Over the past year, many U.S. immigrants have sought legal representation in response to the current federal administration’s immigration policies. Individuals with attorney representation have a far greater chance of securing legal relief than those without. For this reason, having an attorney to provide case assessment and legal support is crucial.

However, many people cannot afford private attorney fees. For instance, a deportation defense can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $15,000. This creates a problematic situation for vulnerable individuals and their families, as many immigrants do not have the economic means to pay for needed legal services and are forced to forego the opportunity to have an attorney defend them.

Casa Cornelia Law Center helps mitigate this challenge by providing legal support free of charge. The Borgen Project spoke with Casa Cornelia Communications Manager Pedro Anaya to gain further insight into the organization’s work.

Casa Cornelia’s Story

Located in San Diego, Casa Cornelia Law Center was founded in 1993 by Sister Ann M. Durst, a member of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Durst envisioned providing free legal services to victims of human and civil rights violations. Over time, the law center grew into an established nonprofit public interest law firm serving Southern California.

Casa Cornelia Law Center believes “justice with compassion is a human right—not a privilege.” Too often, justice becomes a privilege because of the high cost of legal representation. Casa Cornelia bridges this justice gap by providing all its services at no cost to clients.

The organization sustains its free services through donations from individuals and institutional grants. To further its impact, in addition to its dedicated staff, Casa Cornelia recruits, trains and mentors volunteer attorneys from the private bar and volunteer interpreters and translators from the community to expand its mission reach and maximize its limited resources.

Services and Impact

Casa Cornelia offers its services to help unaccompanied children, asylum seekers and victims of serious crimes. As an extension of its services and to further support its clients, the organization coordinates access through referrals to needed social services, such as psychological and medical resources, via a network of trusted agency connections.

In 2024, Casa Cornelia responded to nearly 3,000 diverse cases, helping people from 79 countries and in 55 languages. Around 48% of the cases were asylum seekers, 35% were unaccompanied children and 17% were survivors of violent crimes. It also has the support of 500 volunteers.

The center also supports volunteer training, trauma-informed aid for clients and the maintenance of legal staff.

Looking Ahead

Casa Cornelia Law Center has helped the indigent immigrant community in Southern California for more than 30 years. Through a free legal process, the charity makes justice more accessible for those who do not have the means to hire private counsel. As the needs increase, the law center will continue to pivot to meet the needs in the community.

– Andrea Roji

Andrea is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr