OUR MISSION
Belonging starts with community
Immigrants in the U.S. face difficult situations where even those who are trying to enter legally are facing overwhelming obstacles. CRCKY exists to make sure no one faces that alone. We run three programs: a legal clinic, a crisis response program for urgent situations, and a community hub where neighbors lift each other up.
Legal Assistance
CRCKY operates an immigration clinic for immigrants living, or detained, in Kentucky. Every case begins with a free, straightforward assessment of client options in the languages our clients speak.. CRCKY focuses on asylum and detention defense, but we also work on green card and DACA renewals, adjustment of status, and naturalization. We have a sliding scale fee structure, which means we offer our services at no cost to over 90% of client. We are based in Lexington, KY and provide legal support to clients throughout the state.
Crisis Response
A legal case doesn't exist in a vacuum. Immigrants who aren't yet allowed to work, or whose family members are detained, can count on us for food. Clients without insurance get referred to affordable, quality health care. Survivors of domestic violence receive cell phones. Transportation to and from appointments is arranged so no one misses a hearing for lack of a ride. Parents of U.S. citizen children can prepare a free Special Power of Attorney, naming a trusted caregiver so that a sudden detention or removal doesn't become a permanent separation. And when a need falls outside what we do directly, clients are connected to the community resources that can help.
Community Hub
CRCKY doesn’t do this work alone: the Hub is where the broader community gets involved. Volunteers drive clients to hearings and deliver food to families in crisis. Volunteer attorneys trained by CRCKY prepare the Special Powers of Attorney that help parents protect their children if they’re detained. And our most intensive track trains volunteers to become DOJ (Department of Justice) Accredited Representatives, who can represent immigrants in their cases without being attorneys. Three of our trainees have already earned this kind of accreditation. Kentucky doesn’t have enough immigration practitioners to serve its immigrant population, and the Hub is our attempt to close that gap.
We offer free workshops on request. Popular topics include the legal limits of helping undocumented neighbors ("harboring"), and what your rights are when encountering immigration authorities.
HELP SHORTCUTS
For a list of reputable immigration lawyers and DOJ Accredited Representatives, click here. Please know that many of them have a lot of people asking for their help right now. Leave a message and don't be surprised if it takes a while for them to get back to you.
For CRCKY's guide of free Lexington, Kentucky resources available to immigrants, click here to access the guide in English, Spanish, or French. For a list of resources in Jessamine County, click here. (English only for now.)