Fighting For Justice: Focusing on Immigration
CLA Immigration Attorney Jennie Montenotte shares more about CLA’s Immigration Practice and the troubles facing our community.
What are some of the most common challenges your clients face when navigating the immigration system?
Some of the most common challenges clients face when navigating the immigration system include:
lengthy and confusing legal processes
high costs for legal services/filing fees
barriers to employment
language difficulties
These barriers can further isolate individuals and hinder access to essential services like healthcare, education, and housing. Many clients also experience emotional stress from family separation, past trauma, and fear of deportation. These combined challenges make the immigration process not only legally demanding but also emotionally and socially overwhelming.
How long does a typical immigration case take?
The length of immigration cases can vary widely depending on the type of case, the country involved, and the specific circumstances of each. Some cases are faster than others. Some may take years.
What are some misconceptions people often have about immigrants or the immigration process?
Many people misunderstand immigration and those who migrate. A common myth is that immigrants don't pay taxes or take jobs from citizens, when in fact they contribute significantly to the economy and often fill essential labor gaps. Contrary to the belief that the immigration process is simple, it is often long, costly, and extremely limited in legal options. Most immigrants are in the country legally, and research consistently shows they are less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens. Despite stereotypes, most immigrants make strong efforts to integrate and learn English while contributing to the diversity and strength of their communities.
How does CLA’s sliding-scale model make immigration help more accessible — and why is that important?
CLA's sliding scale model makes immigration help more accessible by adjusting legal fees based on a client's income and ability to pay. This ensures that low- and moderate-income individuals can access high-quality legal services without facing financial hardship. Immigration cases are often complex and high-stakes, involving long wait times, strict documentation requirements, and the risk of deportation or family separation. Without affordable legal help, many immigrants are forced to navigate the system alone, which can lead to delays, denials, or exploitation. CLA's model reduces these barriers empowering clients to protect their rights, pursue stability, and build secure futures for themselves and their families.
For those outside of CLA — whether individuals, businesses, or community groups — what’s the best way to support the immigrant community in Charleston?
Those outside of CLA — whether individuals, businesses, or community groups — can support the immigrant community by learning more about the challenges that immigrants face, volunteering with or donating to local organizations that offer services like legal aid, education, or healthcare, and creating welcoming spaces through inclusive hiring and community engagement. Offering skills such as language support, transportation, or mentorship can also make a meaningful difference. Simple acts of connection and support help build a stronger, more connected community for everyone.
At Charleston Legal Access, we’re witnessing firsthand the human cost of our nation’s immigration policies—and the toll they’re taking on families here in the Lowcountry.
What we’re seeing is heartbreaking and alarming. Families are being separated without warning. Individuals trying to follow the law are detained without explanation, due process, or legal recourse.
One of our clients is a devoted father of two young children, both U.S. citizens. He was brought to this country as a child and has spent nearly his entire life here. America is the only home he’s ever known. He has no criminal record, no history of violence—just a quiet life centered around his family and his work. Then, one day, he was pulled over while driving and taken into custody. Now, he sits in a detention center with no bond, no hearing, and no clear path forward. His wife is struggling to keep their family afloat, and their children don’t understand why their father isn’t coming home. The future that once seemed stable and safe has crumbled overnight.
Another client, a hardworking father who has lived in South Carolina for 21 years, was simply on his way to work—doing what he’s done every day to provide for his family. He was stopped at a traffic light, wasn’t told why – just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and was detained. He sits in detention in Georgia, with no option for release, no way to reunite with his family, and no hope of remaining in the only country he calls home. His children and his wife are left with an impossible choice: leave everything behind or live forever separated.
These aren’t isolated incidents—they reflect the new daily reality in our communities. Immigrants with no criminal records, who are contributing members of our society and parents who are being taken from their homes, their jobs, and their families. Many are being detained without proper warrants, without any right to a hearing, and in clear violation of their constitutional protections against unlawful search and seizure. We are witnessing not only a breakdown of due process, but an erosion of the fundamental rights and dignity that should protect every person.
While not every client who comes to CLA is eligible for legal protection or relief under current laws, many are—and we’re proud to stand by them as they navigate a complex and ever-changing immigration system.
We’re especially honored to support immigrant survivors of trauma and violence and individuals seeking asylum and safety after fleeing persecution in their home countries. This includes representing domestic violence survivors applying for U-visas after bravely working with law enforcement and a 17-year-old survivor of labor trafficking who is now seeking legal protection and a stable future.
That’s why our Immigration Project matters—now more than ever.
CLA was founded to close the “justice gap” for those who don’t qualify for free legal aid but can’t afford private attorneys. With your support, we remain the only nonprofit sliding-scale law firm in South Carolina, offering affordable, high-quality legal help in family, housing, civil, and now—immigration law.
“Our work is not about politics—it’s about protecting people and upholding the law. Access to legal representation should never depend on your income, your language, or your zip code.”
Because of your support, families have a chance of staying together, survivors are finding safety, and vulnerable community members and their families are receiving the protection they deserve.
Thank you for standing with our neighbors. You’re helping build a safer, fairer, and more inclusive South Carolina—one case, one family, one future at a time.
