Immigration Clinic Helps Individuals Seeking Asylum

Touro Law’s Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic Partners with the “Attorney of the Day” Program at the New York Varick Immigration Court

Touro Law Center’s Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic recently participated in a pro se asylum clinic, working in collaboration with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) as part of its “Attorney of the Day” initiative at the New York Varick Immigration Court. Under the guidance of clinic faculty, students in the clinic helped individuals prepare and file time-sensitive asylum applications, a critical step that could determine their ability to stay in the United States and avoid deportation.

Noelle Ross, a student participant, shared her thoughts: “I recently had the opportunity to participate in pro se asylum work. This was an area of law that I had little experience with, and I was nervous leading up to it. However, after talking to clients and listening to their stories, I learned how important asylum work is. These are real people who would be in danger if they returned to their homes. I felt as though I was learning about them as a person and not simply as a client. Being able to help them stay here is a surreal experience and not one that I thought I would have while in law school. I am so grateful for this experience.”

Similarly, Marc Valente, another student participant, reflected: “My experience at the Attorney of the Day program with the federal immigration court was eye-opening to say the least. It illustrated just how many asylum seekers are under-represented, and many were navigating the very complex immigration system alone without any assistance from counsel. My team and I were able to provide invaluable assistance for an asylum seeker. Our assistance, albeit limited but immensely invaluable, was vital for the application to be successful. This experience was deeply rewarding and solidified my belief in the importance that legal representation is necessary for all asylum seekers.”

According to Mauricio Noroña, Director of the clinic and Clinical Assistant Professor of Law, “Our collaboration with the immigration court allowed us to respond to especially time-sensitive cases where asylum applications were urgently needed. Immigration Judges identified individuals who would shortly be barred from asylum due to their upcoming one-year filing deadline and our students put their knowledge of asylum law and interviewing skills in practice to develop full asylum applications over just a few hours. Without an application for relief, refugee seekers risk deportation, but timely filing not only protects them from removal but also sets them on a path to have their day in court while also making them eligible for a work permit. This is the first law school clinic in New York to work alongside the Attorney of the Day program in immigration court at Varick, and I am incredibly proud of our students and the impact they made.”

In addition to representing individuals in complex removal defense cases, students at the Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic work closely with community organizations and assist in other pro se efforts, further leveraging the clinic’s resources to address time-sensitive cases and provide much-needed support to asylum seekers and other immigrants navigating the legal system alone. This partnership with EOIR exemplifies the clinic’s ongoing commitment to advocacy, education, and social justice.