Bread and Life: Immigration Clinic

The Bread and Life: Immigration Clinic partners with St. John’s Bread and Life (SJBL), an organization animated by the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul to address issues of hunger and poverty in Brooklyn and Queens, New York.

Under the supervision of Professor Janice D. Villiers, students in this one-semester Clinic assist clients of diverse racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Working in teams of two, they provide direct representation in immigration matters, including citizenship and adjustment of status applications. They also accompany clients to naturalization or adjustment of status interviews at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services offices.

Through these non-litigation activities, Clinic students gain invaluable experience and practical skills in the following areas:

  • Interviewing, counseling and following up with clients
  • Identifying, assessing and clarifying legal needs
  • Conducting fact investigations
  • Researching relevant law and procedures
  • Working with translators
  • Preparing applications and other paperwork
  • Filing paperwork
  • Assisting and/or making referrals to appropriate agencies

The Bread and Life: Immigration Clinic is part of the St. Vincent de Paul Legal Program, Inc. It works with St. John’s Bread and Life (SJBL), a vibrant community resource founded in 1982 as an outreach ministry of St. John the Baptist Parish in Brooklyn, New York.  Started as a soup kitchen, in response to client need SJBL expanded its services to include:

  • A food pantry
  • A mobile soup kitchen
  • Medical support
  • Support groups
  • Tax preparation services
  • Legal services through Urban Justice, Inc.
  • The Bridge to Justice Immigration Clinic

Increasingly, SJBL’s clients include immigrants from Central and South America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe. The majority of the population it serves is 200% or more below the poverty level. It provides over 1,000 meals a day in addition to helping clients address inadequate housing and homelessness; substance abuse; mental health issues; substandard or non-existent income; and legal, medical and spiritual issues.

To learn more about the Bread and Life: Immigration Clinic, contact us.