Lee County Legal Aid Society expands immigration law outreach
The Floridant/10238245

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- A Fort Myers-based nonprofit that provides free civil legal aid to indigent residents of Lee County is expanding its efforts to assist immigrant children and teens, including those who are abandoned, entered the country alone, or are victims of human trafficking.

The new Lee County Legal Aid Society program focuses on establishing a pathway to legal citizenship for abused, neglected and abandoned youth under age 18.

The three-year effort is funded by a federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant of roughly $490,000 administered by the United Way.

"Through no fault of their own, far too many children and teens from other countries wind up in our community with no adults in their lives, and with nowhere else to turn," said Lee County Legal Aid Society Executive Director Andrew Banyai. "Some have aged out of the foster care system or were brought here under tragic circumstances by human traffickers. This new effort provides these youth with the opportunity to legally live, work and study in the U.S., strengthening our community's fabric while also bolstering our economy and quality of life."

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More than 100 individuals have benefitted from the program since its start, including 18-year-old Wilson, who came to this country three years ago as an unaccompanied runaway from Guatemala who was placed in foster care after running away from a Florida Department of Children and Families facility.

The pathway to legal citizenship begins with a petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) from Family Court, followed by an I-360 SIJS petition to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Once awarded, applicants can apply for an adjustment of status (I-485) to lawful permanent residency, allowing those clients to apply for a work permit and Social Security card.

"Wilson now has lawful status as a Special Immigrant Juvenile, can legally work in this country and has a clear pathway to becoming a lawful, permanent and productive resident of our community," Banyai said.

Community partners are critical to the program's success, he added, citing the Guardian ad Litem 20^th Judicial Circuit; United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades; Florida Department of Children and Families Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Venice, and more.

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"This new focus on ensuring access to justice for some of our community's youngest and most vulnerable members wouldn't be possible without the robust support of our community partners," said Banyai. "We're grateful for those collaborative efforts — broad public awareness is absolutely critical to making these services available to as many eligible recipients as possible."

For more information, visit www.leecountylegalaid.org or call 239-334-6118.