Pathways for Justice Workers Supporting Immigrants
Summary
In 2024, The Resurrection Project committed to train 210 community fellows across four states to become Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representatives over three years through its Colibrà Fellowship program, addressing the growing need for critical legal assistance across new American communities. Accredited representatives are non-attorney employees or volunteers of qualifying nonprofit organizations who can practice immigration law. The project will provide training at no cost to fellows, removing the financial barrier of accessing legal careers. The Fellowship is guided by four pillars: robust technical and legal knowledge, immigrant justice, professional growth, and relationship building. Cohorts of 20-30 fellows participate in weekly virtual classes and study sessions, monthly in-person training, two overnight retreats, and shadowing and observation in direct legal services. This commitment would increase the number of accredited representatives in the United States by 9 percent and, critically, will also increase availability of affordable immigration legal services nationally. Once accredited, fellows will provide legal support to 37,800 immigrants annually.
Approach
The Resurrection Project (TRP) , in partnership with the VIISTA program and UnidosUS, commits to training 210 community fellows across four states to become Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representatives by 2027. Accredited representatives are non-attorney employees or volunteers of qualifying nonprofit organizations practicing immigration law. Training will be provided at no cost to fellows, removing the financial barrier to accessing legal careers. TRP will increase the total number of accredited representatives in the United States by 9% and increase availability of affordable immigration legal services.
TRP estimates that these 210 fellows will provide free and affordable legal support to 37,800 immigrants and their families annually. Each accredited representative provides legal screening and/or services to 180 individuals annually, helping them to achieve work permits and/or legal status. This, in turn, impacts, supports, and keeps families together.
TRP will do this by expanding its Colibrà Fellowship for DOJ Accreditation to additional states. Since launching in Illinois in 2022, the fellowship has provided training to 41 employees from 31 organizations, increasing the total number of accredited reps in Illinois by 9% in under two years.
The Colibri fellowship is a 9-month program led by TRP and VIISTA. Curriculum is guided by four pillars: robust technical and legal knowledge; immigrant justice; professional growth; and relationship building. Cohorts of 20-30 fellows participate in weekly virtual classes and study sessions, monthly in person training, overnight retreats, and shadowing of direct legal services. Fellows earn a VIISTA certificate which deems them eligible to apply for DOJ accreditation.
TRP will work with UnidosUS to identify affiliates to lead implementation of the Fellowship in 3 additional states. TRP will provide training, capacity building, and funding to affiliates for implementation, and VIISTA will offer its course to all cohorts. TRP will engage affiliate leads to develop support mechanisms for fellows and their host organizations. Upon completion of the program, fellows’ host organizations must submit applications for accreditation to the DOJ.
Action Plan
The duration of our commitment is three years / three Colibri Fellowship cycles: July 2024 – June of 2027. During this time, we will expand the fellowship to three additional states and train 210 new fellows, all of whom will be eligible for DOJ accreditation.
During quarters 3 and 4 of 2024, TRP will select 30 fellows in Illinois (and surrounding states) . Simultaneously we’ll provide training and assist in selection of 20 fellows for the inaugural Oregon cohort in collaboration with Innovation Law Lab. Curriculum will commence in both Illinois and Oregon in partnership with VIISTA. TRP will evaluate first-time implementation outside of Illinois and, in collaboration with UnidosUS, will conduct feasibility assessments in additional states.
During quarters 1 and 2 of 2025, curriculum in both Illinois and Oregon will continue through May. Graduations will be held in both states in June, producing 50 total graduates eligible for accreditation. TRP and Innovation Law Lab will finalize evaluation of year one in Oregon and plan for launching the 2025-2026 application for Oregon and Illinois, along with one additional state in collaboration with an identified Unidos affiliate.
During quarters 3 and 4 of 2025, the Illinois, Oregon, and state TBN cohorts will launch with 30, 20, and 20 fellows respectively, and curriculum will commence in partnership with VIISTA.TRP will evaluate implementation and will conduct feasibility assessments in additional states with Unidos.
During quarters 1 and 2 of 2026, curriculum will continue and graduations will be held in 3 states, producing 70 total graduates eligible for accreditation. TRP will finalize evaluation and plan for launching the applications in four states in June, including one new state.
During quarters 3 and 4 of 2026 and 1 and 2 of 2027, cohorts will run in Illinois, Oregon, and two additional states, with 30, 20, 20, and 20 fellows respectively. June 2027 graduations will produce 90 graduates eligible for accreditation. TRP, VIISTA, and Unidos will continue to seek out further opportunities for expansion.
Background
The need for high-quality and affordable immigration legal services in the United States far exceeds the capacity of legal service providers. There are 1,413 undocumented immigrants for every 1 charitable immigration legal service provider. This does not include the 9 million, likely eligible to naturalize, permanent residents who may need assistance with their naturalization applications, or immigrants filing renewals of green cards, family petitions, or other applications that are done in high-volume at community-based immigration programs (Center for Migration Studies) .
The demand for legal services has grown significantly in recent years related to policies assisting Afghans, Ukrainians, and other new arrivals. And, with new policies announced by President Biden in June, 500,000 undocumented spouses of US citizens will need legal support as they become eligible for parole in place.
Access to legal services is imperative. According to the ACLU, immigrants facing deportation are 10 times more likely to be allowed to remain in the U.S if they have representation. Deportation severs parent-child relationships, impoverishes families, and returns immigrants to perilous conditions.
Unfortunately, there are not enough attorneys pursuing careers in immigration. According to the American Bar Association, only 8% of law school graduates enter the public interest sector; and while 73% of the undocumented population in the U.S. identify as Latino/Hispanic, only 5.8% of U.S. attorneys identify as Latino, creating cultural and language barriers. Many immigrant and Latino families cannot afford law school due to the cost – the average tuition is $146,484 (total across three years) .
Immigration policy isn’t self-executing. More legal service capacity is needed to successfully implement policy changes. To that end, community-based immigration programs are pursuing a little-known program in the U.S. The Department of Justice called the Recognition and Accreditation Program to create non-attorney immigration law career pathways.
Progress Update
Partnership Opportunities
TRP receives annual support from the State of Illinois and the Lawyers Trust Fund for implementation in Illinois. In 2024, TRP received one-time support from Abundant Futures Fund to explore expansion. TRP, along with new implementing partners in additional states, will need additional financial resources for scaling up. The cost of annual implementation for a cohort of 20 is $500,000., TRP will offer curriculum, training and capacity building to Innovation Law Lab and UnidosUS affiliate organizations in states outside of Illinois who demonstrate interest and ability to implement the Colibri Fellowship in their states. TRP will connect organizations with VIISTA for implementing coursework. TRP will provide matching funds of up to 50% to implementing organizations/states.