SAN ANTONIO – Jesus Romero started the Educational and Legal Immigration Ministries (ELIM) in 2003 as a way to protect migrants from falling victim to people who were trying to take advantage of their fear and desperation.
“This is our effort (to) care for them, love and protect them, and provide a big need for them, which is affordable legal immigration services,” Romero said.
Romero and his wife run the nonprofit and file most of the paperwork themselves. Since the immigration changes started, his phone has been ringing nonstop, and they are booked until early March.
Romero is asking those seeking help for patience as they do their best to keep up.
ELIM works with about a dozen other organizations in the city and is certified by the Department of Justice to file immigration paperwork; immigration attorneys are not on the list. However, these two entities are allowed to provide that type of service.
Romero says his clients are from Latin America and South America. There’s a lot of anxiety, grief and worry in the calls he’s getting. Many calls are from people who have already submitted their paperwork and are in waiting.
“Once the process starts it can take a long long time, it can take 4-5 years for the process to come to an end. Whether its the approval of the asylum or denial of it, and that’s just talking about the asylum,” he said.
Romero welcomes any help from people who want to donate their time to help in the office or even donate funds to cover the cost of the federal filing application fees for families who can’t afford it.
He strongly encourages migrants to become familiar with their rights.
This is a look at the organizations in San Antonio that are accredited to file immigration documents on behalf of people.