ABOUT US

Immigrant Connection at Path to Hope ("Path to Hope") is a justice ministry of Downtown Hope based in Annapolis, MD, focused on enabling access to quality, low-cost and pro bono legal services for immigrants and refugees in our community. We are also a member of Immigrant Connection's national legal network, made up of 30+ church-based legal services clinics across the United States.

Path to Hope became accredited by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on November 30, 2022.  We are the first DOJ-accredited immigration legal services nonprofit in Annapolis and the only DOJ-accredited nonprofit in Anne Arundel County (see DOJ accreditation roster). 

Path to Hope opened our doors in April 2023. Since then, we’ve conducted over 300 legal consultations, filed over 140 cases, and assisted immigrants from Afghanistan, Burma, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Scotland, Somalia, Togo, and Turkiye to gain employment authorization, U.S. permanent residency, and U.S. Citizenship.

Our Team

Path to Hope is staffed by two Department of Justice (DOJ)-Accredited Representatives who are authorized by the DOJ to provide legal representation to immigrants before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):

  • Kristin Statham is the Site Director at Path to Hope and a long-time advocate for immigrants and refugees. Kristin has over 20 years of experience working in immigration law (private and nonprofit) and in various policy positions, both domestically and overseas.

  • Antonio Martinez is a long-time Annapolis resident who has worked in various ministries and social justice organizations serving the Latino community in our city. His service experience includes positions with pop-up food pantries in Annapolis and with Marshall Hope Corporation. Antonio is a second-generation immigrant of Mexican heritage whose family is heavily involved in social advocacy on behalf of immigrants and refugees in our city. He is bilingual in Spanish and English.

  • Jennifer Martinez is an Annapolis native with a huge heart for the immigrant community and amazing customer service skills. She works as Path to Hope’s legal assistant and is bilingual in Spanish and English.

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