Immigration clinic coordinator to speak at Aurora church

Submitted by Fourth Street United Methodist Church

Roger Curless, coordinator of a free immigration clinic serving Aurora-area residents, will be the guest speaker at Fourth Street United Methodist Church in Aurora at the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday, Aug. 5. The public is invited.

Called Justice for Our Neighbors, the local clinic was launched in April 2011 and is part of a national network of clinics. In a June published report, Curless said since the clinic’s inception, 107 cases have been opened and more than 50 cases are being reviewed by a staff attorney for action. Clients represent 24 countries.

“As the JFON story is told,” Curless said, “more congregations and individuals are looking for ways to be supportive and involved.”

According to Curless, immigration law is complex, including more than 800 different status types. Cases handled by the Aurora clinic include domestic abuse, victims of crime, status documentation, arrests for traffic violations and requests for political or religious asylum.

Volunteers ages 4 to adult staff the clinic. They are trained by and registered with the national JFON office. Volunteers represent Fourth Street UMC, Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, Wesley UMC, Nueva Vida UMC, all in Aurora; Good Shepherd UMC, Sugar Grove; Kaneville UMC, Kaneville; Grace UMC, Naperville; Epworth UMC, Elgin; and First UMC, Plainfield.

“Lives are being changed not only for clients, but for those who volunteer to take on the various responsibilities,” Curless said. “God’s work is being done here.”

Fourth Street United Methodist Church, host for the clinic, is at 551 S. Fourth St. in Aurora.

The clinic meets the first Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. until early afternoon. Ten appointments with an immigration attorney are scheduled for each clinic. No drop-in clients are seen; all clients must have an advance appointment.

For information, visit jfonnic.org.