Joy is best shared.

As immigrant advocates, you, and we, look forward to sharing joy when immigration, well, works. And every time that our advocacy bears fruit, we get to make a call.

The call to let the client know that their case has been approved.

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Advocate: "Hello, client? This is Advocate, from Lighthouse. How are you?"

Some broken English from Client, as it becomes clear that they will need an interpreter to continue the call.

Advocate: "Oh, ok. I understand. Do you speak Dari? Or Pashto?"

Client: "Ah, Dari, Dari. Thank you."

LIA's Advocate puts the Client on hold, dials the interpreter line, and waits a moment for a Dari interpreter to get on the line.

Advocate: "Thank you for joining us interpreter. Could you please introduce yourself to our client?"

Interpreter: "As-salamu alaykum."

The interpreter continues to introduce themselves in perfect Dari, and the call continues.

Advocate: "Thank you interpreter. Client, I'm calling today because your asylum case has been approved."

It takes about fifteen seconds for the interpreter to share this news with the client. Fifteen long seconds of waiting for Advocate.

The interpreter finishes. There's a moment of silence, and then,

"Tashakur! Tashakur!!!" (Thank you in Dari)

The call continues, and Client says they will visit soon to pick up their approval notice at LIA's office.

Advocate: "We have a new location since our last meeting. And when you come, we can schedule an appointment to apply for your spouse and children to to join you now in the U.S."

Client: "Yes, yes, I will do that right away! Thank you."

--

The future of our clients has so much joy, and it is our joy to share in it, to be supporting them, and an honor to work with them. In a year, Client will be ready to apply for their green card, and we advocates will be ready for that part of their joyful journey too.

We are all too aware that moments like these are hard won by our efforts, your support, all of the advocacy, legal work, volunteer and pro bono time - all of it.

I won't say that all of this is worth it or not worth it. To me, this is not a matter of worth, but one of identity. We are the kind of people that believe that this kind of joy is possible. Yes, there is plenty of local, national, and world news that may make it seem otherwise. But this call is proof that immigration, immigrants, and immigrant advocates can make so much joy.

There have been times when this call happens to find the client surrounded by their loved ones, and we can hear the explosion of joy as they announce to their friends and family that their case has been approved - that they're safe, stable, and belong. Other times, there are happy tears of relief. We've been honored to receive celebratory selfies after the call too, notes of appreciation, a box of sweets.

I hope and wish for you and yours the joy of family, safety, and reunion today.

With my warmest regards,

David Lee (he/him)
Advancement Director