FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROJECT
Over 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children are in immigration custody right now, and 90% of them have a relative in the US who can sponsor them. Fifty percent have a biological parent here.
The paperwork for relatives and sponsors can be daunting and the process scary. That’s why VECINA, in partnership with Project Lifeline, is excited to announce that we are launching a project to help reunify family members and sponsors with children in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Our project will recruit volunteer attorneys, administrative support, and interpreters to assist with ORR paperwork and communicate with case workers so that the reunification process can move as quickly and smoothly as possible. Because they are the most vulnerable, we will be focusing on reunification for indigenous children.
As we get our project of the ground, we need your help!
VOLUNTEER TO WORK WITH A FAMILY MEMBER OR SPONSOR
If you’re an attorney, or can provide administrative or interpretation support, we welcome you to volunteer to work with a family member or or other loved one in order to help reunite a family! You will help them gather documents complete paperwork, and advocate for the release of a child from government custody. Attorneys will screen for legal violations, and communicate with the child’s case worker as needed.
DONATE TO VECINA
If you can’t sign up to volunteer, we’d love for you to support VECINA financially! We can’t do what we do without the support of our donors. Donate to VECINA to support this project and others.
JOIN US TODAY AT 3:45 PM CST ON FACEBOOK LIVE TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT
Join VECINA Board Chair Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch and CEO Lindsay Gray to discuss the project at 3:45 CST today, March 24th!
I was not able to attend the Facebook live meeting but I can do administrative work from my home. Please contact me via email or text at 530-370-1427.
Thank you, Joan michael
Hi Joan! Thank you for volunteering! if you register your info under the “Administrative Support” volunteer opportunity, we’ll be in touch about next steps in the coming weeks. Thank you!
I am in Donna, Tx. Anyway I can be of assistance do not hesitate to call me.
Thank you Raquel! If you sign up to help under the appropriate volunteer opportunity, we’ll reach out as the need arises!
Gracias a Dios por ayudar 🙏
Good afternoon, does this program only work within the state of Tx, or are there extension sites? If not would anyone be able to connect me to a program that does similar work in the northeast? Specifically in the MA/CT region?
Hi Meade, we work with volunteers all over the country, and we serve children at several sites, both inside and outside of Texas.
The Humanitarian Outreach for Migrant Emotional Health (H.O.M.E) can offer pro bono forensic mental health assessments if needed. In which category should we sign up, and how do we indicate this type of volunteer service?
Hi Jenifer, thank you so much for reaching out! Can you please fill out our contact form and someone will be in touch with you?