Congratulations to Sr. Ann Gray and Sr. Evelyn Lamoureux for being recognized by the Long Island Immigration Clinic (LIIC) as volunteers for the month of February. In honoring them, LIIC wrote, "Their unwavering dedication to the Long Island Immigration Clinic has made a truly remarkable impact on our immigrant friends. Sister Ann and Sister Evelyn consistently go above and beyond, demonstrating a genuine passion for our mission. Their positive attitude and willingness to help anyone in need are truly inspiring, and we are so grateful to have them on our team."

Sr. Evelyn Lamoureux said of her experience, "As I listen to the stories from our friends that are applying for asylum in the US, I am struck by the amount of torture that so many of them experience. The number of individuals applying for asylum is increasing."

Volunteers serve in many capacities at the LIIC. As part of a trained team, they become computer navigators, language interpreters, document translators, researchers, note takers, and child care assistants– all to help prepare asylum applications and other related applications during LIIC's clinic sessions. While the majority of applicants for asylum are non-native English speakers, documentation is only provided in English. Throughout their encounters, the LIIC refers to asylum seekers as friends, a designation that elevates them to a proper level of dignity.

Sr. Ann volunteers as a French interpreter, and she and Sr. Evelyn serve as note-takers. A note-taker helps complete documentation required for the I-589 form and the Declaration for Asylum, which provides legal relief from deportation and detention and allows seekers to understand their rights to successfully present their case. A note-taker asks questions that may not be on the form but may be critical in fleshing out a story that a friend (an immigrant seeking asylum) must tell a judge. A note-taker asks the researcher to report on the country's conditions of a friend's homeland. At the end of each session, the note-taker fills out a team sheet (aided by an interpreter and computer person) to indicate how much of the application has been completed during that clinic session.

Sr. Ann shared, "Trauma is the most common thing I see. It comes from the suffering of leaving one's home and family and making the dangerous journey to the US. Often, they are made further victims by the smugglers on whom they depend for their lives.

Looking into the eyes of the friend whose case I am working on, I am no longer just engaged in a clerical exercise. I feel a flood of compassion I didn't know I had; before me sits a person whose heart has been broken as she tells her story of loss."

Sr Ann shared that there are many other stories, such as a teacher from Pakistan fleeing Muslim fanaticism, a young medical student from Haiti who helped to save children from the invading violence only to be caught up in the very violence she hoped to stop, a young man from El Salvador refusing to do the work of MS-13 and a teacher from Colombia forced to leave husband and daughter behind because she supported the "wrong" party.

"These people are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must speak out in recognition of the dignity of all who come here in pursuit of life and freedom. Faith teaches us that an orderly, legitimate process of seeking asylum is, in fact, a primary way to welcome the stranger. Seeking asylum is not a criminal act," said Sr. Ann.

To learn more and get involved with the LIIC, go to https://brentwoodcsj.org/liic-about-us/

Sisters Named Volunteers of Month at Immigration Clinic