By Paula Day

With passage of the new federal immigration law, the Church throughout the United States, including the Atlanta archdiocese, is organizing resources to help eligible undocumented aliens.

Patrick Kingery and Elizabeth Thompson, recently hired by Catholic Social Services for this special ministry, will focus their efforts to contact amnesty-eligible persons in seven broad locations outside the Atlanta area. Of the possible 10,000 undocumented aliens in the state, Kingery hopes to assist at least 1,000 in the coming 12 months. He estimates reaching this goal will involve contacting 3,000 possible candidates for amnesty.

Four groups qualify for legalization: persons who have been in this country in an illegal status on a continuous basis for the past five years, since before Jan 1, 1982; illegal aliens who have worked in agriculture for 90 man-days from May 1, 1985 to May 1, 1986; Cuban or Haitian nationals who entered the U.S. before January and were designated a Cuban or Haitian entrant (status pending) or who have a record with the Immigration and Naturalization Service before Jan. 1, 1972; illegal aliens who entered the U.S. before Jan. 1, 1972 and have had residence in this country since that date.

Kingery outlined the process Catholic Social Services will follow. Initially, reaching those who are eligible will present challenges because of language barriers and fear. He hopes persons close to immigrants in the parishes and workplace, those who already have the immigrants' trust, will help in making this contact.

"The success of our ability to help those who live in the shadows of our society depends on the initiative of the concerned Catholic who already has the trust of alien friends and co-workers," he points out. "These Catholics must encourage the amnesty applicants to get the necessary help in order to bring them out of the dark they've lived in for so long."

CSS has selected the Dalton, Gainesville, Athens, Cedartown, LaGrange, Jonesboro, Milledgeville and metro Atlanta areas in which to extend its legalization service. A general information meeting will be set up in each area to provide information about the law. Prospective clients will fill out a basic eligibility form at this meeting.

"We have projected that our sites will be these and any other sites that come to our attention," noted Sister Barbara Harrington, GNSH, Hispanic Program director. "They are prospective sites and open-ended; more will be added if needed. We will go to these places for information nights and for the application process."

Following contact with immigrants, basic eligibility for legalization must be determined. Kingery emphasized that candidates are protected by law from any breach of confidentiality. Eligible or ineligible, they cannot be identified without their written consent.

When eligible aliens are located they will receive legal information and counseling, assistance with processing of proper forms, fingerprinting, photos and help in collecting the necessary documentation and affidavits.

Gathering documentation that proves the identity of the immigrant, the accuracy of the time spent in the U.S. and assurances the person will not become a public burden is the most difficult step in the process. Here employment records are especially helpful, according to Kingery. Because of the legal aspect of this step, the services of volunteer attorneys are needed.

With proof established, the applicant will complete a formal, detailed application, be photographed, fingerprinted and examined by a physician. Approval from the INS completes the process.

Throughout the process, volunteers are needed to schedule meetings, coordinate publicity, assist with office work and help register clients. Volunteers who have at least a working knowledge of both Spanish and English would be particularly helpful in this last area. Volunteer lawyers are needed to review completed files for accuracy of information and documentation.

In urging Catholics to volunteer their much needed services, Sister Harrington points out that the amnesty effort is "one more example of the Church's ongoing interest in assistance to immigrants. Because many come from traditionally Catholic countries, they are predisposed to trust the Church for assistance. This offers us a special challenge and invitation to help them."

The cost to an individual or family seeking amnesty can range from $300 to over $600. In order to cover expenses, CSS must charge applicants who have a legitimate chance for eligibility $100. The applicant also bears the cost of a medical exam. Volunteer help is one way the overall cost can be kept to a minimum.

Both Kingery, a former seminarian, and Ms. Thompson are bilingual. She studied Spanish at Salamanca, Spain. He points to his seminary experiences as the spark for his enthusiasm for the project.

"In the seminary for the first time in my life I got to meet people from other countries and become friends with them and so I wanted to learn as much about their culture and language as I could," Kingery said. "Knowing what my friends went through to come to this country made me feel that in helping them (those applying for amnesty) I am helping my friends.