Immigration

The goal of the Immigration focus area is to advance Latino immigrant integration. This work includes direct services to provide general immigration legal services, domestic violence legal services and removal defense legal services; events including “Know Your Rights”, workshops, community forums and citizenship drives; and advocacy to address Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Judicial Reform – Immigration Court Due Process.

Through it’s work, the LAA has:

Conducted 957 legal consultations to assess eligibility of individuals and families for immigration benefits and legal relief.
Applied for and received legal protections for 103 immigrant victims of domestic violence.
Provided legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children on-site at partner organizations across
central and south Georgia, securing legal status for 128 unaccompanied immigrant children.
Led the New Americans Campaign citizenship initiative and helped 356 Latino immigrants naturalize and
become U.S. citizens.
Set legal precedent in Immigration Court with a groundbreaking unanimous ruling setting binding precedent that requires all juvenile judges to consider special findings needed for a child to apply for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
Won 2 appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals that resulted in changing of docketing procedures for cases of unaccompanied immigrant children to ensure fair processing and that each case is heard by one dedicated juvenile judge.

Partners

Programs

Immigration Legal Services

The LAA has provided immigration legal services since 1999, and is one of only two nonprofit legal services providers in Georgia serving the Latino community. We house a full-service immigration law firm at our Atlanta service center and offer services in Lawrenceville and Athens. We offer affordable legal services to help eligible low-income immigrants and asylum seekers obtain immigration benefits in the U.S. Our legal team consists of:

6 full-time attorneys
5 paralegals
DOJ-Accredited Representative

Legal services specializing in (but not limited to):

Individual and family-based legal services
Legal services for victims of domestic violence
Removal defense for adults and unaccompanied children
Naturalization and citizenship applications
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Work permits
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
*We do not accept cases regarding employment-based, student and tourist visas nor offer legal representation of individuals detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Domestic Violence Victims

Victims of domestic violence may be eligible for immigration relief. We offer no-cost legal representation for immigrant victims of domestic violence. For assistance call (404) 638-1812.

New Americans Campaign

The New Americans Campaign Atlanta is a collaborative of the following non-profit organizations working together to increase access to naturalization in the Atlanta area. FREE legal advice for individuals who are eligible and seek citizenship. Our partners include:

Naturalization Program (USCIS)

Thanks to a grant awarded to the LAA by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the LAA’s Immigration Legal Services will now offer a FREE Citizenship & English Course for Green Card holders eligible for Naturalization. For more information, visit the Immigration Legal Services tab under our Services section. To view, click here.

Consultations

Visit one or call the Atlanta or Athens locations to schedule a consultation, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. All new clients are pre-screened to determine eligibility. Proof of income and $50 USD cash required for initial consultation. Legal services only provided in-person.

Our Immigration Services Department does not accept cases regarding employment-based visas, tourist visas, student visas or legal representation of individuals detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

WE SEE CLIENTS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

FREE Events & Clinics

Citizenship Workshops and Clinics in Atlanta and Surrounding Areas

The LAA offers FREE citizenship workshops and clinics for individuals eligible and seeking citizenship.

For details on all upcoming FREE citizenship workshops and clinics, visit the Immigration Legal Services tab under our Services section by clicking here.

Tips

What to do when approached by an immigration officer?

Opportunity for everyone

We bring the American dream to life by serving the needs of immigrants from Latin America in metro Atlanta with a full spectrum of services and programs that help families adapt to their new country and integrate into the community.
We offer Latino women, men and children the tools and resources they need — including immigration legal services, English classes, emergency assistance and computer literacy courses in Spanish, among many others – to achieve their fullest potential, ultimately empowering them to become self-sufficient and thrive.
Founded in 1972, we are the longest serving and largest provider of social and immigration legal services in Atlanta’s Latino community. Last year, our services and programs impacted more than 40,000 individuals.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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