ChesMRC was recently awarded $4,500 from The Mid-Shore Community Foundation (MSCF) for FY 2017. This grant will help contribute to ChesMRC’s initiatives for 2017 with the Immigration Clinic and Resource Center.

Edwin Hurtado, pictured above holding his US Citizenship Documents, is one of many Clients ChesMRC’s Immigration Clinic has helped through the immigration process.

Since the center became fully accredited in May 2016 to provide immigration legal assistance and translation services to our Clients, ChesMRC has assisted 253 individuals with legal and immigration services – paving the way to obtaining US Citizenship. By assisting the immigrant community, all citizens of the Mid-Shore will benefit by having a community that is more informed, educated and connected to services and resources.

By establishing a fully functioning BIA Accredited legal clinic on the Eastern Shore we will be providing a way for immigrants to get lower cost legal services. Free legal consultations, which typically cost between $100 and $150 with private attorneys will generate over $25,000 in immediate savings for our immigrant families – savings that will be spent in the local economy of the Eastern Shore.

The main objectives for FY 2017 are to outreach to 2500 immigrant community members, provide consultations to at least 250 families, process at least 100 applications and refer at least 50 complex cases to partner organizations.