Students will help Haitian nationals located in the U.S. apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS provides a temporary stay of deportation, and individuals filing for TPS also may request work and travel authorization. TPS is a temporary immigration status provided to nationals of certain countries experiencing problems that make it difficult or unsafe for their nationals to be deported to those countries. The Department of Homeland Security announced a new 18-month designation of Haiti for TPS in May 2021.
Organization
Mithoff Pro Bono Program
The Temporary Protected Status Clinic is an internal project of the Mithoff Pro Bono Program, hosted in partnership with Casa Marianella and American Gateways. Casa Marianella provides shelter, food, and full supportive services to homeless immigrants in Austin, as well as immigration legal services for residents and former residents. American Gateways champions the dignity and human rights of immigrants, refugees and survivors of persecution, torture, conflict and human trafficking through education, advocacy, and the provision of legal services.
Project Details
- Project Date
Saturday, October 2
- Project Time
- 11:00am-2:30pm
- Approximate hours of work requested
- 3 hours, including training; There are two sessions on October 2, 11am-12:30pm (in person applicant meetings) OR 1pm-2:30pm (virtual applicant meetings)
- Training
- Monday, September 27, 5pm-6pm (Zoom link via Canvas)
- Skills used
- Client interviewing; document preparation
- Project location
- Project location: The in-person group will meet at Casa Marianella, 821 Gunter Street, Austin, TX 78702 and Casa Marianella will require all participants to wear masks; the virtual group will meet applicants via Zoom
- Address
- 727 E. Dean Keeton Street, Austin, TX 78705
- Number of student volunteers requested
- 18
- Class year preference
- 1L, 2L, 3L, LLM
- Required skills
- Previous immigration law experience helpful; Haitian Creole or French language skills are helpful but not required; students who do not speak the same language as the applicant they are working with will have access to a translation service
- To Apply
- Register at https://tpsf21.eventbrite.com ; students may sign up for both applicant sessions (in-person and virtual) but should do so only if they live within 30-minute driving distance of Casa Marianella