Waiting With Hope

Demonstrators sit, with their feet in the Reflecting Pool, during the March on Washington, 1963. Original by Warren K. Leffler.

Waiting. Most of us are not so good at it. Next week, we will wait for the results of our tumultuous election. Who is elected President will significantly impact how we advocate for our immigrant clients at Jubilee. Whether our clients will face a heightened risk of deportation. Or how long they must wait for a decision in their case. Or if their pathway to legal immigration status and citizenship is still viable. 

As we wait and look back at this past year, we give thanks for over forty clients who have been approved for green cards or other legal immigration status. Some have waited as long as seven and even thirty years. And as we wait and go forward together, let us stand in hope and solidarity with our immigrant neighbors. 

In gratitude,

Amy P. Lee
Executive Director & Immigration Attorney

Thank you to our awesome summer interns! Here are some of their reflections.

Guadalupe Vasquez (Senior at Barnard College)

I worked alongside Jubilee attorneys and their clients on their asylum applications, which deepened my understanding and interest in asylum law. It was also through these immersive experiences that I learned the type of questioning, narrative writing, legal theory and human compassion that goes into creating a compelling case. Still, nothing could have quite prepared me for the emotional impact that certain client stories had on me– largely because of their resonance to my own life– and the frustration and rage I felt towards our immigration laws and policies. My supervising attorneys helped me to process, understand and direct these emotions into the work and fight for immigrant justice. Thanks to Jubilee, I not only leave with a heightened understanding of immigration law and what’s at stake. but also have learned what it means to be a truly devoted community lawyer.

Emily Yuan (2nd year at Berkeley Law)

One of the most valuable lessons I learned at Jubilee was how to effectively and compassionately serve immigrant clients -- to fully understand their concerns and propose the best solutions available for their unique situations. I was reminded of the vulnerability of low-income immigrants and the critical role of legal assistance in helping them navigate a new country. One of the highlights of my summer was being able to use my Mandarin to assist Chinese-speaking clients at Jubilee’s joint monthly legal clinic with Chinese for Affirmative Action in San Francisco’s Chinatown. I learned how a well-considered legal strategy could bring immense relief to clients, whether it was helping them navigate complex legal requirements or providing reassurance during a stressful time. 

By Amy Lee

Executive Director & Immigration Attorney