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humanitarian aid workers

Humanitarian Immigration Relief – Serving Santa Cruz & Central Coast

Trusted Help for Asylum Seekers, Crime Victims, and Vulnerable Youth

Humanitarian immigration relief is about more than just legal status—it’s about safety, healing, and a chance to rebuild. At Weisner Legal, APC, we represent asylum seekers, survivors of violence, and children fleeing abuse, abandonment, or neglect with integrity, care, and deep knowledge of immigration law.

 

We Help With:

  • Asylum for noncitizens with fear of persecution in their home country.

  • U-Visas for victims of qualifying crimes.

  • T-Visas for victims of sex or labor trafficking.

  • Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions for survivors of domestic abuse.

  • Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for abused, abandoned, or neglected youth.

Humanitarian Visas family holding hands

Experienced Advocacy

Attorney Matthew Weisner has collaborated with humanitarian-focused legal teams at CARECEN, Catholic Charities, and the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County. He’s co-counseled as attorney for a plaintiff in landmark litigation alongside the ACLU and the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies to defend vulnerable migrants’ rights and served as the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association liaison to the San Francisco Asylum office.

 

What Sets Us Apart:

  • Trauma-informed, client-centered legal services.

  • Over a decade of experience in nonprofit humanitarian legal services.

  • Personalized assistance through every step.
     

Start Your Path to Protection
If you are an asylum seeker or survivor of crime of domestic violence, we’re here to help. Contact Weisner Legal, APC to explore your eligibility for humanitarian immigration relief.

FAQs – Humanitarian Immigration Relief

1. Who qualifies for asylum in the U.S.?
You must show that you have suffered past persecution or have a well-founded fear of future persecution in your home country on account of your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, in addition to other factors.

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2. What is a U visa and who qualifies?
U-Visas are a pathway to permanent residence for victims of certain qualifying crimes who suffer substantial harm and assist law enforcement. If you’ve been a victim of a crime and request a copy of the police report, we can assess your eligibility and assist with each step, from law enforcement certification to filing the U-Visa Petition.

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3. Can undocumented children apply for immigration relief?
Yes, some may qualify for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) if they’ve been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both parents and a juvenile court determines it is in their best interest to remain in the United States in the care or custody of another adult.

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4. How long do humanitarian cases take to process?
Processing times vary greatly by case type. We provide honest timelines using the best available information and share case status updates when our clients’ cases have progressed.

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