Client Assistance

Eligibility for Assistance

View of the Port of Entry, San Ysidro, CA, the busiest
land border crossing in the world

The services of Casa Cornelia are available to those without the financial resources to secure an attorney. If it is determined that a client has adequate finances to secure an attorney, Casa Cornelia will assist him/her in securing an attorney knowledgeable in immigration law.

Assuming that a person is unable to afford an attorney, Casa Cornelia staff attorneys conduct screening interviews to determine whether the person seeking assistance has an issue to be resolved through one of the law centers existing programs. Currently, Casa Cornelia Law Center has three programs:

Under current policy, all children detained by the Department of Homeland Security are represented by Casa Cornelia, whether or not they have relief under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

All others seeking assistance from Casa Cornelia must establish to the satisfaction of the Case Review Committee their eligibility for relief under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The process for having one's case reviewed involves making an appointment for a regularly scheduled screening clinic. Within days of this screening, Casa Cornelia staff attorneys meet to determine which cases can be assigned to a staff attorney. Every effort is made to accept the cases of eligible persons.

If you would like to contact Casa Cornelia Law Center to see if we may be of assistance to you, please call our toll-free number, 1-800-704-4041. Please leave your name, phone number, and a brief reason why you are calling so that we may contact you.