Cleveland, Ohio Based Immigration Law Firm Offers $1,000 Essay Contest for Undocumented Essential Workers on COVID-19 Frontlines

CLEVELAND, OH –  In an effort to encourage greater appreciation for undocumented immigrant workers, many of whom are valiantly working on the frontlines of COVID-19 in critical industries such as healthcare[1] and food distribution[2], the Herman Legal Group is sponsoring a $1,000 Essay Contest. 

Applicants must be an undocumented immigrant, which includes DACA recipients (“Dreamers”), and write an essay of at least 300 words, in any language, answering this question:

What do YOU think of when you hear the word ‘IMMIGRANT’?

Why the Essay Contest?  Why Now?  We are facing the most challenging healthcare and economic crises in 100 years. The pandemic impacts everyone. Undocumented immigrants are especially vulnerable. U.S. policy on immigration has increasingly become more aggressive and unwelcoming to immigrants. Despite the data to the contrary, many people now believe that immigrants undermine the U.S. economy and do not make the nation stronger. As immigration attorneys, we at the Herman Legal Group understand the moral and economic imperative to support undocumented immigrants, particularly those who are working to keep us safe and healthy. Undocumented workers are often toiling in high-risk conditions of virus transmission, unprotected by any Personal Protection Equipment, and are getting sick.

Yet, despite their important contributions to the United States, including paying taxes, most undocumented workers (and even some U.S. citizen spouses) are not eligible to receive stimulus checks from the Federal Government, and their families are disproportionately feeling the devastating impact of the shutdown of the economy. Even during this pandemic, the undocumented population continues to be vilified and face the prospect of arrest, detention, deportation, and permanent separation from their U.S. citizen children.

We are hoping that this contest inspires members of the undocumented community, at this unique moment in history, to share their personal feelings about being an immigrant who contributes to the well-being of the United States, who has deep ties to the United States, who may have U.S. citizen children or other family members, and yet has no legal pathway to normalize their immigration status.[3]

We will publish the winning essay on our website and will keep the winner’s identity confidential unless otherwise authorized by the winner. We will also be publishing some of the non-winning essays in order to help give voice to the undocumented, to help stimulate a healthier conversation in the U.S. about immigration, and to encourage our elected officials to move on legislation that would provide an earned pathway to permanent residency, and ultimately citizenship,  to the undocumented.

For these reasons, we are honored to sponsor the “What Do YOU Think of When You Hear the Word ‘IMMIGRANT’?” Essay Contest. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicant must be undocumented[4]
• Must be working, or have recently worked, as an essential worker in the healthcare industry, food supply chain, or other essential industries[5]

How to Apply:

People who wish to participate should send their essay as an attachment in an email to [email protected] by August 1, 2020.

In the body of the email, applicants should include the following information:

• Your name, address, and phone number
• If you are under 18, contact information for your parents
• The nature of your job and length of employment
• The best way to contact you

Once the application period has ended, our essay committee will review the essays and choose a winner by September 1, 2020.  The winner will receive $1,000. 

The winner will be chosen considering the following factors:

• Originality
• Responsiveness to the question asked
• The quality of the writing
• The substantive content of the response

By applying, all applicants consent to the reproduction and publishing of their essays. Name and other contact information shall always remain confidential.  Follow this link for more information on the “What Do YOU Think of When You Hear the Word ‘IMMIGRANT’?” Essay Contest.  #ImmigrantStrong

Contact Our Firm for More Information

Founded in 1995, the Herman Legal Group focuses on immigration law, including family immigration, removal defense, employment-based immigration, investor immigration, asylum, immigration waivers. We are headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and have additional offices in Columbus, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Miami, and Dallas. We serve clients, in over 12 languages, in all 50 states. For over 25 years, we have earned the reputation of highly-skilled, compassionate, and innovative immigration lawyers. To contact our firm, call 1-800-808-4013

1. In 2018, there were almost 280,000 undocumented workers in the healthcare industry, including 62,600 DACA-eligible individuals.
2. 3.8 million Immigrants make up more than one in five workers in the U.S. food sector. They are among the essential workers who leave the safety of their homes to handpick fresh vegetables and fruits, processed meat and seafood, stock shelves with groceries, and deliver food to people’s doorsteps.
3. There are anywhere from 12 to 20 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., many of whom have been here for than a decade, have U.S. citizen children and spouse, and run their own businesses. The LIFE Act, which provided a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, expired on April 30, 2001.
4. Verified by valid Employment Authorization Document indicating DACA, TPS, pending asylum, pending Cancellation of Removal for non-LPR, scheduling notice for future immigration court hearing, or personal attestation. All information will remain confidential.
5. As defined by any Governor’s Executive Order pertaining to COVID-19 and stay-at-home directive.