A large number of Afghan refugees (some 50-100 families) will be resettled in Baton Rouge. A few families have already arrived and more are on the way. The initial resettlement and housing issues are being coordinated through Catholic Charities, but there is much to be done. The LSU main campus veterans organization is trying to organize to lend assistance in a variety of ways, and the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center – specifically through PILS and the Law Center’s Veterans Advocacy group – are also organizing to help.
We will be working with the main campus on everything they are doing, but we will also be focusing on a couple of areas where we, as a law schools student body, may be particularly able to help: 1) working with Catholic Charities legal department and other pro bono service providers and attorneys to provide legal services to the refugees (everything from help with bureaucracy and forms, to immigration hearings; 2) helping provide transportation and other non-legal help; and 3) working with the folks across campus to help provide English language and other instruction. We will also be doing fund raising.
In short – something for everyone, but the immediate task is to get as many volunteers as possible, as quickly as possible! Please reach out to mmeye36@lsu.edu for more details on how to help!
