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https://www.justice4all.org/

(301) 778-3450

1000 Preston Ave, Ste A Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903

CEO/Executive Director: Angela Ciolfi

Organization Information

Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC)

EIN: 54-0884513

Mission Statement

LAJC partners with communities and clients to dismantle systems that create and perpetuate poverty. We achieve this by integrating individual legal representation, impact litigation, policy advocacy, know your rights education, and organizing strategies. We work in and with communities to identify and address root causes of poverty while taking individual cases to mitigate acute impacts. We believe that the individual legal problems of our clients are inextricably linked to overarching systems of injustice and oppression, and that legal and organizing strategies can effectively dismantle the social, racial and economic systems that marginalize communities and keep people in poverty.

Program Summary

The changes to long-standing immigration policies and the mass deportations promised by the Trump administration are an existential threat to low-income immigrants; they threaten their family unity, their safety, and their ability to remain in the country. Additionally, low-income immigrants in Arlington County routinely contend with low-paying jobs and workplace abuses, substandard housing conditions, and threat of eviction.  LAJC’s attorneys, community organizers, and service navigators provide outreach, Know Your Rights education, appropriate referrals, linkages to safety-net services, and legal assistance to low-income immigrants who are facing immigration, housing, health, consumer and education related legal problems.

Our services help low-income immigrants overcome legal problems that threaten:

  • 1) their right to remain in the U.S., family safety and unity (defense against immigration detention, affirmative immigration status adjustments, family emergency preparedness, Know Your Rights education on immigration policies and enforcement);  
  • 2) their housing stability (e.g., evictions and substandard housing conditions);
  • 3) financial stability (e.g., wage theft, predatory lending, debt collection, and access to public benefits and safety-net services).
  • 4) their access to education (e.g. enrollment, IEPs, special education and mental health services), and
  • 5) their access to affordable medical care (e.g., Charity Care applications, insurance enrollment and appeals, ACA subsidies).

Impact Statement

LAJC’s Know Your Rights presentations in Arlington are tailored to address expressed community needs, topics include: changes in immigration policy, safety in the face of aggressive immigration enforcement, emergency family preparedness, housing conditions and eviction, and how to access safety-net services. These KYRs have made the difference between families remaining safe during an ICE raid and family members being detained.

Our Community Clinics provide an opportunity for community members to receive one-on-one advice and services around immigration issues, including assistance creating family emergency plans and preparing power of attorney documents. We also have service navigators, housing and consumer attorneys present at these events to help address the many challenges low-oncome households face. These clinics provide a one-stop shop for legal services and education that is specific to low-income immigrants in Arlington. 

Brief through extended legal services to low-income immigrants facing an immigration, housing, employment, consumer, health or education related legal problem. These services are crucial to household stability and financial security. Additionally, LAJC’s Immigrant Justice Program is committed to providing immigration consultations to any Arlington resident who is detained in an ICE raid.

What ways can the public get involved?

We are currently looking for people (particularly attorneys) who can help with the preparation of power of attorney documents and guiding families with the collection of information that may be needed if a family member is detained by ICE or other emergencies.  

How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?

Donations help us employ the attorneys and community organizers that we need in order to provide the legal services, education, and service navigation that low- income immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented or live in mixed-status households, in Arlington need to protect themselves and their families. 

A group of protesters marching, many carrying American flags and signs displaying messages in support of essential workers.

Information provided January 2025