By Harold Reutter
harold.reutter@theindependent.com

The officials will respond to questions that people may have about immigration matters. Appointments are not required. The event is designed to be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lutheran Immigration Services also will be at the immigration clinic. Officials from that agency will be available to answer questions as well as to help people practice for their naturalization and citizenship test.

The clinic is being sponsored by the Multicultural Coalition, Lutheran Immigration Services and U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson's office.

Odalys Perez, executive director of the Multicultural Coalition, said the last immigration clinic was held in Grand Island in 2006.

"I wasn't able to get one here in 2007," Perez said.

She said she contacted Nelson's office about setting up another clinic, and his office was extremely instrumental in getting the event held in Grand Island.

Perez said she knows there will not be another clinic in Grand Island this year.

In fact, Perez said, she got the impression in setting up this event that it will be a long time if ever before another immigration clinic is held in Grand Island.

However, she noted that immigration officials have many more ways for people to contact them to find out about their immigration status. As a person who became a naturalized U.S. citizen, Perez said, she knows that immigration officials assign people a case number.

Now, in addition to telephone numbers to reach immigration officials, people also can use the Internet and their case number to check on their immigration status and the progress of their case.

More information on the clinic is available form Perez at 385-5242 or Elizabeth Barrios at 382-4255.