defend their right to remain in the US, it is important to ascertain whether they are eligible for any form of immigration relief. Immigrants in removal proceedings can obtain this advice, free of charge, from an immigration attorney in the “Pro Bono Room”, a small room the Advocacy Center staffs next to the Charlotte Immigration Court waiting room. The Pro Bono Room consult empowers the individual to make an informed choice about whether to spend money on legal fees, which can be extraordinarily expensive. Immigrants are also provided with guidance about how to represent themselves pro se.
Advocacy Center hours in the Pro Bono Room are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The Charlotte Immigration Court is located at 5701 Executive Center Drive, Charlotte, NC in the fourth-floor suite.
We urgently need community support to ensure that our organization can continue to provide critical assistance to the many vulnerable migrants affected by the end of Title 42. Community donations will enable us to expand our services and support more individuals in need, including those who may have been impacted by the policy changes. Please donate to help us ensure that no migrant is left without hope.