History
Ayuda began in 1971 as a general civil legal clinic at The George Washington University Law School and became a separate nonprofit corporation in 1973. In response to political turmoil in Central America in the 1980s and the immigration reforms of 1986, Ayuda shifted its focus to meet a rising need for immigration services. Due to the unique needs of immigrant survivors of domestic violence, Ayuda launched a Domestic Violence Program and was a strong voice in the development of the Violence Against Women Act. Most recently, Ayuda has been a legal trailblazer working with children, becoming one of the first agencies in the country to successfully petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for youth, and is often called upon to mentor others in children's cases.
Specialties
In order to achieve our mission, Ayuda focuses its work in the following areas: * Immigration- providing consultation and representation on a myriad of issues ranging from asylum to work authorization. * Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault- delivering both legal and social services in a holistic manner that helps victims escape violence and build productive lives. * Children's legal assistance- Ayuda offers specialized legal services for abused and neglected minors so they can achieve certainty over their legal status. * Anti-trafficking- our services range from helping victims effectively prosecute perpetrators and secure visas to offering case management so they can successfully lead a free life.