Ayuda

Who We Are

Ayuda provides holistic legal and social services to foreign-born individuals in the DC metropolitan area in the areas of immigration, domestic violence, family law, and human trafficking. In addition, Ayuda supports legal and victim services organizations throughout the region by providing them with free, specially trained interpreters to work with their clients and patients.

Immigration attorneys and BIA Accredited Representatives provide advice and counsel, brief services, and representation, including before area immigration courts, in a broad range of family and humanitarian based immigration cases, including asylum, Violence Against Women Act petitions, and visa applications for survivors of violent crime, human trafficking, and child abuse & neglect. Ayuda also represents victims of notario/immigration services fraud in DC and Maryland matters through Project END (Eradicating Notario Deceit).

The Domestic Violence attorneys and paralegal provide holistic legal and social services to battered immigrants, which include protection orders, divorce, child support, and custody disputes in DC.

The Language Access Program receives public funding to manage interpreter banks that provide free, specially trained interpreters to legal and victim services organizations in the area. Law firms can access the Community Legal Interpreter Bank for a fee. More information can be found on Ayuda’s website under “Get Help” – “Language Access.” If you, or someone you know, has been denied interpretation by a DC nonprofit or government agency, contact Ayuda for possible assistance.

Finally, Ayuda’s social services department also operates a Spanish language support group for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and offers comprehensive case management to human trafficking and domestic violence cases.

Ayuda does not handle criminal matters or represent individuals in immigration custody.

There is a Notary Public on staff.

Who We Serve

Area(s): Statewide

Language(s) Spoken

• French / Français
• Portuguese / Português
• Spanish / Español

Cirumstances and languages in which interpreters are provided

Additional languages available through Community Legal Interpreter Bank and Language Line. Interpreters are provided for all DC clients and matters, all human trafficking clients, and all VA domestic violence and sexual assault clients.

Income Guidelines

A prospective Ayuda client must come very close to meeting 300% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

Income requirements are evaluated on a case-by-case basis (note: husband or partner’s income is not included).

Your family’s income should be at or below the following percentage of the federal poverty level

200

Is this organization accessible by wheelchair?: Yes

Does this organization provide access for the hearing impaired?: Yes

Eligibility Restrictions

A prospective Ayuda client must meet the following criteria to qualify for services:
– is foreign-born
– has experienced domestic violence (not necessarily physical abuse), sexual assault, or stalking
– has a Civil Protection Order or family law matter related to a domestic violence/sexual assault/stalking situation which may be litigated in the D.C. Superior Court
– resides in the District of Columbia
– meets or comes very close to meeting 300% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

Type of Help

This group provides the following types of services based on your legal needs and its resources:

• Full Legal Representation
• Brief Advice
• Pro Se Legal Clinic

How to Get Help

You can contact this organization by: