Dilley Pro Bono Project Application

What will we be doing?

DPBP recruits groups of volunteers to travel to Dilley every week to assist the pro bono legal team at the detention center. 

At present, volunteer work for non-licensed individuals includes:

• Conducting client intake;
• Giving Know Your Rights presentations;
• Credible fear and reasonable fear interview preparation; and
• Administrative help with scanning, copying, and filing documents.

Licensed social workers may be eligible to provide psychological evaluations in limited circumstances for the purposes of preparing expert reports. Anyone interested in doing so, should first check with the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners as to any restrictions, as well as with the licensing board in the state in which they practice. They should also check with their professional liability insurer on whether this activity would be covered under their policy. If not acting in a clinical capacity, they assist in the work described above.

Licensed attorneys are additionally eligible to provide:

• accompaniment to credible and reasonable fear interviews;
• representation in custody redetermination hearings and negative credible and reasonable fear review hearings before the Immigration Judge; and
• administrative appeals to the Asylum Office.

DPBP is only able to uphold its promise to provide legal counsel with the help of volunteers who are flexible and willing to step outside their comfort zone. Volunteers need to be dedicated to working long and difficult hours (12-15-hour days, full of physically and emotionally exhausting work). During the week, volunteers will report to On-the-Ground staff, taking on a variety of tasks, some of which are listed above. Things on the ground can change rapidly and take on different types of works. The Dilley volunteer experience is life changing and you will be working as an integral part of supporting the On-the-Ground team. 

Trip Details:

Sunday, February 9th, 2020 to Thursday, February 13th, 2020

Approved volunteers will be committing to a Sunday to Thursday work schedule. There will be a mandatory training session on Sunday evening beginning at 5pm in Dilley (a 1.5hr drive from San Antonio), and NASW-NJ staff and volunteers will be working Monday to Thursday from 7:30am to 8:00pm with Big Table meetings at 8:15pm on Monday and Thursday night. Please plan to depart on Friday. February 14, as we will work through Thursday evening at 8pm. At this time, DPBP cannot accommodate volunteers that can only work for a partial amount of the week stated above.

Volunteers are expected to cover or fundraise all their travel costs, including flight, hotel, and travel to and from the detention center. Approved volunteers are expected to make arrangements independently and inform NASW-NJ of your travel plans. NASW-NJ will ensure your volunteer and security clearance in the detention facility and with DPBP.

NASW-NJ will host remote webinars with the approved volunteers to train and prepare them for the trip beforehand and debrief and reflect afterwards. CEUs will be provided for these webinars. 

Volunteer Requirements:

NASW-NJ encourages social workers from diverse backgrounds across all areas of practice to apply so that we can bring a wide range of expertise to the South Texas Family Residential Center.

Volunteers will be screened and approved on a first-come first-serve basis, with preferential treatment given to Spanish speaking individuals. Preference will also be given to NASW members over non-members. Please review the following statement from DPBP regarding language interpretation:

"Given that most of our clients are Spanish speakers, we can only provide a very limited number of spots each week for volunteers who do not speak Spanish. If you do not speak Spanish, you may be limited in the tasks you are able to assist with. Non-Spanish speakers are HIGHLY encouraged to bring your own Spanish interpretation or having remote interpretation available to you."

Criminal Background Check:
The South Texas Family Residential Center is a jail. Like other jails, there are restrictions on who is eligible to enter the premise. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducts a criminal background check on all volunteers who wish to enter the facility. NASW-NJ will facilitate the collection and submission of needed documents, forms, and releases to ensure approved volunteers are cleared to enter the detention facility.

U.S. citizenship is not a requirement to enter the jail. However, proof of lawful immigration status is required. Certain temporary visitors on non-immigrant visas (A, J, B1/2) and DACA holders are not allowed to volunteer. If you have any concerns about how submitting yourself to an ICE check may affect your immigration status, please consult an immigration attorney. PLEASE NOTE: These are requirements set forth by the South Texas Family Residential Center, NOT by NASW-NJ. 

Approved volunteers will be required to provide the following within 2 weeks of approval, or we will move on to the next application:

• 2 signed agreements (one to use electronic devices inside the building, one for volunteering)
• Signed waiver of liability
• Copy of government issued ID
• Social security number
• Independent Medical Provider and Expert Request Form (if licensed as a mental health professional)
• Copy of license/bar card (if licensed as a mental health professional or an attorney)
• Flight and hotel confirmation

APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 23, 2019 or until trip is filled, whichever is sooner. 

APPROVED VOLUNTEERS WILL BE CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 3, 2020.

Questions about the trip?

Contact Annie Siegel, Membership and Education Coordinator, at asiegel.naswnj@socialworkers.org or 732-296-8070, ext. 128.

Click here to learn more about the Dilley Pro Bono Project: https://immigrationjustice.us/volunteeropportunities/dilley/