By Annelle De Jesus Abikarram
Osceola County Library System
The Hello Project brings free legal orientation to recently arriving immigrants to Orange and Osceola counties. It has now found a new home at Buenaventura Lakes Library.
This monthly immigrant orientation project was initiated to help the immigrant community become acclimated with local legal processes as they make Central Florida their new home. The Hello Project program will take place on the first Thursday of each month, from today (May 4) through Nov. 2 at 10 a.m.
The program will include an orientation with bilingual attorneys for participants to speak with both in-person and virtually to help answer immigration questions. The Orlando Center for Justice recognizes that there is a great need for families looking for answers to their questions about the immigration process.
Melissa L. Marantes, Executive Director for Orlando Center for Justice, a non-profit legal aid organization that brings free legal assistance and at a low cost in Orlando, emphasized the great need in this area where no distance nor money should be a barrier to immigrants from having the help they need.
“I don’t think anyone should navigate this complex legal system alone and in a language they don’t understand,“ she said. “Family stability depends on the ability of certain family members to work, provide for their loved ones and these immigrant families are trying their best to do what has been asked of them by the courts.”
The immigration court in Orlando has at least 126,181 cases pending in 2023. Only 21.1% of immigrants, including unaccompanied children, had an attorney to assist with their immigration court when an order of removal was issued.
This project is supported by the Hispanic Federation Caminos de Esperanza, the City of Orlando, and the collaboration from the HOLA office and Buenaventura Lakes Library in Kissimmee.
