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Immigration Attorneys Provide
Legal Support for Human Trafficking Victim
LAFLA’s Immigration attorneys and its Asian & Pacific Islander Unit provide U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees and asylum seekers with assistance in family reunification matters, and help battered immigrant women flee from domestic violence by seeking legal residency under the Violence Against Women Act. Our legal assistance to the Trafficking Victims Project provides representation to men, women and children who are brought to the U.S. as modern-day slaves, forced to work in the sex trade, sweatshops, fields, and even private homes for meager or non-existent pay.

API Directing Attorney Joann Lee and Paralegal Katy Hong recently assisted a monolingual sex-trafficking victim obtain lawful immigration status. The client, whom we call Ms. K, called our Korean hotline seeking immigration help because she was put in removal proceedings based on actions related to her human trafficking experience.

A 37-year-old woman from South Korea, Ms. K came to the U.S. through Mexico because she learned of a good work opportunity. She was referred to a broker who promised her work as a hair stylist. Soon after she arrived though, traffickers confiscated her passport and forced her to work as a prostitute in various locations throughout California. For four years, Ms. K was locked up, under constant surveillance and never paid for her work. She was repeatedly sexually and physically assaulted by her “customers,” as well as her traffickers, and was verbally and psychologically abused by threats that she would be deported and/or arrested if she did not comply with the traffickers’ demands.

The client was able to escape her trafficking situation only because she was arrested during an FBI raid in June 2005. Unfortunately, as is the case in many of these raids, she was not considered a “victim”, but merely a prostitute serving as a material witness. She was held in Federal custody for about a month and was released on bond. Upon release from federal custody, Ms. K served as a material witness for the Department of Homeland Security for about 18 months, after which the perpetrators were convicted. When her service ended, she was placed in removal proceedings, facing deportation from the United States.

During her trafficking experience, Ms. K lost hope in the system and her life. After her arrest and release, however, she married a man who helped her get back on her feet. Ms. K decided she wanted to remain in the U.S. and sought LAFLA’s help. At this time, she was pregnant with her first child.

LAFLA represented Ms. K in her removal proceedings and explained to the judge that she was eligible for a T visa, as a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000. Her removal proceedings were continued to allow for the filing of the T visa. LAFLA also represented Ms. K in contacting the FBI to have her certified as a victim of human trafficking. We filed a T visa application, which was just granted in September 2008, and she now has temporary status for four years, after which she will be permitted to apply for lawful permanent residence. We will be able to terminate her removal proceedings at the next hearing, which is coming up shortly. Ms. K will finally be able to establish a new life with her husband and baby girl in the U.S.

Law Associates Spearhead
Fund Raising Projects
In 2002 several leading Los Angeles-area law firms came together to educate and inform associate attorneys in Los Angeles about LAFLA’s programs and services. The program also provided an opportunity to identify pro bono projects, network with colleagues and to help raise funds for the organization. Today, the LAFLA Associates Advisory Board (AAB), comprised of more than 32 law associates serve as an important outreach arm of our Board of Directors and encourages young attorneys to develop a long-term commitment to LAFLA. In June 2006 AAB held its first AAB Fab Summer fundraising event and since then the Associates have raised more than $130,000 enabling LAFLA to serve more clients in the community. This year, AAB has selected the Bill Smith Homeless Veterans Project as the recipient of its 2009 fundraising activities.

“The associates are excited about growing this Project that helps homeless veterans get back on their feet and improve their lives, especially at a time when so many new veterans are joining the ranks of the homeless, ” explained Frank Rorie, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, and AAB Chair. With funds generated from the campaign, LAFLA will be able to hire a staff attorney for the Project. For a full listing of the 2007-2008 AAB Board, visit www.lafla.org.

Community Economic Development
Attorneys Assist Small Businesses
By Nona Randois, Senior Attorney, South Los Angeles Office
LAFLA’s Community Economic Development (CED) attorneys seek to attack poverty at its roots by helping to develop sorely needed jobs, affordable housing units, child care spaces, youth services and other social programs in disadvantaged neighborhoods. To expand its role and establish economically vibrant communities, we have started a new project to provide free or low-cost legal assistance and training to eligible small business entrepreneurs to help them create, maintain, and expand their businesses. Some examples of the legal services that will be available to entrepreneurs will include assistance with forming a business entity; drafting or reviewing contracts; and advice regarding business permits and licenses. Tommy Lim has joined the CED team to spearhead this project under a Loyola Post Graduate Public Interest Fellowship. For more information e-mail tlim@lafla.org.

Harold M. Williams, Antonia Hernandez, William T. Quicksilver

Legal Aid Champions
Honored at 10th Access to Justice Dinner
More than 500 LAFLA donors and supporters attended LAFLA’s 10th Annual Access to Justice Dinner Award event to honor Antonia Hernandez, President and Chief Executive officer of the California Community Foundation and recipient of the 2008 Access to Justice Award. Hernandez was recognized for her dedication to civil rights, commitment to the public interest and a passion for the law as a vehicle for impacting society. The 2008 Maynard Toll Award for Distinguished Public Service was presented to Harold M. Williams, of counsel with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and president emeritus of The J. Paul Getty Trust, while William T. Quicksilver, Chief Executive Office & Managing Partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP accepted the 2008 Pro Bono Services Award. The firm contributed 1700 pro bono hours in 2007. LAFLA appreciates the support of its donors and supporters in making the event a success.

Staff Awards
On behalf of LAFLA, Mercedes Paloma-Alanis, a paralegal in the Family Law Unit has received the 2008 Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Award from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for outstanding service and dedication to
family law clients.

2007 Annual Report Available On Line
LAFLA’s 2007 Annual Report is now available online and can be downloaded at www.lafla.org. The Report highlights our work in the priority areas of housing, family law, community economic development, immigration, consumer law and its Asian & Pacific Islander Services.

 

 

In the News

• LAFLA attorney Susanne Browne, an affordable housing expert was quoted in a Press-Telegram article titled: Long Beach Walk-a-thon steps out today for local housing. The Walk-a-thon, organized by the grassroots advocacy group Housing Long Beach, provided information about the ongoing need and struggle to create affordable housing in the City of Long Beach for the poor, homeless, disabled and elderly.
• Family Law attorney Kate Marr and TuLynn Smiley, executive director of WomenShelter were interviewed about domestic violence on CBS Radio’s public affairs shows.
• LAFLA’s Santa Monica Office was featured in a blog on the Santa Monica Connect Website, and will also be included in the city’s first Human Services E-Newsletter, The Connection. www.SantaMonicaConnect.org