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Remembering the Life of Lilia Fernández, founder of JFON

The New York Annual Conference - JFON managing attorney, TJ MIlls, remembers the life and influence of Lilia Fernández, founder of Justice For Our Neighbors:

Lilia Fernandez died early this morning on May 15, 2016.  As you know, she founded JFON back in 1999. As an attorney, she was my first employer – and provided refuge from my previous one, the INS.   

Although Lilia retired maybe 10 years ago, she delighted in the legacy of JFON. Even last month she called me about another “caso interesante” – Lilia’s euphemism (and our running joke) that she was about to send over another impossible case—an undocumented person with no obvious remedy. The more interesting, the more impossible they were.  I have no idea where she found them.  They probably found her.   Even years after Lilia retired, destitute moms, homeless persons – immigrants mostly, continued to show up at UMCOR’s offices, unannounced, to ask for Lilia. They were devastated to learn of her retirement- she had given them so much, even from her own pocket.

Lilia delighted in the work of JFON - especially during her retirement years.  For me, I think that nothing will honor her more than to keep taking on those impossible cases.   

Hasta pronto, Lilia.  Te queremos mucho.

More information about Lilia's life can be found in this obituary.

Newer:Managing Attorney TJ Mills HonoredOlder:Clinics to Restart in June
PostedMay 17, 2016
AuthorSteven Lee

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News

News
New Staff Attorney for New York JFON
about 2 months ago

New York JFON is pleased to announce the hiring of Samantha (Sam) Blecher as a staff attorney. She will report to managing attorney TJ Mills. Sam will be joining the organization full-time, spending part of her time at the newly renovated office space at Hicksville United Methodist Church on Long Island, and part of her time at the Interchurch Center at 475 Riverside Drive in Manhattan.

Sam passed the bar exam in July 2017 and will be admitted to the New York bar in a couple weeks. She has a particular experience with Special Immigrant Juvenile cases, and she is passionate about immigration law. She comes from private practice, so she is excited to be joining a nonprofit, and we are excited to welcome her to our team.

Her first day is Monday, February 5, 2018.

New York Annual Conference - Justice For Our Neighbors
475 Riverside Drive
Suite 1505
New York, NY 10115