Legal services and representation provided to victims as they interact with the various systems that may be related to sexual assault. These include the criminal justice system, law enforcement, governmental entities, social services, civil attorneys and others. An attorney and legal advocate work specifically with victim/survivors on the sometimes complicated issues that can arise as a result of sexual violence. Legal services for victims of sexual assault including: - Applying for a protection order, known as an Order for Protection (OFP) or Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO) - Applying for Crime Victim Reparations (reimbursement for expenses due to the violence) - Applying for the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program - Assistance Writing Victim Impact Statements - Attending court and campus hearings - Ending a lease due to sexual violence - Follow up interviews with law enforcement or educational institutions - Legal advice and representation in civil legal matters including: - Divorce, child custody, and paternity - Employment - Housing (landlord/tenant disputes) - Immigration - Orders for Protection/Harassment Restraining Orders - Title IX (prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program) - Provide information about the criminal justice process - Reporting sexual violence, including trafficking and exploitation - Safety planning

Provides legal representation in immigration related legal matters throughout the state of Minnesota. These may include deportation defense, family based petitions, applications for lawful permanent residency, visa processing, waivers, TPS, asylum, U Visa, T Visa, VAWA and SIJS cases, DACA renewals, citizenship and naturalization. ILCM does not represent tourist or student related visas, nor employment based or religious worker visas.

New American Welcome Centers: Provides specialized support and resources for new immigrants. Services include social services, employment referrals, medical assistance, Refugee Hubs: Serve as one-stop shops for newcomers providing Resettlement Network Services in partnership with the state of Minnesota's Refugee Program Office. - Hub services are designed to help immigrants or newcomers, fully integrate into American society and include resolving immediate needs, finding employment, educational guidance and coaching, free classes on how to use public transit, how to help children prepare for college, and provides low-cost legal help and status change applications for permanent residency and citizenship. - Resettlement Network Services include Family Assisters or case managers, Immigration Specialists provide legal services, Employment Specialists help to secure and maintain employment, Family Coaches provide educational and employment goals case management, and Community Orientation provides integration services.

The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Project provides representation for individuals from countries granted TPS from the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). TPS is a temporary immigration status for individuals who are unable to return home safely due to civil war, natural disaster, or other conditions or circumstances preventing their return to their home country. During the designated TPS period, TPS holders cannot be deported from the United States and cannot be detained by DHS on the basis of their immigration status. TPS holders are eligible for an employment authorization document (EAD) and for travel authorization.

The Citizenship Project focuses on increasing the number of lawful permanent residents in Minnesota who become U.S. citizens and collaborating across sectors to promote the importance of citizenship. ILCM works with clients to file the citizenship application and accompanies applicants to the citizenship interview. Many naturalization cases are placed with private attorneys trained and supervised through our Pro Bono Project.

The Dreamers Project provides legal representation and outreach for current recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program who are eligible to renew their DACA status.

Private attorneys agree to take cases for clients who have been screened through the intake process and either need representation in a matter that is not an area of Legal Assistance of Olmsted County's expertise, or where there is a conflict of interest. Areas of available legal assistance may include: - Consumer/financial law - Elder law/wills - Employment law - Family law - Guardianship/conservatorship law - Immigration law - Landlord/tenant housing law - Property/real estate law

Provides comprehensive immigration legal services in collaboration with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Individuals that are found to qualify for protection and relief may be eligible to receive full representation, where ILCM represents the individual in court and, if necessary, through the appeals process. The following services may be available, depending on the situation: - Accepts calls from immigrant detainees that are in custody, providing advice and brief service to every individual - Advice and brief service to detainees in custody - Full representation for detained clients who qualify for asylum or other relief, and presents appeals at the Board of Immigration Appeals

Employment - Partners with the Minnesota Department of Human Services - Refugee Assistance Program to provide assistance developing job skills and finding employment Health - Grant-funded through UCare to provide education regarding diabetes, child and teen check-ups, and mental health - Partners with Minnesota Care Counseling to provide linguistically appropriate trauma counseling - Works with the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities to provide leadership training to people with disabilities in the Somali and Latinx communities - Works with the Minnesota Department of Health to assess Somali communities throughout southern Minnesota for suicide prevention readiness and come up with plans to increase prevention measures Resettlement - Assistance with health care access, legal protection, education, training for income generation skills, and other services - Assists new arrivals with documentation paperwork and in navigating the American system - English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are taught at Faribault site through partnership with Faribault Adult Basic Education - Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services assists with legal issues and documentation - Works with Rice County Social Services to connect transportation and childcare resources, and provide job search assistance Youth and Elders - Programming for health and socialization is provided for elders in partnership with UCare - Provides work experiences and supported employment to older workers through the Senior Community Supported Employment Program - Through partnerships with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, leadership, soft skills training, and assistance with job searching is providing to youth

- Refugee and Employment Programs: Employment counseling, assistance in job search and placement. Service is available in most refugee languages. - Refugee resettlement assistance provided for application of family reunification for eligible relatives and for Green Card applications and other INS documents. - Minnesota Family Investment Program: MFIP provider of case management and supported work program for Hennepin County.

Federal agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. - Adoption manages the first step in the process for U.S. citizens to adopt children from other countries - Citizenship (Includes the Related Naturalization Process) Processes applications for individuals who wish to become U.S. citizens through naturalization, determine eligibility, and, if approved, schedule the Oath of Allegiance ceremony. Determines eligibility and provides documentation of U.S. citizenship for people who acquired or derived U.S. citizenship through their parents. - Civic Integration Promotes instruction and training on citizenship rights and responsibilities and provide immigrants with the information and tools necessary to successfully integrate into American civic culture - Genealogy A fee-for-service program providing family historians and other researchers with timely access to historical immigration and naturalization records of deceased immigrants - Humanitarian programs administers humanitarian programs that provide protection to individuals inside and outside the United States who are displaced by war, famine and civil and political unrest, and those who are forced to flee their countries to escape the risk of death and torture at the hands of persecutors. - Immigration of Family Members manages the process that allows current permanent residents and U.S. citizens to bring close relatives to live and work in the United States - Information to immigrants eligible for immigration benefits; other general services to immigrants legally in the US - Verifying an Individual's Legal Right to Work in the United States (E-Verify). Manages the system that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. - Working in the U.S. manages the process that allows individuals from other countries to work in the United States. Some of the opportunities are temporary, and some provide a path to a green card (permanent residence).

The Citizenship Project focuses on increasing the number of lawful permanent residents in Minnesota who become U.S. citizens and collaborating across sectors to promote the importance of citizenship. ILCM works with clients to file the citizenship application and accompanies applicants to the citizenship interview. Many naturalization cases are placed with private attorneys trained and supervised through our Pro Bono Project.

Assists refugees, asylees, U or T visa holders, or Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders in adjusting status to a lawful permanent resident. Helps immigrant survivors of domestic violence and violent crimes and their qualified family members obtain legal immigration status. Also helps permanent residents apply to become US citizens and assists in replacing lost, stolen, or expiring documents.

Employment services: Works with employers in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota to provide job placement and employment retention support to refugees and asylees who have been in the U.S. for less than five years. Assists with job skills training, resume writing, interviewing, and overall job readiness. Intensive case management (ICM): Assists refugees or secondary migrants who need additional help after the 90-day resettlement period. Connects refugees to a range of services, such as mental health counseling, employment services, assistance securing housing, mentoring, and extended cultural orientation. ?? Immigration services: Offers immigration legal services at low cost to help refugees, asylees, and other immigrants living in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. Helps clients complete immigration documents - including permanent resident, naturalization, green card and visa applications, employment authorization, citizenship documents, family reunification petitions, and family visa applications. Refugee resettlement services: Assists? refugees during their first 90 days to get established and off to a good start in their new home. Helps to secure housing and find employment, enroll in school and English classes, connect to medical care, connect to community resources, orient to their community, and build bridges across cultures. Also provides additional services to students to help them achieve school success and support refugees who have been victims of trafficking.??????????????????????

New American Welcome Centers: Provides specialized support and resources for new immigrants. Services include social services, employment referrals, medical assistance, Refugee Hubs: Serve as one-stop shops for newcomers providing Resettlement Network Services in partnership with the state of Minnesota's Refugee Program Office. - Hub services are designed to help immigrants or newcomers, fully integrate into American society and include resolving immediate needs, finding employment, educational guidance and coaching, free classes on how to use public transit, how to help children prepare for college, and provides low-cost legal help and status change applications for permanent residency and citizenship. - Resettlement Network Services include Family Assisters or case managers, Immigration Specialists provide legal services, Employment Specialists help to secure and maintain employment, Family Coaches provide educational and employment goals case management, and Community Orientation provides integration services.

Free monthly legal clinics. Legal advice provided in the areas of family law, senior law and immigration law.

Assists agricultural workers with employment-related legal issues and improving the working and living conditions of agricultural workers. Cases that are generally accepted: - Employer-provided housing concerns - Employment discrimination and retaliation - H-2A contract violations - Labor trafficking - Limited public benefits assistance - Problems during the recruitment process - Wage theft - Workplace health and safety violations

Advice, consultation, and representation for a wide range of legal problems commonly encountered by students. Also conducts educational programs.

Assists agricultural workers with employment-related legal issues and improving the working and living conditions of agricultural workers. Cases that are generally accepted: - Employer-provided housing concerns - Employment discrimination and retaliation - H-2A contract violations - Labor trafficking - Limited public benefits assistance - Problems during the recruitment process - Wage theft - Workplace health and safety violations

Education for Low Income Refugees, Immigrants, and Juveniles: Seeks to clarify what constitutes illegal behavior in the United States and how to avoid criminal behavior when dealing with law enforcement. The education program for juveniles focuses on helping juvenile persons avoid illegal behavior and encourage positive interaction with law enforcement. NJC partners with schools and other human service programs to help low income juveniles of color increase their knowledge of their rights and responsibilities and how to avoid criminal behavior. Expungements: Program seeks to assist persons with a prior criminal record in getting that record sealed by the court through its expungement process; serves Ramsey County residents only Internal Affairs Complaints: Assists people who believe they have been unfairly targeted or mistreated by law enforcement with filing a complaint with law enforcement's Internal Affairs Division for investigation of misconduct Legal Representation and Advice: provides assistance to disadvantaged and undeserved persons who face criminal charges and need legal representation or advice to obtain the best possible outcome. The project seeks to serve populations who are targeted by law enforcement and not always treated equally under the law. Many of the clients represented also face immigration consequences because defendants increasingly are refugees or immigrants with charges against them that could result in deportation proceedings. Staff look beyond the immediate legal problems, helping to arrange such services as chemical dependency or mental health treatment. Bilingual, bi-cultural community advocates fill paralegal and research needs, serve as liaisons between clients and the court system, and help educate clients to avoid future problems.

New American Welcome Centers: Provides specialized support and resources for new immigrants. Services include social services, employment referrals, medical assistance, Refugee Hubs: Serve as one-stop shops for newcomers providing Resettlement Network Services in partnership with the state of Minnesota's Refugee Program Office. - Hub services are designed to help immigrants or newcomers, fully integrate into American society and include resolving immediate needs, finding employment, educational guidance and coaching, free classes on how to use public transit, how to help children prepare for college, and provides low-cost legal help and status change applications for permanent residency and citizenship. - Resettlement Network Services include Family Assisters or case managers, Immigration Specialists provide legal services, Employment Specialists help to secure and maintain employment, Family Coaches provide educational and employment goals case management, and Community Orientation provides integration services.

Assists refugees, asylees, U or T visa holders, or Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders in adjusting status to a lawful permanent resident. Helps immigrant survivors of domestic violence and violent crimes and their qualified family members obtain legal immigration status. Also helps permanent residents apply to become US citizens and assists in replacing lost, stolen, or expiring documents.

Provides legal representation on immigration issues. Services include: - Assist victims of crime, domestic violence, and human trafficking in their applications for immigration status - Citizenship and green card applications - Defend detained immigrants in deportation proceedings - General immigration assistance for permanent residents applying for citizenship - Help people apply for certain types of residencies such as U-Visa, DACA renewal, VAWA petition, and T-Visas - Represent immigrant youth and seniors in a wide array of application types NOTE: Services are completely confidential and staff do not report the immigration status of people who contact them for advice or services.

- Volunteer attorneys represent low income asylum seekers at interviews with Department of Homeland Security asylum officers, in removal proceedings before immigration judges and in administrative and federal court appeals. - Provides brief advice, pro se (self-representation) information and limited assistance in preparing asylum application to asylum seekers not accepted for full representation.