From April 14 to 19, the Sheriff of Bristol County, Thomas Hodgson, will visit the Azores for a series of work meetings in the area of deportation to be held on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira at the invitation of the Regional directorate for Communities (DRC).

This visit takes places in the context of the European Year of Volunteering and the Regional Directorate for Communities will promote various activities that enhance the practice of volunteering among the Azorean Communities.

On April 14, the Sheriff and the DRC will meet with the Support Network for Human Mobility of Terceira Island at 9:30 AM at the Institute for Social Work in Angra do Heroísmo where the various institutes that make up the network will discuss several issues regarding the integration of citizens deported from the United States of America.

On the same day, Thomas Hodgson will visit the CASA DE EMERGÊNCIA and ABRIGO AMIGO associations in the afternoon and, in addition to visiting their premises, will hold a work meeting with their leaders as well as with the deported citizens residing in these institutions.

On the following day, the Sheriff will meet the Consul of the United States of America in Ponta Delgada at 10 AM and visit the ARRISCA Association, one of the Government’s partner associations in the integration of deported citizens.

During this visit, the delegation will have the opportunity to meet some deported citizens living on the island of São Miguel.

On April 18, Thomas Hodgson will be welcomed by the Regional Secretary of the Presidency at the Conceição Palace at 10 AM and will visit the Novo Dia Association and the Ponta Delgada Correctional Facilities in the afternoon. In addition, he will also hold meetings with the respective institutions, presenting projects implemented in the Azorean communities on the US East Coast, through volunteering and support actions addressed at deported citizens.

On the following day, the Sheriff of Bristol County will meet the Support Network for Human Mobility at The Lince Hotel in Ponta Delgada at 10 AM with the purpose collecting the information deemed necessary to the implementation of the LEGAL Programme in the USA and Canada.
 
With the experience of this Network to support the integration of deported citizens as well as the experience of several volunteering projects implemented in the USA, a series of initiatives addressed at the prevention of deportation will be developed.

The LEGAL Project - Legalisation Effort of the Government of the Azores and Logistics will be presented to the media at the Lince Hotel on April 19 at 12 PM.