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Members of Atlanta’s legal community gathered with the ̽����ѡ (̽����ѡ) in Atlanta for a Happy Hour.

On Friday, October 10, members of Atlanta’s legal community gathered with the ̽����ѡ (̽����ѡ) in Atlanta for a Happy Hour - an evening uniting attorneys, advocates, and firm leaders around one goal: expanding immigration legal services and support for immigrant families and unaccompanied children in Georgia. 

Attendees gather for discussion

Expanding Access to Immigration Legal Services in Atlanta

The ̽����ѡ Atlanta Immigration Department provides comprehensive immigration legal aid to refugees, asylum seekers, newcomers, unaccompanied minors, and underserved communities rebuilding their lives in Georgia. 

The Core Immigration Services Team assists clients with: 

• Green card and citizenship applications
• Work permits, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and re-parole
• Family reunification and refugee/asylee petitions
• Immigration consultations for families across metro Atlanta 

Maria Rosario Acosta, Supervising Attorney for Children's Legal Services, presents on her work.

Launched in January 2024, the Unaccompanied Children’s Legal Services Program fills a critical gap in pro bono representation for minors arriving in the U.S. without a parent or guardian. In less than a year, the team has: 

• Represented 108 children in immigration proceedings
• Delivered 260 Know Your Rights workshops
• Become Georgia leaders in Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases 

Together, these programs are advancing access to justice in Atlanta, ensuring that every individual - regardless of background - can pursue stability, safety, and belonging. 

Stories of Resilience and Hope 

Behind every case is a story that reflects Atlanta’s legacy of compassion and leadership: 

Finding stability in a broken system - A, a teenager from Guinea, faced early hardship after losing his father and being sent to work by his mother, who could no longer support him. Amid Guinea’s political instability and a military coup, he journeyed to Atlanta to reunite with his aunt. With legal support from the ̽����ѡ, a judge granted his aunt custody, and ̽����ѡ attorneys successfully filed for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), securing deferred action and a work permit for A. Since then, he has flourished—learning English and excelling in soccer—regularly sharing his achievements with the ̽����ѡ legal team, a testament to the life-changing impact of their advocacy. 

A Family Reunited – Separated during the 2021 Afghan evacuation, one father spent three years working to bring his wife and children to Atlanta. The ̽����ѡ’s legal team, along with community partners and congressional allies, finally reunited them last year. 

L’s Journey to Citizenship – After multiple denials due to medical challenges, an elderly woman in DeKalb County achieved U.S. citizenship through the ̽����ѡ’s legal team, a testament to perseverance and access to qualified immigration counsel. 

These victories show that immigration law in Atlanta is not just about applications, it’s about restoring dignity and opportunity. 

From Inspiration to Action

Here’s how you can make an impact: 

• Join the ̽����ѡ Atlanta Advisory Council - share your insight and leadership.
• Support the Establishment of an Immigration Legal Rights-Focused Advisory Council for ̽����ѡ Atlanta – share your energy and insight to help meet the immense needs of the refugee and asylee community.
• Provide grant funding or sponsorship - help sustain critical immigration and refugee legal services, cover translation, filing, and court costs, and expand our reach across metro Atlanta.
• Volunteer with our Legal Department - Join us for our naturalization and related workshops, volunteer with us and share your insight.
• Make warm introductions - connect us with firms, bar associations, or philanthropic partners aligned with your values. 

A brief virtual orientation for new legal partners will be announced soon.

Why Partner with the ̽����ѡ in Atlanta?

It’s about leadership and community impact. 

Through collaboration, and participation on our Advisory Councils, grant funding, and corporate sponsorships, local law firms and civic partners are helping strengthen Georgia’s capacity to deliver compassionate, high-quality legal support for families and children rebuilding their lives. 

It’s an opportunity to use your expertise and influence to help make Atlanta a place where justice, inclusion, and opportunity truly thrive. 

If you’d like to learn more or explore ways to get involved, please reach out to ATL-Development@rescue.org. 
 

̽����ѡ Atlanta Staff Gather for a Photo