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Immigration is a human issue.
Cincinnati is home to refugees and asylum seekers from around the world – families forced to flee from violence and lawlessness in their home countries.
After making arduous and often dangerous journeys to reach safety in our community, families face a host of challenges including an incredibly complex legal system, possible deportation and family separation, and barriers to employment, housing, and education.
having legal guidance and representation can make all the difference.
In response to the urgent need for legal services for immigrant and refugee families in Cincinnati, the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center (IRLC) began operation in February 2018. IRLC is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit organization that provides pro bono legal services across a spectrum of humanitarian needs for low-income immigrant and refugee families.
Our lawyers work closely with community learning centers and schools in Cincinnati, allowing us to leverage a network of valued and trusted partner services that provides holistic support for families including clothing, housing, food, financial assistance, trauma counseling, early childhood education, English classes, and much more. All of our services are provided free of charge.
We help our clients understand their legal rights And we help them navigate our complex and intimidating legal system.
Celebrating 5 years!
The IRLC Story
Letter from our executive director
The Immigrant and Refugee Law Center (IRLC) harnesses knowledge to empower our clients and ensure justice for the immigrant and refugee community. Our work is based on a firm commitment to human rights, peace and security.
As Founder and Executive Director, I am driven by these core values: (1) A deep commitment to human rights – that we are all equal no matter where we come from; (2) Dedication to empowerment - to empowering people to be independent and fulfill their potential as individuals and as part of the community; (3) Ensuring access to justice for immigrants and refugees - who are such an integral part of our community; and (4) Connection - this is very important to me personally, and it’s how we operate as an organization. At IRLC we are a family.
Each year, IRLC expands its commitment to providing pro bono legal services to low-income families navigating our complicated legal system. Increasingly we see a need to protect children that were brought to this country and subsequently trafficked, neglected, abused, or abandoned once here, and we are deepening our partnerships with our schools and child welfare agencies in order to protect the rights of and empower the most vulnerable. We are also expanding our work with unaccompanied children.
Increasingly we are helping local families respond to global crises, from Afghanistan and Ukraine to Venezuela and Haiti and beyond.
Every single person we encounter deserves a real chance at success within the immigration system; they deserve to experience empowering legal services that recognize their courageous journey. That is what IRLC stands for.
JULIE LEFTWICH, ESQ.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
