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Asylum

A client embraces Carmen Chavez gratefully after obtaining asylum.

Casa Cornelia is committed to upholding the legal rights of individuals fleeing their native countries due to political, social, religious, or ethnic persecution. Our clients are men and women who come to the U.S. from all over the world: Kamil fled Somalia after his entire family was killed by Hawiye militia; Athir, a Christian, fled Iraq after being persecuted for his religious beliefs; Chengti fled China after his family was persecuted for violating China’s strict One-Child policy; Dilkhwaz, a Women’s Rights Activist from Kurdistan, fled torture at the hands of Hussein’s regime.

Seeking Asylum in the U.S.

As soon as they set foot in the U.S., asylum seekers must immediately convince immigration officials that they have a credible fear of returning to their homeland, or face immediate deportation. As a result of draconian immigration laws, most are then arrested and hauled off in shackles to detention facilities. Free legal counsel is not provided. A fortunate few have family or friends who can retain private counsel; however, most are indigent and have little or no access to free legal representation. Making a successful asylum claim without an attorney is virtually impossible, particularly for those who remain detained.

Casa Cornelia’s Asylum Program

Casa Cornelia provides free counsel and representation to indigent asylum seekers at each step of their immigration proceedings, from the initial screening interview, to each court appearance and throughout each level of appellate review. For non–detained or affirmative asylum seekers, outreach begins at general immigration clinics in communities throughout San Diego in conjunction with immigrant and religious organizations serving the diverse immigrant populations in this area. Our outreach to detained or defensive asylum seekers is facilitated through the Pro Bono Office of the Executive Office for Immigration Review ("immigration court").

In addition to handling cases within the organization, Casa Cornelia maximizes our limited resources by recruiting, training, and mentoring volunteer attorneys from the private bar who provide pro bono service to our clients. In 2005, Casa Cornelia began a clinical program with the law schools of the University of San Diego, California Western, and Thomas Jefferson. With the consent of the immigration court, Casa Cornelia trains these law students to directly represent indigent asylum seekers under the supervision of a staff attorney.