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Al Otro Lado

Draft Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Complaints for Asylum Seekers

Draft Complaints Outlining the Lack of Fair Access to Humanitarian Parole for Vulnerable Asylum Seekers

Posted March 4, 2022

Background & Context

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) is a department within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that receives complaints regarding human rights abuses. Al Otro Lado is currently filing Humanitarian Parole (HP) requests for clients in extremely vulnerable situations; however, the majority of these requests are being ignored or denied by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Immediate Problem

In order to build a fuller picture of the issue and create a detailed record of this, we plan to file CRCL complaints for each HP request that is denied.

Work & Deliverables

As a volunteer for the CRCL Complaint Team, you will be drafting these complaints using information gathered by another team of volunteers who are making client calls and completing HP requests.
English fluency is required for this project. We offer ongoing support and supervision through weekly check in meetings, and a group chat with attorneys and other volunteers involved in the project. An attorney will review each complaint and feedback will be provided to guide your work.
Volunteers will not necessarily work on a complaint every week, but they will need to complete their complaints promptly when assigned.

Project Plan

Preparation Phase

  • Wait for client assignment
  • Attend training and review templates & instructions

Collaboration Phase

  • Revise complaint as requested
  • Complete complaint

Wrap Up

  • Wait for assignment to another client

This project is complete!

This project has been completed thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

Visit the Project Directory to check out other projects that still need your help!

Additional Information

  • Time Commitment: 21+ hours
  • Training Provided: Yes
  • Additional Training Details: Training on how to write complaints, and access to written instructions, templates, and a citations bank to guide the work. Additional supervision and review is also provided.
  • Site-Preference: Remote
  • Open to Law Students: No
  • Bar License(s) required: Any Bar License
  • Required Languages: None
  • Required Legal Expertise: Family Law, Health Law, Human Rights, Immigration, Litigation
  • Mentoring Provided: Yes
  • Supervision Provided: Yes
Al Otro Lado

We are a bi-national, social justice legal services organization serving indigent deportees, migrants, and refugees in Tijuana, Mexico. Our mission is to provide legal services and to uplift our immigrant communities by defending the rights of migrants against systemic injustices in the legal system. Our comprehensive cross-border programming and litigation work integrate trauma-informed practices. We engage vital partnerships and thousands of volunteers to provide essential legal services to migrants at the Southern Border in Tijuana and throughout Southern California. Al Otro Lado’s work is also centered in fighting for all families that have been torn apart by unjust immigration laws.

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