· Missoulian · By Keila Szpaller · From the Border Crossing Law Firm media archive.
The Missoulian tells the story of Jose Auraz, who escaped Cuba by swimming to the U.S. side of Guantanamo Bay, then spent years moving between low-wage work, addiction, and homelessness without the documents needed to stabilize his life. After the Poverello Center contacted thirteen lawyers, Shahid took the case pro bono and secured permanent residence and work authorization for him.
Auraz's case became an early public example of the firm's partnership with Montana service organizations. The legal result mattered beyond immigration status: it gave him a realistic chance to work, secure housing, reconnect with his children, and rebuild his life.