Standing With Families: How Adelante Mujeres’ Legal Program Supports Our Latine Community
At Adelante Mujeres, supporting families means addressing the challenges they face at every stage of life. Through our Legal Program, we provide free immigration legal services to low-income individuals and families across Oregon, helping them navigate complex immigration systems, protect their rights, and build more secure futures.
At present, our legal team consists of three dedicated professionals: Legal Program Supervisor Attorney Molly Franck, Immigration Attorney Nanci Vázquez Rios, and Legal Assistant and Notary Leslie Pérez. Together, they work closely with our community members to provide compassionate, high-quality legal support.
Free Legal Services for Oregon Families
Adelante Mujeres is a provider within Oregon’s Universal Representation Program known as ECO (Equity Corps of Oregon) Immigration Legal Services. Through this program, eligible individuals receive legal services at no cost.
The majority of cases handled by our team involve:
Humanitarian immigration cases
Family-based immigration matters
Deportation defense
Work authorization applications
Representation before immigration courts and agencies
While many clients are referred through ECO, others come directly to Adelante Mujeres after learning about our services through family members, friends, or participation in our other programs. To qualify for services, individuals generally must live in Oregon and demonstrate financial needs. The program is designed to support community members who may not have the resources to hire a private attorney.
Our Legal Program continues to grow in response to community needs.
Over the past year, the team has provided services to more than 200 individuals through consultations, immigration applications, work permits, asylum support, and legal representation. On average, the program delivers approximately 90 hours of legal services each month, with a goal of reaching 100 hours monthly as demand continues to increase. Every consultation, application, and court filing represents an opportunity to help individuals and families move toward greater stability and security.
Supporting Entire Families
Nanci Vasquez Rios, Immigration Attorney.
For our Immigration Attorney Nanci Vázquez Rios, some of the most meaningful cases are those that demonstrate the long-term impact of legal support.
One family, whom the program has assisted for several years, first came to Adelante Mujeres when a court case was dismissed. Through ongoing legal guidance and representation, the team has continued supporting multiple members of the family, including parents and children, each navigating different stages of the immigration process.
What makes this story especially powerful is that the family was already involved in other Adelante Mujeres programs before receiving legal services. Their journey highlights how Adelante Mujeres’ holistic approach can support families across multiple areas of need.
“This work is about more than one individual case,” Nancy explains. “It’s about helping entire families build stability and access opportunities.”
Preparing Families for Emergencies
Leslie Perez, Immigration Legal Assistant and certified notary public.
Our Legal Assistant and Notary Leslie Pérez plays a critical role in ensuring clients receive the support they need from their very first interaction with the program.
Often serving as the first point of contact, Leslie helps families schedule appointments, gather documentation, complete forms, and prepare for consultations with attorneys.
She also supports Adelante Mujeres’ Family Preparedness events, helping families create emergency preparedness packets that include important information such as emergency contacts, medical details, and care plans for children.
As a notary, Leslie assists families with documents that require notarization, including travel authorizations for minors and other essential emergency planning paperwork.
Her work helps families feel more prepared and confident during uncertain times.
Growing Together as a Community
While the challenges facing immigrant communities continue to grow, the Legal Program is strengthened by partnerships and solidarity.
The team collaborates with immigration attorneys, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and professional networks across Oregon and throughout the country. These relationships help ensure families have access to the most current information, resources, and legal strategies available.
Molly emphasizes that community support is one of the program’s greatest strengths.
“Knowledge is power,” she says. “The more information we can share with our community, the better equipped people are to support themselves and one another.”
Looking Ahead
The Legal Program is also preparing for its next phase of growth. In September 2026, a new legal fellow will join the team through the Oregon Worker Relief Fund Fellowship Program. This addition will expand the program’s capacity and allow the team to serve even more community members.
Molly Franck, Legal Program Supervisor Attorney.
The program is also extending its legal expertise to address emerging community needs, including cases that intersect immigration law with family law and other areas of legal advocacy.
Despite being one of Adelante Mujeres’ newest programs, the Legal Program continues to evolve rapidly.
“We’re a small but mighty team,” Molly says. “Every year we increase our knowledge, our capacity, and our ability to respond to what our community needs. We’ll keep growing, and we’ll keep moving forward together.”
At Adelante Mujeres, that commitment remains at the heart of everything we do: standing alongside families, providing trusted support, and helping build stronger communities.