Cayla Lee, ‘25 and Rebecca Berman, ‘25, represented E, a mother from El Salvador seeking asylum with her two minor daughters after suffering physical and emotional harm at the hands of her ex-partner. E fled to the United States and filed an application for asylum. After several preliminary hearings, her merits hearing was scheduled for the Fall 2023 quarter. Cayla and Becky engaged in the preparations for E’s final immigration hearing. First, they drafted and finalized a pre-hearing legal brief that set forth the legal arguments in E’s asylum case. The legal brief was part of a 700+ page evidentiary filing that Cayla and Becky prepared and submitted to Immigration Court in advance of the hearing. Cayla and Becky also engaged in extensive client counseling, meeting with E regularly and conducting moots with their client to prepare her for direct and cross examination. At the final immigration hearing, Cayla and Becky represented E and engaged with the government attorney and the Immigration Judge. After successfully advocating for their client, E was granted asylum and will now be able to remain in the U.S. with her family.

Madison Villarreal, ’24, and Cristian Pleters Escobar, ’24, represented D, a young woman from Ethiopia seeking asylum after experiencing persecution due to her ethnic identity. D was a 3-year pharmacy student when civil war broke out in Ethiopia. Because of her ethnic identity, D was targeted and endured severe discrimination, physical violence, and arbitrary arrest and detention. After enduring months of harm, D escaped Ethiopia and fled to the U.S. She sought asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border and was placed in deportation proceedings. Madison and Cristian represented D in these proceedings. In order to defend D against deportation and secure lawful status, they met with D on a weekly basis. They developed a nuanced understanding of the facts in her case and conducted legal research on rapidly changing asylum law. Madison and Cristian coalesced their research and fact gathering into a series of complex research memos outlining D’s strongest claim for asylum. Madison and Cristian also prepared D for her preliminary court hearing. Working closely with D, Madison and Cristian prepared an oral Motion to Terminate D’s immigration proceedings. They counseled D on what to expect at the hearing and what different outcomes might mean for her. At the hearing, Madison and Cristian were counsel of record and made an oral motion to terminate D’s proceedings. The Immigration Judge was persuaded by their arguments and granted the motion. Because of their successful advocacy, D is no longer in deportation proceedings and can pursue asylum without the constant threat of removal looming over her.

Viviana Andazola Marquez, ‘22, and Marissa Lowe, ‘23 represented M, an asylum seeker from Africa who fled her country due to political persecution after being imprisoned and beaten for participating in protests and demonstrations at her university. M applied for asylum after arriving in the U.S. During the quarter, students conducted extensive legal research into M’s claims for asylum and drafted a dozen different complex legal research memos that provided an in-depth analysis of M’s eligibility for asylum. Students also held weekly multi-hour meetings with M, during which they applied trauma-informed interviewing practices to learn about M’s experiences in her country of origin. Finally, students represented M at her first immigration hearing.

Anita Desai, ‘22, and Tyler Cochran, ‘22, represented C, a queer woman from Honduras seeking asylum after suffering intimate partner violence. During their time in the clinic, Anita and Tyler finalized and submitted evidentiary materials to immigration court to support C’s case. Anita and Tyler then turned to preparing for the hearing, including conducting several moots to prepare C for direct and cross-examination. Anita and Tyler subsequently negotiated with opposing counsel regarding the scope of C’s testimony. Near the end of the quarter, Anita and Tyler represented C at her final hearing, where the immigration judge granted her asylum.

Alejandro Martinez-Inzunza, '21, and Maria Elizabeth Trujillo, '21 represented S, a native of Cameroon seeking asylum based on political persecution. Students conducted weekly in-person meetings with S, worked extensively with expert witnesses, collected letters of support from S’s family and friends, prepared S for his asylum interview, and represented him at his interview at the Asylum Office.

Priscilla Hernandez, '20, Danny Martinez, '20, and Meghan Koushik, '19 represented D, a woman from Guatemala who was the victim of severe physical and sexual violence at the hands of her ex-captor. Students engaged in the final preparations for D's immigration court hearing, where the judge would decide if D could remain in the U.S. Students prepared and filed D's pre-hearing brief and supporting materials, prepared for direct and cross examination through various client meetings and moot courts, corresponded with expert witnesses, and represented D at her final hearing. The immigration judge granted D Withholding of Removal, which allows her to remain in the U.S.

Charlotte Finegold, ’24, and Erin Sifre, ’24, represented L, a citizen of Vietnam who has been a Bay Area resident since he was a toddler. L was ordered deported years ago because of a single criminal conviction from over 20 years ago. Because of abnormal relations between the U.S. and Vietnam, the U.S. government could not effectuate L’s deportation order. L continues to live in the Bay Area, but he has no lawful status, must regularly check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and knows that he could be deported at any moment. L retained the IRC to determine if there was a way that he might normalize his status and eventually become a U.S. Citizen. Charlotte and Erin extensively researched the laws governing L’s removal and motions to reopen long-closed cases like L’s. They also regularly met with L to understand the facts of his case. Through their research and fact-gathering, Charlotte and Erin identified two creative and independent grounds for reopening and terminating L’s case. Charlotte and Erin then quickly drafted a persuasive Motion to Reopen and Terminate L’s proceedings and worked closely with L to develop a 100+ page evidentiary record. Charlotte and Erin negotiated with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before filing the final Motion and evidentiary record with the Immigration Court.

Jenny Jiao, ‘23, and Christian Soler, ‘22, represented R, a longtime legal permanent resident facing removal from the U.S. due to a single drug possession conviction. R remains in immigration custody while his case is pending at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jenny and Christian drafted the opening brief in R’s case. R’s case involves the categorical rule, a complex legal doctrine governing the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. Jenny and Christian conducted a thorough review of R’s immigration and criminal history, conducted extensive legal and factual research, and wrote and revised multiple versions of the brief. They also engaged in client counseling and visited R at the detention center where ICE currently incarcerates him.

Vanessa Young Viniegra, '23, and Tiffany Gee Ching Lo, '23, represented G, a devoted father and partner who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and placed in removal proceedings after interactions with the criminal legal system. Students represented G at a critical preliminary hearing. The purpose of the hearing was to determine whether or not G was eligible to apply for a waiver, which would allow him to remain in the United States with his family. In preparation for the hearing, students conducted multiple client interviews, did extensive legal research, drafted a complex legal research memo, and mooted their hearing plans. Students also engaged in negotiations with opposing counsel. The hearing was successful and G is now preparing for his final hearing to request that he be able to remain lawfully in the United States.

Trillium Chang, '21, and Mishi Jain, '21 represented T, a native of the Philippines and longtime lawful permanent resident who was placed in removal proceedings for prior criminal convictions. Students investigated the charges placed by the government, researched his eligibility for cancellation of his removal, prepared T for his hearing through various moot courts and in-person meetings, and successfully represented T at his initial hearing at immigration court.

Aaron Bray, '19 and Erika Hoglund, '19 represented T, a lawful permanent resident who had been living in the United States since she was 5 years old. T was taken into custody by ICE after having served a prison sentence for past criminal convictions. Students drafted various legal memos based on their research, filed a motion to terminate her immigration proceedings on the basis that the charges against her were legally insufficient, and also visited T at the facility where she was being detained.