Leadership baton passed at New London immigrant advocacy center

Jul. 17—NEW LONDON — After five years of helping hundreds of local clients navigate the often-Byzantine maze of immigration law, Attorney Joseph Marino earlier this year was ready to depart his job as executive director of the city-based Immigration Advocacy and Support Center.

The nonprofit was in good shape with a dedicated staff of paralegals and volunteers buttressed by a strong, but small, group of like-minded legal advocates from across the state who could be called on for advice.

Thanks to grant funding, the center had recently opened a satellite office in Norwich, where a large number of Haitian immigrants reside.

"I knew I was leaving the center in a strong, resilient state, well-poised to accommodate future changes," Marino said Tuesday from the group's Washington Street headquarters inside the Church of the City New London.

The only piece missing was attracting a suitable successor. Soon after the group began soliciting for a new leader in March, a familiar and welcome face jumped out from the candidate pool: attorney Meghann LaFountain.

By that point, LaFountain and Marino had already been talking for years ― just not face-to-face ― whenever a particularly thorny point of immigration law came up.

"For me, the search concluded with Meghann," Marino said. "She's been called by people who know her as the heart and soul of immigration advocacy in Connecticut. I'd add she's also the brains."

LaFountain, who was named executive director on June 10, took an unusual path to her new job. The Meriden resident earned her law degree from the University of Connecticut's School of Law, where she took part in a clinic on human rights and asylum.

"I represented two very young children who fled Pakistan with their mother seeking asylum in the United States," LaFountain said. "It was my first real experience with immigration law and asylum cases. The family did get approved."

After graduation, LaFountain said she was torn on which professional path would allow her to best practice the kind of immigration law she'd developed a passion for.

"Do I go into private practice where clients can be charged up to $15,000 for a case?" she said. "Or to a nonprofit, which are a very limited resource around here?"

After a few years of practicing immigration law for private firms in Bloomfield and Middletown, she started her own practice in 2017.

"I had very limited expenses, so I got the chance to represent immigrants without charging exorbitant fees," she said. "It wasn't pro-bono, but what I called 'low-bono' work."

Even before the IASC slot opened, LaFountain knew the New London County area from occasional trips to the shoreline with her husband ― the couple married Mystic in 2018 ― and her work with the American Immigration Lawyers Association's Connecticut branch.

"I was getting a sandwich in Middletown when I got a text from Joe about the job," she said.

For the 63-year-old Marino, handing over the leadership baton capped-off a career he honed in the trenches of federal law clerk offices writing "long, complicated decisions" later signed by judges adjudicating a range of issues, from environmental and organized crime to torts and immigration law.

"I needed a significant change, a place to work at where I could interact with clients on issues that resonated with me," he said.

Over the course of his tenure at IASC, Marino handled hundreds of client cases concerning citizenship applications, work permits and green card renewals.

"These are the kinds of cases that can go on for years and 50% of our clients come from referrals from local churches, community centers and adult education facilities," he said. "Most of our clients are recent immigrants whose legal journeys are just beginning when they come to New London County."

The center charges fees on a sliding scale, and most cases involve routine status maintenance or the reuniting of families. The center's operating costs are equally funded through client fees, grants and donations.

Marino said the most difficult conversations involve undocumented clients, ones who may have crossed into the country illegally and have no legal relatives here.

"Those are the cases where there might be no real legal remedy, but we hope they come in and talk to see if there is some option or avenue to residency," he said. "And even if there isn't, it's better they hear it from us. But it's hard."

Marino said he's looking forward to having some free time to travel but will miss his staff, clients and the community.

"Folks here in New London County have been incredibly supportive and understand that when immigrants are successful, the country's successful," he said. "There are pockets of hate and dislike, but I'm proud of this community for rallying its support."

LaFountain, who plans to expand the center's victim-based services, said the "hateful stigma" concerning immigrants, specifically the undocumented, is a real issue.

She referenced the passage of a July 1 Florida law that invalidates certain out-of-state driver's licenses, including those issued in Connecticut, carried by undocumented immigrants.

"I had a family that are all American citizens, except the dad, who contacted me about this while the new law was first being discussed," LaFountain said.

She said the family was planning a trip to Disney World and "terrified" of what might happen if they were pulled over. LaFountain ran through the possible scenarios if they were stopped.

"Now I have to call them back and tell them it's not safe for them to go," she said.

j.penney@theday.com

Editor's note: This version corrects the photo captions.