Services: Immigration Law

Two-thirds of the East Palo Alto population is Latino or Pacific Islander. CLS provides much needed reliable and effective immigration legal assistance to these communities. Program Director Mary Dutcher is the only agency-based attorney providing free immigration services in San Mateo County and the mid-peninsula area. Services include:

Advice and Information. A team of trained, supervised Stanford Law students performs intake, and relays to clients advice on how to regularize their own or family members' immigration status. Bilingual informational handouts on more than 20 immigrants rights topics are distributed.

Brief Services, Applications, Representation. We help clients with Violence Against Women Act claims, family petitions, FOIA requests, green card renewals, political asylum claims and more.

CLS has assisted clients from American Samoa, Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Mexico, Samoa, Nicaragua, Peru, the Philippines, and the United States. Every year, CLS’ Immigration Program helps over 500 clients with brief services that would cost $50 - $500 to complete with a private attorney.

Referral. Where needed, CLS refers individual clients to social service agencies or private attorneys.

Community Outreach and Education. CLS does presentations in Spanish or English on topics such as immigrants' rights, legislative updates, avoiding "notario" scams, and how to get a green card.

Policy Work and Advocacy. CLS offers technical assistance and legal expertise for local pro-immigrant leaders and grassroots organizers.