UnidosUS and CLINIC: Scaling Through Partnership
This article highlights the challenges and initiatives surrounding immigration legal services in the U.S. since 2014.
It begins with efforts to enact immigration reform, stalled by political obstacles and judicial actions. Recognizing the critical need for legal aid, a strategic partnership between UnidosUS and CLINIC was forged to expand services through training and technical support for UnidosUS Affiliates. Over the past decade, this collaboration has significantly increased the capacity of Affiliates, with a doubling in the number of recognized organizations offering affordable immigration legal services. Despite this progress, there remains a substantial gap between demand and available services. The model established by CLINIC and UnidosUS demonstrates effective network collaboration to bridge this gap and serves as a replicable model for other networks seeking to enhance immigration legal services. While emphasizing the success of this partnership in training and accrediting staff, expanding legal service programs, and navigating complex immigration policies, highlighting the importance of continuous investment in professional development to meet the evolving needs of immigrant communities.
