Few things are more welcome than pleasant surprises. When first hearing that a detained client had been abruptly transferred to a remote Los Angeles facility, we at Casa Cornelia braced ourselves for the worst. Nevertheless, our attorney assigned to this case persisted, and the client was successfully released on bond. The client was the mother of six, ages three through twelve, and she had been detained for seven months. Her release was a joyous moment — she was home for Easter.

Of the more than 2,000 individuals seeking legal assistance last year, each had a story to tell. Some told of unimaginable sufferings. The narratives did not make for easy listening as the pursuit of justice with compassion takes its toll in many ways. Still, our efforts have been liberally peppered with joyous moments–an asylum grant, a successful appeal at the Ninth Circuit, an immigrant visa approved, a life forever changed.

For 25 years, Casa Cornelia has been providing quality legal representation to indigent victims of human rights violations eligible to immigrate legally to the United States. The Law Center’s growth and development have been dramatic, and its record of success is impressive thanks to the commitment of staff and hundreds of volunteer attorneys, interpreters, and translators.