publication: Portland Press Herald (Maine)

November 1, 2009 Sunday

Among the influx of refugees who have settled in the Portland area in the past few years are dozens of people seeking legal asylum. They come from countries including Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi, where they faced persecution for everything from tribal affiliation to sexual orientation. Without an immigration lawyer, though, their chance of winning an asylum case is less than 20 percent. But for those who receive help from a volunteer lawyer through the nonprofit Immigrant Legal Assistance Program, the success rate is far higher. Last year, pro bono lawyers won more than 90 percent of the asylum cases brought on behalf of refugees in Maine.