Legal Services
Justice for our Neighbors! The People of Pharr UMC and JFON
Justice for Our Neighbors
Irene Raulston is our Spring-Summer featured servant. Irene has been an intake volunteer since JFON-South Texas started. She is a member of First United Methodist Church, Mission, TX, and she and her husband manage an RV park in Mission. Irene quickly establishes trust and friendship with new clients. Their tears and hers often flow together as she hears their stories, and her smile and prayers offer encouragement to everyone. Irene, thank you for all you do for JFON and our neighbors.
What is Justice for Our Neighbors?
Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) is a locally owned and operated ministry founded by The United Methodist Church Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
Standing: JFON National Staff Attorney, Danny Upton; Volunteers Earl Richardson, Claire Richardson, Irene Raulston, Carole Lahti, Shirley Melton, Ernesto Palma, Mary
Ann Garza, Erica Richard. Seated: Friends of JFON.
Briefly, the two priorities of JFON are:
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To provide high quality immigration legal services and a warm welcome to immigrant newcomers in our communities and congregations. A top priority for me is the relationships that are built as a result of the program; relationships like the one I experienced getting to know "Alicia". ...read Alicia's story
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Secondly, to foster greater cross-cultural com-munity building and deeper moral reflections about the justness of current U.S. immigration policies through education for mission and advocacy.
Intake "clinics" are held monthly at each location. Clients, seen by appointment, are initially interviewed by a trained volunteer who gathers information and copies of documents. The client then sees the attorney for legal assistance with completing documents, etc. and learning what their rights are. Compliance with current immigration law is maintained in all instances, and the client’s privacy is always respected.
There are over 25 JFON regions country-wide. UMCOR provides training, legal oversight and attorney’s malpractice insurance.
Texas Bar Foundation Supports JFON
Thanks go out to the Texas Bar Foundation for their generous grant of $10,000 to support the work of JFON-South Texas. The presentation was made by members of the Foundation including Sonia Falcon, International Bank of Commerce Senior Vice-President and attorneys Chuck Murray, Roberto Ramirez, Ray Tomas, Gary Gurwitz, Rebecca Vela, Sofia Ramon, Dan Worthington and Bill Ellis.
The Texas Bar Foundation solicits charitable contributions and provides funding to enhance the rule of law and the system of justice in Texas, especially for programs that relate to the administration of justice; ethics in the legal profession; legal assistance for the needy; the encouragement of legal research, publications and forums; and the education of the public.
The mission of the Texas Bar Foundation states that their contributions provide funding "especially for programs that relate to legal services for the under-served," such as JFON.
In presenting the check to Rev. Carole Lahti, Regional Coordinator, MaryAnn Garza, Clinic Coordinator and Rev. Melanie Monroe, pastor of Pharr United Methodist Church, Ms. Falcon said "While the Texas Bar Foundation reaches every corner of the state, on a personal note, I am thrilled that this particular program has been granted, since I am also from the Valley.."
A huge thank you to all the members