Since launching, Hola Asistente has grown quickly, already tracking more than 32,000 immigration cases nationwide. The low barrier to entry, requiring just a phone number and Alien Registration Number, has made adoption fast and accessible for a population that often lacks legal representation or a stable mailing address. By automatically monitoring court websites and pushing real-time SMS alerts and multilingual video content directly to users, Hola Asistente gives immigrants a reliable way to stay informed about their cases and prepare for hearings, helping close a gap where a missed notification can carry serious consequences.
Hola Asistente
Preparing Immigrants for their journey timely notifications
Mobile Pathways works to help immigrants gain access to reliable legal information related to their numerous pathways to immigration via mobile phone messaging. They partner with immigration-based nonprofits and attorneys to reach the vast and diverse population of intending immigrants. To ensure immigrants can prepare for their journey, the information sent is both culturally appropriate and in different languages.
Challenges
- Most immigrants cannot afford legal services to stay on top of court dates.
- Many do not have access to a U.S. mailbox to receive legal notifications.
- The immigration court is notorious for changing court dates and times without notification.
Solutions
- A free to use service, powered by vetted immigration attorneys.
- Via SMS technology, Hola Asistente texts detailed case information to immigrants while tracking and alerting users about any changes to their cases in Spanish, English, Ukrainian, French, and Creole.
- Constant monitoring court websites for any changes (i.e., a new judge is assigned or a case is rescheduled) and send an SMS alert when changes occur.
- Sends free informational videos from immigration experts to provide basic legal information in English, Spanish, and indigenous languages.
Project Highlights
-
Real time case monitoring
Monitors court websites for case updates and sends an SMS alert as soon as something changes
-
Multilingual accessibility
Case updates and legal information go out in Spanish, English, Ukrainian, French, Creole, and indigenous languages
-
Low barrier to entry
Sign-up is free and requires a only a mobile phone number and Alien Registration Number.
Project Summary
Mobile Pathways helps immigrants access reliable, timely legal information about their immigration cases through mobile phone messaging, partnering with immigration nonprofits and attorneys to reach a population that often lacks legal representation, a stable mailbox, or advance notice when the immigration court changes case dates and times. Built on Salesforce CRM and Twilio, Hola Asistente is a free, attorney vetted, text based assistant that monitors court websites for changes and sends SMS alerts along with informational videos in Spanish, English, Ukrainian, French, Creole, and indigenous languages. Users sign up with just a phone number and Alien Registration Number.