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APRIL 2021
Are You a ‘Gardener’?
Planting Seeds for the Future
Every spring, we have a wonderful opportunity to see the natural world “wake up,” and many people take full advantage by planting flowers, fruits, and vegetables to enjoy later. Are you a gardener? One thing I appreciate about the work we do is that — in a certain kind of way — all of our clients are gardeners. Coming to America and working hard to stay here is like planting and tending a garden to reap what grows. Of course, there is no guarantee that when you plant a tomato seed, you will get to eat tomatoes later that year. A lot can happen in a garden, and much of it is out of our control. Still, we do everything we can to increase the odds of our success. Gardeners use fertilizer, bone and blood meal, and regular watering to help their plants get big and strong. For our clients, their cases are the same way. They come to the U.S. and plant a seed, but in order to give that seed — their case — the greatest odds of success, they tend it however they can. That’s where we come in. If a person has a lawyer, their odds of success are, in general, much higher than someone who is not represented. Hiring my firm is like putting fertilizer or bone meal on your garden; it makes your odds more favorable. After that, though, it all hangs on faith. Planting a garden, coming to America — these are acts of faith, of belief, and of hope. I am always touched deeply by the hope of the people I meet. Often, they have had experiences far more challenging than most Americans will ever face. And yet, most of them continue to push forward. They do it for themselves but also for their children and other family members. They step forward, raise their hands, and say “I am here, and I want a better future than the one I was offered back home.”
there is no way to know who will enjoy them in a few months when the tomatoes are ripe on the vine. People rarely plant large gardens for themselves, and when they do, they often give some of the fruits and vegetables away to friends, family, and neighbors. Who knows who will benefit from your case? You could be changing the lives of your sons and daughters, your brothers and sisters, your parents, or your grandchildren who may not even be born yet! We have immense respect for this process, which is why we don’t do “consultations.” We call them “strategy sessions” instead. We may have an idea about what’s best for you, but only you can make that decision yourself. If, for example, you are only interested in getting a driver’s license and not a status, we can focus just on that one thing. It’s your case, and it’s your call — and it always should be. If you want to grow flowers, we’ll help you do exactly that.
I want to thank you for your faith in America and in New Frontier Immigration Law. This spring, we are here to help you “grow” your case into something amazing that will be enjoyed by you and your loved ones for years to come.
For gardeners, this will sound familiar: When you put those tomato seeds in the ground or transplant them to a larger pot,
–Hillary Walsh
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Team Member Spotlight Lauren Barker Hachad
It’s no secret that immigration law
Man’s Smartest Friend Lulu the Pot-Bellied Pig’s Cunning Plan to Save Her Owner According to animal experts, pigs are smarter than any other domestic animal, including cats and dogs. That may seem hard to believe, as you probably associate pigs with a pink, smelly animal that oinks and rolls around in the muck. However, the story of how Lulu the pot-bellied pig saved her owner’s life might persuade you to reconsider. Back in 1998 (otherwise this story would have certainly gone viral), Lulu the pig was a permanent fixture at Jo Ann and Jack Altsman’s property in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. They had initially only taken Lulu from her original owner, the Altsmans’ daughter, for a temporary stay, but they ended up bonding with Lulu, and she was with them for much longer than expected. On Aug. 4, Jo Ann suffered from a heart attack. Jack was out of town on a fishing trip, and even though Jo Ann cried for help and even threw an alarm clock out the window, no one heard her cries from their somewhat secluded home. The family’s dog, Bear, barked and barked to no avail. Lulu, however, knew Jo Ann needed help quickly and waddled into action. Lulu made her way to the nearest road, scraping her skin in the process and leaving it torn and bleeding. Once she reached the road, she laid down as if to play dead. Not long after that, a passing driver saw Lulu and stopped to check on her. Once Lulu was sure she had the driver’s attention, she got up and waddled back toward her home, leading the driver to where Jo Ann lay on the floor. When the driver found Jo Ann, he immediately called 911, and emergency services took her to a medical center for open-heart surgery. Had just 15 more minutes passed without help, Jo Ann would have died. For her heroism, Lulu received the Tiffany gold hero’s medal from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and made multiple television appearances as her fame spread. Hopefully, she was smart enough to know just how much she was appreciated.
draws a certain kind of person — someone who doesn’t give up, who loves their clients, and who believes in the American promise of a new beginning. New Frontier Attorney Lauren Barker Hachad is one of those people, and when she decided to come back to practicing law after raising her family, we were quick to snatch
her up. “After my past work, I knew I needed time to bring up my kids,” Lauren says. “My family is my only hobby — and I know that the same is true for many of my clients.” By “past work,” Lauren is referring to an impressive legal career, including time as the children’s staff attorney at the Florence Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people being held at the Florence Detention Center. As her title implies, many of those “people” are, in fact, children. Lauren did this work for years, despite the high toll it takes on those who walk that path. “There is high turnover,” Lauren admits. “When I left, I had to spend some time away.” New Frontier has been Lauren’s new home in the field, and we were pleased to hear what she had to say. “The staff at this firm is wonderful and dedicated,” Lauren says. “And as always, our clients have been through so much — yet they still have so much hope.” She laughs as she recalls the way New Frontier approaches those people. “Hillary calls us ‘The Freedom Team,’ and as funny as it is, it’s true. We help people stop living in fear. It’s a wonderful team to be part of.” As someone who has been intimately familiar with freedom, and its opposite, Lauren brings experience, wisdom, and a canny legal mind to our firm. We’re so grateful for her hard work, and we hope that we can continue to provide a home for such dedicated attorneys and such inspiring clients.
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New Frontier Client Spotlight: Irene Rayas
When we first met Irene Rayas, it was a difficult time for her family. “Right away, I could tell New Frontier was different,” Irene said. “Hillary was a human being. She was the second attorney I’d called that day, and the first one was unwilling to help and also rude. Hillary’s firm was helpful, and even over the phone, I could tell she was a caring, concerned person.” “I almost didn’t make that call,” Irene adds. We’re so glad that she did — a friendship blossomed from those unfortunate circumstances, and it’s indicative of the kind of close relationships that develop between our firm and our clients. “Hillary knew exactly how I felt and how our family felt.” Empathy is an important part of what we do as attorneys, and understanding where our clients are at in their lives is key to helping themwith their cases. After all, we aren’t just here to take on and win a case. Our job description is to “act in the client’s best interest,” and that can go a fair bit beyond just the case itself. It’s a sentiment that Irene echoes. “It’s not about the money at New Frontier. At all.” As Irene discovered, we try to help clients when we can with the financial aspects of the case because we
understand that many of them are in a bad financial situation due to their status and the status of their legal case. That first meeting took place almost three years ago, but Irene has heard from us regularly since
then with updates or just text messages to see how she’s doing. “Every time we’d call, we’d look at the time and realize we had to go! Otherwise, Hillary and I could be on the phone for hours!” Meeting her in person was an amazing experience for all of us, and her determination really gives us a lot of hope — just as we try to give her hope for the legal aspects of what’s going on. As we enter a new season, we’re thinking of all the clients we’ve had because no matter how many there are, it doesn’t stop those relationships from developing, sometimes even into close friendships. We’re here for our clients, and they’re an amazing part of what we do.
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INSIDE
Are You a ‘Gardener’?
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How Lulu the Pig Saved Her Owner From a Heart Attack Team Member Spotlight
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Spotlight on Irene Raya
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Pokémon is Huge in 2021 — And There’s a Very Good Reason Why!
The Pocket Monsters Brand Is Electric in 2021 Pokémon Turns 25
Pokémon is on fire in 2021 as the brand celebrates its 25th anniversary. The first two Pokémon video games — Pocket Monsters: Red and Pocket Monsters: Green — were released in Japan on Feb. 27, 1996, on the Nintendo Game Boy. They were later released in the U.S. as Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue on Sept. 28, 1998. Pokémon has since become one of the biggest multimedia brands in the world with dozens of video games, an ongoing TV show, movies, toys, and trading cards. This year, as Pokémon turns 25, the franchise is going all-out to celebrate the milestone. Katy Perry has been enlisted as part of the celebration, there’s a partnership with McDonald’s and General Mills, and several new products are being released. These include video games, such as New Pokémon Snap, which releases on the 30th for the Nintendo Switch, and a 25th-anniversary series for their popular Pokémon Trading Card Game. This year is expected to be the biggest year in Pokémon history. The Pokémon Trading Card Game has really taken off in 2021. In summer 2020, several YouTube influencers showcased cards on their channels, specifically cards from the Base Set. These were
the first Pokémon cards to hit the market and are the rarest and most sought-after. As a result, the aftermarket price of Pokémon cards skyrocketed. In October 2020, the rapper Logic purchased a First Edition Charizard for over $220,000 (after buyer’s premium). The card is professionally graded and in perfect mint condition. A box of unopened Base Set booster packs is valued at over half a million dollars and rising. For some people, Pokémon cards have become part of their investment portfolio, and it’s not just the earlier sets of cards that have their attention. Unopened products have become a hot commodity across the board, as have professionally graded, mint condition cards. Even new packs of cards are flying off store shelves. There are many factors contributing to the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s increased value and appeal. For one, it’s the 25th anniversary and people are excited, but cards have also been hit by a complicated mix of supply chain issues (as a direct result of the pandemic) and a surge in aftermarket resellers. Eventually, supply will increase to meet demand, but one thing is clear: 2021 is the year of Pokémon.
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