Esperanza Immigration Legal Services
Philadelphia Bar Foundation Grant Impact
Support from the Philadelphia Bar Foundation makes the work of Esperanza Immigration Legal Services (EILS) possible by bridging the financial gap between the cost of services and operations, and the amount EILS's clients can afford. The Bar Foundation's grant enables EILS to provide direct legal services to clients, hold numerous educational workshops and clinics, and raise awareness of the organization's work in the community. The Bar Foundation's continued support allows EILS to continue serving vulnerable immigrants year after year.
Summary List of Programs and Services
EILS fulfills its mission by directing resources to these key services and activities:
1. Legal Services:
EILS provides low-cost legal services to low-income immigrants and their families, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications for immigrant “Dreamers,” self-petitions for victims of domestic violence, green card applications, family petitions and naturalization applications
2. Education:
a) Workshops - EILS offers free workshops in English and Spanish to help immigrant families thrive in the U.S. Specifically, workshops provide information on emerging areas of immigration law, warn immigrants to avoid unauthorized legal practitioners, educate young immigrants about pathways to higher education, and provide information on executive action for parents of U.S. citizen and lawful permanent resident children, among other topics.
b) Citizenship Education - EILS helps prepare eligible immigrants to pass the naturalization interview and exam.
We also co-sponsor “Citizenship Day” once a year, convening a group of lawyers to offer their services pro bono to immigrants from the community.
Summary List of Priorities for Client Intake
-Naturalization assistance
-Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) application assistance
-Family petitions
-Consular processing
-Assistance for victims of domestic violence & crime
-Temporary protected status