Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition (CAIR)

We provide pro bono support on a wide variety of cases, from asylum to green card defense to 212(h) waivers to habeas petitions. Types of cases include: Children’s Asylum Your pro bono role would include preparing the application and submitting it to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), accompanying the child to an asylum interview by a USCIS official and appearing in Immigration Court to inform the Court of the USCIS process. Adult Asylum Your pro bono role would include applying for asylum, “withholding of removal” and/or protection under the “Convention Against Torture” using the I-589 form, client and country conditions documents, a legal brief and appearing in Immigration Court for a merits hearing. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Your pro bono role would include appearing in state family court to obtain an order that the child meets the requirements for SIJS, preparing and submitting an SIJS application package with USCIS, and appearing with the child at a USCIS interview, if required. (must be licensed in Maryland or Virginia) Green Card Defense Your pro bono role would include preparing an application that demonstrates the LPR’s qualification for Cancellation of Removal and highlighting the positive equities of the client’s background and appearing in Immigration Court for a merits hearing. Family Hardship Defense Available to noncitizens who have been present in the U.S. for at least 10 years. It is a one-time chance to obtain a Green Card upon establishing that they have good moral character and that denial of their application would result in extreme hardship to a parent, child, or spouse who is a U.S. citizen or a Green Card holder. Federal Habeas Corpus A special form of relief available to noncitizens that face prolonged or indefinite detention, with the goal of securing their release. The habeas petition is filed in the federal district court near the detention facility that holds the client. Our pro bono teams represent both adults and children in habeas proceedings. Board of Immigration Appeals A BIA appeal asks the Board of Immigration Appeals to review a decision issued by an Immigration Judge. These cases are adjudicated entirely on the papers, beginning with the form EOIR-26 and then through a written brief. Motion to Reopen A motion to reopen (MTR) asks the Immigration Court to reopen proceedings after the Immigration Judge has rendered a decision, so that the Immigration Judge can consider new facts or evidence in the case. These are decided entirely on the papers and take between 2-5 months. T Visas Your pro bono role would include preparing an application and submitting the paperwork along with form I-914 to USCIS. Adult applicants must also include a certification from law enforcement officials. There is no interview or hearing. U Visas Your pro bono role would include securing a certification from law enforcement officials that the applicant was helpful and submit the certification with form I-918, a cover letter, and a personal statement to USCIS. There is no interview or hearing.