Local Immigration Org Expects Surge in Demand Following Title 42 Repeal
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By Ryan Pitkin
With the repeal of the federal public health emergency order on May 11, residents will see a drop in COVID-19 tracking and testing, among other changes, while some non-residents face a more unsure future. Title 42, a provision that has been used to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States during public health emergencies, was also allowed to expire on Thursday.
While the expiration of the order is expected to lead to backups at the Mexican border, it may also lead to an influx in migrants in the Charlotte area, home to the only federal immigration court in the Carolinas.
The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy (CCLA) is preparing to assist Charlotte-area migrants who may be affected by the ending of Title 42, “adapting to the changing legal environment in order to address the increasing needs of the migrants coming to the area,” according to a release put out by the organization on Thursday.
“With the ending of Title 42 today, the Advocacy Center recognizes the need for urgent support to migrants who may have been impacted by this provision,” said Sharon Dove, director of the CCLA’s Immigrant Justice Program. “We are committed to the protection and support of our community and to defending all immigrants — both the newly arrived and those who have been here longer — in removal proceedings.”
CCLA is offering free legal consultations at its Pro Bono Room in east Charlotte, a small room located next to the waiting room at Charlotte Immigration Court, 5701 Executive Center Drive. The consultation aims to empower someone caught up in the deportation process to make an informed choice about whether to spend money on legal fees, which can be extraordinarily expensive, or learn how to represent themselves “pro se” if that’s what they choose to do.
“With the ending of Title 42 today, the Advocacy Center recognizes the need for urgent support to migrants who may have been impacted by this provision. We are committed to the protection and support of our community and to defending all immigrants—both the newly—arrived and those who have been here longer—in removal proceedings”, affirms Sharon Dove, Director of the Advocacy Center’s Immigrant Justice Program.
The Pro Bono Room consultation 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 on 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.
The ending of Title 42 comes at a time when the United States is facing a surge of migrants at the southern border. To stem the flow, the Biden administration will immediately enact a “transit ban” that will deny asylum to vulnerable migrants who do not first attempt to seek asylum in countries through which they transit on their way to the United States.
“For us the transit ban policy makes no sense given the political and economic disarray and rampant gang violence in the countries that immigrants pass through on their way from Latin America to the US. Those countries have difficulty protecting their own nationals–let alone newcomers. The transit ban is a thinly-veiled attempt to drastically reduce the number of individuals eligible for asylum by limiting asylum to Mexicans and Canadians.”
Many of these migrants are fleeing violence, poverty, and persecution in their home countries, and are seeking a better life in the United States. Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy recognizes the importance of providing support and assistance to these individuals and is committed to doing everything possible to ensure that their needs are met. “We believe that every person has the right to a safe and dignified life, regardless of where they come from,” said Sharon Dove.
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. To donate you can visit this link https://charlottelegaladvocacy.org/donate/ and help us ensure that no migrant is left without hope.
We are here to provide support to those who need it most, and we encourage everyone in need to reach out to us for free assistance: Client Helpline 704-376-1600, Outside Mecklenburg County: 800-438-1254. Línea de Ayuda en Español: 800-247-1931.
About Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy provides those in need with information, advice and advocacy in consumer protection, home preservation, health care access and public benefits, immigration, tax assistance and more. Our mission is to pursue justice for those in need. Our vision is to build a just community, where all people are treated fairly and have access to legal representation to meet their basic human needs of safety, economic security, and stability. Learn more: charlottelegaladvocacy.org
Statement on the End of Title 42
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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.
Advocacy Center Welcomes Federal Court Decision to End Title 42
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Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy welcomes the decision of US District Judge Emmet Sullivan to strike down the controversial Title 42 immigration policy, a public health law that was manipulated to expel vulnerable asylum seekers at our border. Judge Sullivan ruled the law was “arbitrary and capricious” and faulted the US government for “its decision to ignore the harm that could be caused” by issuing the policy. He reluctantly granted the Biden administration’s request for a stay; the ruling will be on hold until midnight December 21st.
On December 27, 2022, the US Supreme Court granted the motion of states including (but not limited to) Texas and Louisiana to stay Judge Sullivan’s vacatur of Title 42 until a full Supreme Court hearing on the policy can take place. The hearing is expected to occur in February or March and a final decision is unlikely to be issued until June.
Immigrant Justice Program Director, Sharon Dove commented on the ruling saying, “We firmly believe that it is necessary to lift Title 42 to ensure safe, legal entry to migrants who qualify for asylum. Allowing this false public health measure to remain in place did not resolve the ongoing crisis at the border and we urge the Biden administration to protect those who need it the most. We advocate for policies to ensure fair and humane treatment of asylum seekers and pledge to continue our internal efforts to assist asylum seekers in our community.”
After Title 42 is lifted, those seeking asylum in the U.S. will still face an uphill battle. As of January 2022, wait times for an asylum hearing averaged five years. We must continue to advocate for fair and humane asylum policies, as well as sufficient staffing, resources, and coordination with organizations working with asylum seekers on both sides of the border. These efforts will ensure due process and the equitable treatment of all people seeking protection.
