Vital Immigrant Defense Advocacy & Services

Programs: Since vidas started operation on september 1, 2014:we helped 34 people with applications for adjustment of status (i. E. , permanent residence from within the united states)we helped 31 people apply for immigrant visas (i. E. Permanent residence from outside the united states); and 18 of them to get provisional waivers. We helped 87 people file applications for daca. We have helped 3 of them get permission to travel to mexico. We helped 33 people file applications for u visas. Of the people who applied for u visas with the law office of richard coshnear, we have helped 21 get deferred action and work permits while they wait for final decisions on their u visas. We have appeared in court in defense of 26 persons in removal proceedings:1 was granted cancellation of removal, has her permanent residence and has traveled to mexico. Cancellation applications were filed in 8 other cases, and are pending. U visa applications were filed in 4 cases, and are pending. 2 of these removal proceedings were administratively closed. 2 cases were terminated so that the clients could file for adjustment of status with uscis. 3 cases were administratively closed so that the clients could apply to uscis for provisional waivers. Asylum applications were filed for 5 adults and 1 child; and 1 withholding of removal application was filed. We helped 1 child refugee get his case terminated in order to be able to apply for special immigrant juvenile status with uscis. We are mentoring county of sonoma attorneys in 2 child refugee cases. We have presented monthly informational forums, open to the public, on law-related topics of interest to immigrants. We operated a daca fair at which vidas staff and volunteers, including volunteer attorneys, assisted applicants for the deferred action for childhood arrivals program.