US/Mexico Border Volunteer Needs

• Al Otro Lado is a bi-national, social justice, legal services organization serving indigent deportees, migrants, and refugees in Tijuana, Mexico. Their mission is to provide legal services and to uplift immigrant communities by defending the rights of migrants against systemic injustices in the legal system.  They engage vital partnerships and thousands of volunteers to provide essential legal services to migrants at the Southern Border in Tijuana and throughout Southern California.  Al Otro Lado’s work is also centered in fighting for all families that have been torn apart by unjust immigration laws.

• Al Otro Lado is  seeking Spanish speakers and/or people with legal experience to remotely assist with completing documents for highly vulnerable individuals subjected to MPP (Migrant Protection Protocols).  If you are interested in assisting with completion of these documents or providing pro bono legal assistance, contact Erin at erin@alotrolado.org and let her know you are an RPCV.

• HIAS, one of the oldest NGOs working to support refugees, was founded in 1881 as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.  HIAS helps refugees escape persecution and resettle in safety; reuniting families who have been separated; and helping them build new lives in safety and freedom. HIAS continues to resettle the most vulnerable refugees of all faiths and ethnicities from all over the world. They facilitate the application process for the most vulnerable refugees who can be resettled. 

HIAS is seeking Spanish-speaking volunteers to screen asylum seekers over the phone for potential representation in the US-Mexico Border of El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico. You do not have to be an attorney or have prior experience, as HIAS will provide training. They are also looking for remote volunteers to translate documents for asylum seekers in Ciudad Juarez. Interested individuals should fill out this application form to participate.

• The Asylum Seeker Refugee Project (ASAP) is seeking 1-2 volunteer interns who could dedicate 20 or more hours per week to work remotely. The first volunteer intern would be a lawyer or law student with immigration experience who is fluent in Spanish (see this announcement: https://asylumadvocacy.org/jobs-and-internships/). The second would be someone with a tech background, for example in web design or video editing. If you are interested in applying to be a volunteer intern with ASAP, send a cover letter and resume to info@asylumadvocacy.org, including details about your availability and level of Spanish proficiency. More information about ASAP is available at asylumadvocacy.org.
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• Respond Crisis Translation are a group of language experts, Google Translate marketers, professional interpreters, project managers, and curriculum designers who are passionate about the intersection of immigrant justice and language democracy. They do pro bono translations for ASAP, RAICES, Al Otro Lado, Florence Project, San Francisco Foundation, as well as smaller collectives and independent attorneys and asylum seekers. People interested in being involved as a volunteer translator can see their website and sign up here to volunteer. 
   
• In addition, Lawyers For Good Government - Proyecto Corazon has remote legal volunteer opportunities at the border. Attorneys, can also sign up for volunteer opportunities on WeTheAction.org or through the Immigration Justice Campaign.
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