Solidaridad Central Jersey
Our Mission
The mission of Solidaridad Central Jersey is to support and empower recent immigrants seeking asylum and legal status by providing assistance in filing applications for asylum and work permits.
What We Do
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Operate a Pro Se Clinic to assist our neighbors in making their best case for asylum.
Pro Se means “For Oneself”
Our clinic supports the neighbor; they make the decisions about their case.
We are not lawyers and provide no legal advice to our neighbors. We have an attorney review team who provides consultation/review of applications but does not represent our neighbors. Our volunteers receive training from immigration experts prior to beginning their work with our neighbors.
Our Values
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No Judgment about:
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Who should be here
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Strength or weakness of case
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Personal story of neighbor, family or community
Respect:
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Human dignity has no levels
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No one is “illegal”
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We don’t save people -we help
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Decisions belong to neighbor
Do No Harm:
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Anonymity
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Confidentiality
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If not sure ask
Solidaridad was created in 2018 by local Princeton/Mercer County volunteers concerned about possible ICE raids that would disrupt the lives of our immigrant neighbors. A rapid response team was created to immediately respond to the home of a neighbor if a raid occurred. It was soon clear that this was not occurring and the primary activity became rides to ICE offices in Newark and Mt.Laurel. By early 2020 a Solidaridad ProSe Clinic was created to support our neighbors with asylum applications. A once a week clinic was established at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church.
When the COVID pandemic caused in-person activity to shut down the Pro-Se clinic went virtual and we have been operating primarily on WhatsApp ever since. We have found this both efficient and flexible and it allows for multiple teams to be operating on independent schedules.