YOUNGSTOWN - Begining in 2020, Catholic Charities Youngstown will be partnering with Catholic Charities Cleveland to offer a range of legal immigration services to those living in the Youngstown Diocese.

Ashley Sanchez, an immigration staff attorney with Cleveland Catholic Charities, has been assigned to Youngstown as well in an agreement between the two dioceses. 

Sanchez will provide legal counseling and representation covering a wide-range of immigration matters, including consultation services, citizenship applications, adjustment status, permanent residency applications, work authorizations, protection-based claims like asylum, visas for victims of crime, trafficking or domestic violence, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), visa processing, Temporary Protected Status, and court representation.

She holds a law degree from Berkeley Law, where she also earned certificates of specialization in international law.

While in law school, Sanchez co-coordinated the California Asylum Representation Clinic and participated in the immigration clinic at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley, California.

"In our line of work, a successful result may mean keeping a family together, or preventing the deportation of someone to a place where they face imminent harm or death," said Sanchez. "We are excited to expand our immigration legal services to the Diocese of Youngstown, and look forward to helping as many people as possible."

Services can be provided in a variety of languages, and all matters are treated confidentially.

Sanchez will be keeping regular office hours at the Catholic Charities Diocesan Office in Youngstown, and will be available to meet with clients at any of the Catholic Charities service sites.

Appointments are required for all locations and can be scheduled by calling 330-599-4314.