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Fri, 03/01/2024 - 3:54pm -- szb5706

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Cases and Projects: 2023-2024

The Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic (CIRC) provides opportunities for students to learn the practice of law in a well-supervised and academically rigorous program. The direct representation of clients is the unique core of the students’ experience in the CIRC and substantive law content and advocacy experiences flow from the clients and their cases. Through supervised client representation and projects, the CIRC strives to coordinate the building of knowledge and skills with the exercise of judgement, the formation of professional identity and the development of critical and reflective perspectives on legal systems.

Below is a sampling of current work:

REPRESENTATION OF DETAINED ASYLUM SEEKERS IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS 

Law students provide legal representation to migrants currently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Moshannon Valley Processing Center. Since Fall 2023, CIRC students have obtained asylum for one client following a trial in Immigration Court. They also have obtained release on bond for three other asylum seekers, who after release now have more time and options as they pursue their ultimate claims for asylum. All of these cases presented not only difficult substantive law issues, but also required navigation of complex procedural barriers such as reopening a case for a person slated for imminent deportation and reversing a prior decision regarding bond eligibility. These matters also immerse students in overcoming the bureaucratic obstacles faced by detainees, from the detention visitation protocols and the lack of interpreters to advocacy with community groups to provide funding and placements in support of bond requests for indigent detainees.

Learning Outcomes:

Students experience all aspects of legal representation of clients, including client intake and interviewing, legal and factual research and analysis, case development, personal declaration drafting, brief and motion writing, and completing immigration filings. The students are lead counsel during immigration hearings and trials, delivering opening and closing arguments, and conducting all direct examinations of their clients. Through this work, students understand that effective representation involves much more than the necessary legal analysis. Finally, they advance their formation of professional identities as ethical and competent practitioners.  

AFGHAN ASYLUM ADVOCACY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH IMMIGRATION CLINIC 

The CIRC collaborates with the University of Pittsburgh’s Immigration Law Clinic to represent Afghan asylum seekers. CIRC students interview asylum seekers, conduct legal research,  prepare asylum applications, represent clients in their re-parole applications, and gather documents and evidence as needed.

Learning Outcomes:

Students engage in legal representation, legal research and analysis, affidavit drafting, brief writing, client interviewing, client counseling, and working with interpreters. 

NATIONAL ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF DETAINED MAURITANIANS

The Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg detains dozens of Mauritanian nationals. When Mauritanians are deported from the United States, they face imminent danger and harm upon their arrival. Those deported have reported that they are arrested and jailed upon arrival in Mauritania. This is despite clear evidence that those deported to Mauritania are at risk of enslavement, as were three of the individual clients that CIRC successfully represented in Immigration Court. In fact, all of the CIRC’s clients were enslaved in Mauritania before they managed to escape and flee to the safety of the United States. According to the Global Survey Index (GSI), 62% of the entire population is vulnerable to enslavement-like conditions. At least 90,000 Black Mauritanians are currently enslaved, with the United Nations estimating that the actual number may be significantly higher, reaching up to 680,000 people out of a total population of 3.4 million. 

CIRC, together with other national and local organizations, such as the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the Transnational Legal Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania works to address the lack of language access, particularly rare languages such as Soninke, Pulaar, and Hassānīya, which make it almost impossible to communicate with the detained individuals. CIRC students continue to conduct intake interviews with Mauritanian detainees to screen them for possible relief and bring their cases to the attention of local and national advocates.

Learning Outcomes:

Students engage in client interviewing, legal analysis and research, advocacy, working with interpreters, and time management. [Shape]

THIRD CIRCUIT BLOG WITH PENNSYLVANIA IMMIGRATION RESOURCE CENTER (PIRC)

The CIRC continues to update the Third Circuit Blog. The Blog was created in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC). It consists of impartial summaries of precedential and select non-precedential Third Circuit immigration opinions relating to immigration relief from removal and detention.

Learning Outcomes:

Students engage in legal research and analysis, and legal writing.

DEVELOPING LEGAL RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

To better assist the large number of international students living in State College, the CIRC distributed a questionnaire to the international student community to assess needs. This survey will shape their work to create a Frequently Asked Questions document with responses and resources.

Learning Outcomes:

Students demonstrate an ability to conduct legal research, legal writing, analysis, and  community engagement.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

State College Area School District and State College Police Department

CIRC is committed to providing training focusing on immigration policy and the latest developments on immigration law that could affect the community.

Learning Outcomes:

Students perform public speaking, legal research, and community engagement.

PENNSYLVANIA IMMIGRATION RESOURCE CENTER 

In collaboration with  the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center, law students will provide legal representation to and file applications for relief for migrants currently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Moshannon Valley Processing Center.

Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center  is a non-profit organization founded on the belief of equal access to justice, works to protect immigrants’ rights to freedom and opportunity in the United States. PIRC provides free legal services to vulnerable immigrants and their families through effective legal representation, legal counsel, education and orientation, and advocacy to help immigrants obtain or protect their legal status. 

Learning Goals:

All aspects of legal representation of clients, including client intake and interviewing, legal research, writing motions and memoranda, completing immigration filings, and appearing in immigration court. 

ALDEA – THE PEOPLE’S JUSTICE CENTER

The CIRC is working with Aldea’s New Americans Project to staff their legal clinic for citizenship. Students from CIRC provide information on the requirements to apply to become a U.S. citizen, help future U.S. citizens complete the application for naturalization, screen applicants for any potential red flags, and identify documentation needs.

ALDEA-the people’s justice center is a non-profit legal services organization that offers universal free representation to persons detained in Pennsylvania and provides free and low-cost legal and supportive services to the vulnerable members of the immigrant community nationwide.

Learning Goals:

Client interviewing, legal analysis and research, professional judgment, problem-solving, and time management.Shape

THIRD CIRCUIT BLOG WITH PENNSYLVANIA IMMIGRATION RESOURCE CENTER (PIRC)

The CIRC continues to update the Third Circuit Blog. The Blog was created in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC). The Blog consists of impartial summaries of precedential and select non-precedential Third Circuit immigration opinions relating to immigration relief from removal and detention.

Learning Goals:

Legal research and analysis, legal writing.

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH IMMIGRATION CLINIC 

The CIRC collaborates with the University of Pittsburgh’s Immigration Law Clinic to support asylum seekers, with a particular emphasis on Afghan asylum cases. CIRC students interview asylum seekers, conduct legal research, assist in preparation of asylum applications, represent clients in their re-parole applications, and gather documents and evidence as needed.

Pitt Law Immigration Clinic 

The Immigration Clinic represents individuals requesting asylum, facing removal from the United States, and seeking special protection under the Violence Against Women Act. Clients may include refugees, and immigrant women and children survivors of domestic violence.

Learning Goals

Legal representation, legal research and analysis, client interviewing and counseling. 

ABA COMMISSION ON IMMIGRATION 

The CIRC will conduct legal research, writing and analysis for a joint report highlighting the demographics of the immigration bench to facilitate hiring immigration judges of diverse backgrounds and experiences who possess appropriate professional competence, integrity, and judicial temperament, including commitment to equal justice under law.

American Bar Association Commission on Immigration

The Commission directs the ABA’s efforts to ensure fair treatment and full due process rights for immigrants and refugees within the United States. Acting in coordination with other Association entities, as well as governmental and non-governmental bodies, the Commission.

  • advocates for statutory and regulatory modifications in law and governmental practice consistent with ABA policy; 
  • provides continuing education and timely information about trends, court decisions and pertinent developments for members of the legal community, judges, affected individuals and the public; and 
  • develops and assists the operation of pro bono programs that encourage volunteer lawyers to provide high quality, effective legal representation for individuals in immigration proceedings, with a special emphasis on the needs of the most vulnerable immigrant and refugee populations.

Learning Goals:

Legal research and analysis, legal writing.

LEGAL RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

To better assist the large number of international students living in State College, the CIRC distributed a questionnaire to the international student community to assess needs. This survey will shape their work to create a document responding to Frequently Asked Questions.

Learning Goals:

Legal research, legal writing, and analysis, community engagement.