The second part of our mission is a microloan fund to aid with immigration fees and other expenses associated with the legal process, such as travel to court hearings, fees for mandatory physical examinations, and costs of other documentation.

Modeled on the highly successful Guatemalan Resettlement Microloan Program, which has helped young people in the aftermath of the Postville immigration raid and which has a 100% repayment rate, this fund offers small loans for basic costs such as filing fees, travel expenses, and (in some cases) legal fees. The loans, at no interest for one year, are normally in the $500 – $1000 range.

Funded with an initial grant from the Catholic Charities Campaign for Human Development, the program has offered two loans this year.  It is managed in cooperation with the Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center in Decorah.