Almost ten years ago, Cesar was wrapped up in drugs and found himself in criminal court. Because the offense was minor, he was ordered to a rehabilitation facility. He has not had any trouble since, but continues to be punished for his poor decisions.
When we met Cesar, he was living in one of our partner organization’s shelters, confused about his immigration status and mounting debt.
Both of these legal challenges were barriers to his success.
First, Cesar was uncertain how his criminal history might affect his green card renewal. To strengthen his application and prevent the risk of deportation, we extensively researched relevant immigration law and went through a long process to piece together his past. We obtained case details from the public defender’s office, liaised with our immigration colleagues, and helped show that he had not committed a deportable offense.
His green card was renewed.
Additionally, Cesar owed $8,000 to the Department of Labor. We negotiated a payment plan with reduced payments, which will allow him to fulfill his obligations and will prevent more debt.
Cesar has graduated from our partner organization, The Bowery Mission, and is living and working in New Jersey in environmental services. With our assistance, he will soon become a naturalized citizen.