Hafid Dumet
With an estimated 2000 youth affected in New Haven alone, New Haven Legal Assistance, will work with an immigration clinic at Yale Law School and several local advocacy groups to offer a streamlined process to help those who are eligible with their applications for deferred deportation.
According to a story in the New Haven Register, New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. said the groups decided on a coordinated effort as the best way to provide correct information and to keep people from being the victimized by what they described as unscrupulous lawyers charging large fees before applications are even available.
The mayor said beyond protecting the immigrants from theft, there is a more practical reason for the coalition to take action. “If we want to build the most prosperous strongest American nation, we should follow the pathways taken by our parents and grandparents that promote immigration into this community,” he said.
The story by Mary E. O’Leary, New Haven Register topics editor, includes a video interview with two undocumented college students who would benefit from the deferred deportation interview.
Susan Nofi-Bendici, deputy director of New Haven Legal Assistance, said her organization will be the “central entry point” for legal advice for these young people who can call for an appointment starting Aug. 15 at 203-946-4811. This is the date applications will be available with the final federal rules expected to be released next week.
Photo (c) New Haven Register
