The Immigration Unit provides legal representation and advocacy for low-income immigrants seeking safety, stability, and protection in the United States. We focus on humanitarian immigration matters, including asylum and related forms of protection, relief for survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and other forms of gender-based violence, protection for unaccompanied children and immigrant youth, and removal defense for non-detained and detained immigrants. We prioritize serving individuals and families facing significant barriers to safety and access to justice.
Direct Client Services
The Immigration Unit provides direct legal representation, advice, and advocacy before federal immigration agencies and courts. We represent clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and, when appropriate, federal courts.
In addition to direct representation, we provide community education, legal consultations, and training for advocates, students, and community partners on immigration rights and legal protections. We work to ensure that immigrants and asylum seekers have meaningful access to justice, due process, and fair treatment under the law.
Our work combines individual representation with broader advocacy aimed at improving systems, policies, and procedures affecting immigrant communities.
Community Partnerships
We work closely with clients, community organizations, schools, shelters, health care providers, and advocacy networks to support immigrant communities across Massachusetts.
The Immigration Unit collaborates internally with other GBLS practice areas to address the interconnected legal needs of clients, including housing, family law, employment, education, and public benefits issues. We also partner with law schools, pro bono attorneys, and local and national advocacy organizations to expand access to legal representation and strengthen protections for immigrants and asylum seekers.
Through these partnerships, we help connect individuals and families with trusted legal support, community resources, and pathways toward long-term safety and stability.
Impact Advocacy
We uphold the human rights of clients as elaborated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this spirit, we advocate for law reform and systemic changes on prioritized issues and procedures.
Read more about our impact advocacy efforts.
With GBLS’ Help, Rwandan Victim of Torture Gains Asylum in the U.S.
As a child, Bosco lost his father to Rwanda's genocide. As a young man, he was tortured nearly to death for daring to seek justice for that loss. He fled to America alone, leaving his wife behind. GBLS attorneys Jane Rocamora and Guenter Hiort fought for him — winning his asylum, and finally, his wife's journey home.