This document provides information about a non-governmental organization that focuses on advocating for immigrant women and girls fleeing violence. It was founded in 1997 in Virginia and its main branch specializes in policy advocacy. The organization represents a vulnerable population less protected under the law due to fears of law enforcement and hesitancy to seek public services. It has a high success rate of 99% for asylum applications which attracts strong pro bono legal representatives. The organization's mission is to protect immigrant women and girls from violence, advocate for their legal rights, and empower them to achieve equality through holistic legal services like immigration, family law, and case management.

1. Rachel Mitchell,
Rice University
Kellie Watkins,
UT-Public Health
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN
THE CONTEXT OF A
LEGAL ORGANIZATION

2.  Non-governmental organization founded in 1997,
Virginia (Washington, D.C.)
 The main (D.C.) branch focuses on policy advocacy
 Specifically represent immigrant women and girls
fleeing violence
 Immigrants and non-citizens are a vulnerable population
that is less protected by the law
 Fear of law enforcement and hesitancy to seek public
services
 Medical and Educational pro bono work as well
 2007 – Washington Post Award for Excellence in
Nonprofit Management
BACKGROUND

3.  “You can kill me as soon as you like, but you
cannot stop the emancipation of women” Woman
Suffrage Martyr, 1800s Iran
 Founder – student attorney involved in an asylum
case; winning proceeds started the center
 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs
 Approval for asylum applications was 23.3%
(2001); Those submitted by the Center on behalf of
asylum seekers is 99% (sustained)
 High success rate attracts strong legal
representatives willing to contribute pro bono work
A BRIEF HISTORY

4. 1. Protect immigrant women and girls from
violence
2. Advocate for legal rights
3. Support the courage to seek justice
4. Empower women to achieve equality
“Holistic Legal Services”
1. Immigration Law*
2. Family Law
3. Case Management
MISSION

5. March 4th – second email to main address
with an initial message about the project
(no response)
March 5th – follow up phone call
Decision would be made at the following staff
meeting on Tuesday
Agreed to provide additional information via
email about the project, deadlines, time
commitment, and final products
Following Week – we were offered a single
one hour interview with two staff members
CONTACT

6. March 13th – “Thank You” email, asked for
dates/times (no response)
March 18th – Second Attempt, followed by
a quick response from them on March
19th to schedule an interview session
Wednesday, March 27th established as our
finalized interview time slot (afternoon)
March 21st – per their request, a list of
sample interview questions was sent…
CONTACT

7. When was the center started?
How did it become involved with human
trafficking specifically?
How do you identify/find individuals to serve and
volunteer in your organization?
What is your own personal role in the
organization?
How do you identify/find clients in need of
assistance?
How would you describe the strategies used to
achieve your goals?
INTERVIEW PREPARATION

8. Established in 2007, selected due to the high
need for immigration legal services and high
numbers of trafficked individuals
90% of clients do not speak any/limited
English
Staff speaks French, Spanish, and Mandarin
or hires interpreters when necessary (conflict
of interest, i.e. forensic examination)
Immigration
benefit side and enforcement side
INTERVIEW – BASIC INFORMATION

9. MAP - WORLD

10. MAP – AFRICA AND EUROPE

11. MAP - ASIA

12. MAP – NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA

13. HUMAN TRAFFICKING
2003 – Trafficking Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act
Grants the right to sue traffickers for damages
10 years since law passed but fewer than
100 civil cases filed
Can’t exercise rights without competent
legal council
Pro bono attorneys – assist criminal
cases, help launch civil cases

14. HUMAN TRAFFICKING PRO BONO LEGAL
CENTER
Branch founded in 2012
Links trafficking victims with competent,
well-trained attorneys
Has placed 20 trafficking cases with pro
bono attorneys from high-profile law firms
Affirmative and defensive asylum
applications, U-VISAS, T-VISAS, petitions,
policy work (violence against women act),
adjustment of status applications,
citizenship

15. INTERVIEW – HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Works with victims sex and labor
trafficking
T-visa main form of immigration relief
provide for trafficking victims
Must have been trafficked from abroad, don’t
work with domestic trafficking victims
Immigration relief for clients, as well as
benefits to help rebuild lives through
social workers

16. BELIEFS AND VISION
“The way you treat your most vulnerable
people is a reflection of who you are as
a society.”
“…what’s most satisfying is not only
getting a client asylum but then finding
out what’s happening afterwards…”
“…the legal issues we deal with are
lifesaving.”