Canal Alliance’s Immigration Legal Services Program Surpasses Goals and Plans for Expansion
August 13, 2025
Canal Alliance’s Immigration Legal Services (ILS) department provides critical legal support to immigrants, including unaccompanied youth, helping them navigate complex immigration processes and achieve stability. In 2024, one of the goals for ILS was to provide 700 legal consultations. ILS exceeded the goal; they conducted 412 consultations, initiated representation on 378 new cases, and provided ongoing legal representation to approximately 800 clients. These consultations included general immigration issues, adjustment of status, naturalization, and services specifically for unaccompanied children.
Our ILS department has also made significant progress in Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and asylum cases:53 SIJS granted, 57 permanent residences granted, 25 motion to terminate/dismiss filed, 19 motions to terminate/dismiss granted, 12 asylum petitions filed, 13 asylee permanent residence granted, and 60 SIJS EADs deferred action work permits filed. And, in addition to all of that, ILS is currently working with 487 Unaccompanied Children on SJIS and/or asylum.
Additional work by the ILS team in 2024 focused on U visas, VAWA, and T visa petitions, helping many clients obtain work permits and permanent residency. The ILS team’s case management services supported approximately 180 clients with work permits, green card renewals, FOIA requests, and court representation. They also conducted educational outreach events, educating partners, immigrants, and allies about the rights of immigrants with our Know Your Rights resources, and bringing family preparedness planning to agencies across Marin.
With a recent grant provided by van Löben Sels/RembeRock Foundation, Canal Alliance now plans to expand the ILS team’s capacity and resources to increase these numbers significantly in 2025 and beyond. The plan is to provide more consultations, file additional DACA renewals and naturalization applications, and enhance legal assistance in SIJS, asylum, and other immigration remedies. By growing our capacity we grow our reach, and will be able to support more immigrants in securing status, exercising their legal rights, and building a foundation for a successful and independent futures.
