Immigration lawyer Buwalda speaks to Campbell law students

Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.

-- Isaiah 1:17 (New Living Translation)

     In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah exhorted the people of Judah to obey God’s commands, “seek justice” and show compassion for their fellow man.
     Today, lawyer Ann Buwalda is living out that call, helping people under oppression around the world. Speaking to law students at Campbell University this week, Buwalda shared her passion for using her legal expertise in an international venue.
     Buwalda operates Just Law International, a private immigration law firm near Washington DC, dealing primarily with U.S. visa and asylum cases. She and her team of lawyers also provide pro bono assistance to the Jubilee Campaign, an organization which promotes human rights and religious liberties of ethnic and religious minorities around the world. The group offers legal advice to advocates in numerous countries, lobbies for changes to laws, and seeks the release of those imprisoned for their religious beliefs.
     “We try to assist them, to bring a spotlight to their situation, and help them find ways to overcome whatever they’re suffering from,” said Buwalda.
     As a member of the Refugee Council USA, the Jubilee Campaign often calls upon various organizations and Congressional members to help support their cause.
     “A lot of issues can be resolved if you know who is responsible,” Buwalda said. “Then you can communicate with the responsible official and get results.”
     The Jubilee Campaign is currently working in nearly a dozen countries, including Indonesia, where they are offering assistance to victims of Islamic militant raids. In China, advocates are lobbying for the release of the pastor of a local church, imprisoned for his views on religious freedom. While in India, the group has sponsored several homes for children of prostitutes, offering them vocational skills and a secure environment.
     For Buwalda, helping those in need is her life’s mission.
     “As a believer, as a Christian, I feel a sense of calling to want to help those who can’t speak for themselves,” she said. “We who are free should reach out and help those in need.”
     While Buwalda says she can’t answer every request for help, she continues to pray for each individual and equip other advocates with the legal knowledge to exact change in their own countries.

Photo Copy: Ann Buwalda discusses her legal work with Jubilee Campaign with students at Campbell University School of Law.