Restoration Immigration Legal Aid (RILA)

EIN: 83-3874634

Mission Statement

Restoration Immigration Legal Aid (RILA) supports immigrants in our community by providing excellent, pro bono immigration legal assistance to those who are most vulnerable and who have the fewest resources: asylum seekers and immigrant children.

Program Summary

RILA supports immigrants in our community by providing excellent pro bono legal assistance to those who are most vulnerable and have the fewest resources.  Focusing on asylum law and procedure, RILA comes alongside asylum-seekers, all of whom have fled life-threatening situations in their countries of origin, to guide them through the application process for asylum and represent them in immigration court. RILA also represents children and youth who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by a parent, petitioning for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). Each of our cases is a years long process. During that time we obtain work permits for our clients, allowing individuals to reliably support their families.

In January of 2025, RILA added a Know Your Rights program in which we offer seminars virtually and/or in person to serve and inform immigrants and their families and community members in the Northern Virginia area. By partnering with local organizations, schools, and churches, we are sharing vital information with some of our area’s most vulnerable neighbors–immigrants and their families.

Impact Statement

RILA has demonstrated success in achieving significant, life-changing results for our clients with a 77% success rate for securing grants of asylum or some other type of humanitarian legal status for our clients. We have successfully obtained approval in 99% of our SIJS cases for children and teens who were abused or abandoned by a parent.

Over the past year, RILA managed a caseload of roughly 1000 clients and assisted another 1100 people by providing information and referrals. Since our founding, we have helped 110 individuals win asylum, allowing them to rebuild their lives in the United States in safety.   RILA also assisted 196 children and teens in petitioning for and obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status, a pathway to legal permanent residence for young people who have experienced parental abuse, abandonment or neglect. Each year RILA obtains around 300 work permits for clients, allowing individuals to reliably support their families.

What ways can the public get involved?

 RILA makes space for people in Arlington from diverse backgrounds to work together to support, listen and give. We employ an innovative clinic model that integrates RILA staff, volunteers, local partner organizations and clients all working together. Volunteers can:

Bring dinner
Serve as a note taker
Assist in interpreting
Interview asylum seekers

Attorneys can write legal briefs or represent clients at the asylum office or in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. 

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

$5795 funds a defensive asylum case before Immigration Court.
$4773 funds an affirmative asylum case before USCIS.
$831 helps RILA petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for an abused or abandoned immigrant child.
$675 supports staff hours and supplies for one of our legal aid clinics
$580 helps an immigrant seeking refuge in the US file an initial Application for Asylum.
$425 covers the cost of staff hours for a Know Your Rights presentation.
$375 covers the cost of applying for Legal Permanent Residency.
$180 allows RILA to help a client apply for an initial work permit.
$100 pays for an initial consultation to determine eligibility for legal status.

Information provided March 2025