Jemimah W. Kamau

The Project

Jemimah will respond to the growing legal and social services needs of Black immigrants in a culturally responsive and linguistically competent manner through workshops, intakes, direct representation, and case referrals.

Racial profiling of Black immigrants has resulted in the unjustifiable mass deportation of this community. In fact, 76% of Black immigrants are deported on criminal grounds compared to 45% of all other immigrants. In the context of immigration, there is generally no right to an attorney. With immigration legal services at capacity, many immigrants are deported without legal representation or an opportunity to present their cases. This project will create capacity and address a particular shortcoming facing Black immigrant communities; namely, the absence of culturally sensitive and linguistically competent legal representation. Helping Black immigrants meet their legal and social needs is at the center of this project.

Fellowship Plans

During this Fellowship, Jemimah will: 1) Increase awareness about the legal and social needs of Black immigrants through outreach, community education, and partnership; 2) provide short-term legal services and direct legal representation to Black immigrants in a culturally sensitive and linguistically competent manner; and 3) establish a referral process with non-immigration legal service providers and community partners, such as schools and churches, to provide holistic services to Black immigrants.