MARSHALL—In an ongoing effort to reach local immigrant families, Randy Babin has made it his mission to help community members who cannot afford an attorney navigate immigration law.
“By law, a person cannot practice immigration law without being an attorney or an accredited representative with the Department of Justice,” said Babin, director of immigration services at Soda Lake Baptist Association in East Texas.
The U.S. Department of Justice created a program where individuals involved with nonprofit organizations can get training in immigration law, allowing them to help those who cannot afford traditional immigration services.
“Immigration attorneys must make a living. They have to charge fees. Many people seeking these services cannot afford the fees associated with them,” Babin said.
After becoming an accredited representative for Soda Lake Baptist Association when he was the association’s director of missions, Babin sought to help immigrant families locally by making previously inaccessible services more available.
“I focus on family immigration law—helping parents, children, siblings, etc., pursue an immigration benefit,” Babin said.
Gaining Legal Permanent Resident status
He focuses on Lawful Permanent Resident status, individuals lawfully authorized to live permanently in the United States and those applying for citizenship.
Those with Lawful Permanent Resident status or citizens can petition for eligible relatives to come to the United States and apply for immigration benefits.
“Family law involves helping people become Legal Permanent Residents. After a certain amount of time when the individual can, family law helps them become United States citizens,” Babin said.
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Babin also helps families understand fees and filing information. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Servicesdetermines the cost of filing the required forms with needed evidence, like birth certificates.
“One of the agreements we have with the Department of State and Department of Justice is to not deny services to those falling beneath the poverty line,” Babin said.
“If their income is below the poverty line—and every year the government decides what that is—we can’t charge them anything.”
Though government fees must still be paid, additional services are provided at no cost to those who cannot afford to pay.
‘You see people’s lives changed’
When asked what motivates him to continue his involvement in the program, Babin quickly said “relationships.”
“You see people’s lives changed,” he said. “I have so many interesting stories.”
One young woman working at a business in Marshall was a victim of a crime. “Part of immigration law states that if a noncitizen is a victim of a crime by a U.S. citizen, they’re eligible for an immigration benefit,” Babin said.
Someone told the woman about Soda Lake Baptist Association immigration services ministry.
“She came to see me, and I made an application for her. In the meantime, she met a nice young man who was a U.S. citizen, and they married,” Babin said.
The man petitioned on her behalf, and she became a Lawful Permanent Resident.
“It’s been fun to watch her grow and start a family. She was 17 then and had a questionable future, and now things are more stable for her,” Babin said.
“That’s what makes me keep doing what I’m doing—to see people’s lives change.”
Hopes to find someone to carry on ministry
Despite the program’s success and positive reputation, some hesitate to receive help.
“The main fear is that, ‘if I give the government my information, they’ll come find me,’” Babin said. Information is not shared with other entities except under special circumstances.
“If the person has committed a crime, that must be reported to legal services. But if you are not in trouble with the law, no information is shared without permission,” he said.
Babin hopes to offer safe and accessible immigration services to those in need for as long as possible. He explained how he would like someone to follow in his footsteps.
“You have to have a representative to be able to do it. I’m hoping someone will step forward to get training and be certified to continue the program,” Babin said.
“It’s just one of those things you need to have a heart for. You need an interest and a burden placed on your heart for this kind of work.
“As long as the Lord gives me strength, health and the ability to continue, I will. I enjoy doing it. It’s fun to watch people’s lives change, where they have hope and their kids have hope for them. You get some benefit from doing it.”
Faith Pratt, a student at East Texas Baptist University, is serving as an intern with the Baptist Standard this semester.
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