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INTRODUCTION
Since 2001, the Bernardo Kohler Center has worked to bring legal services
to Texas immigrants. Our mission is to provide education and assistance
to immigrants and legal professionals in immigration issues. BKC focuses
on helping those most in need, such as abandoned children and human trafficking
victims.
MISSION
To protect and support the immigrant population through the coordination
of programs and services.
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FOCUS AREAS
SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE
Our Casitas program helps children by providing legal representation to
abused, abandoned or neglected juveniles. This project will specifically
address claims for Special Immigrant Juvenile (S.I.J.) Status, a special
type of U.S. humanitarian petition.
TRAFFICKING
Our Anti-Trafficking program seeks to raise awareness and provide legal
representation to victims of human trafficking seeking T-visas. In 10
years just over 1,500 T-visas have been granted in the U.S., and our goal
is to increase this number dramatically.
|
| 2010
Case Statistics |
Filed
|
Granted
|
| S.I. Juvenile
Petition |
11
|
11
|
| Violent
Crime Victims |
12
|
13
|
| Family Petition
|
4
|
4
|
| Asylum |
13
|
7
|
| Residency
|
17
|
12
|
| Work Permits
|
21
|
9
|
| Trafficking
Victims |
7
|
2
|
| T.P.S. Renewal |
34
|
Compared to other organizations
of similar size, these statistics are exemplary. |
VICTIMS
OF VIOLENT CRIME
The U-visa is designed for noncitizen crime victims who have suffered physical
or mental abuse resulting from criminal activity and who cooperate with
law enforcement investigating or prosecuting the crime. Our project represents
direct and indirect victims of a broad range of criminal activity, including
rape; sexual assault; murder; felonious assault; child abuse; and other
crimes.
ASYLUM
Individuals who fear persecution or torture in their home countries may
be able to avoid being removed from the U.S. by applying for asylum. Our
asylum project assists these vulnerable people who have a "well founded
fear" of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership
in a particular social group, or political opinion. |
