Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project

The Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides legal representation to Iraqi refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, who are seeking resettlement in the United States and other safe third countries.  These refugees helped the United States government in some manner during the Iraq War and are now in danger because of their connection to the United States.  The organization is student-driven and matches law students with pro bono supervising attorneys to take on individual cases. Together they help refugee applicants successfully navigate the rules and processes for resettlement.

In addition to direct representation, there will be opportunities to work on policy issues surrounding refugees as part of a national IRAP Policy Council of students.  These efforts include advocacy to expand the model to help refugees from other countries as well, such as Afghanistan. Interested students will have the opportunity to work with students at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and students at other law schools on policy initiatives.

IRAP chapters exist at several law schools across the country, and this will be the first year there is an IRAP chapter at Harvard.  For more information about the national organization, please visit their website.

Through participation in this project, students will gain skills in client interaction, interviewing, refugee law, and policy.

IRAP seeks 8-10 students in the fall with the potential of expanding that number in the spring.  Time commitment is approximately 5 hours per week. 

Directors:

  • Paige Austin, paustin [at] jd13.law.harvard.edu
  • Elian Maritz, emaritz [at] jd13.law.harvard.edu

Training dates TBA, in late October.

 

Know-Your-Rights:  Immigration Advocacy/ Pathways to Citizenship

Know-Your-Rights:  Immigration Advocacy and Pathways to Citizenship is developing a Know-Your-Rights presentation for undocumented immigrants and activists facing risks associated with their advocacy.  The group’s purpose is to inform students of their rights and to support activists campaigning for positive immigration reform.  We are currently developing a presentation in partnership with the Student Immigration Movement (SIM), an immigration advocacy group of college and university students from around the Boston area.

The presentation consists of three parts: (1) a review of past advocacy successes and a legal overview of the DREAM Act; (2) an explanation of the current legal pathways to citizenship or documentation; and (3) a discussion of the legal rights and risks associated with advocacy.  In the fall semester, we will develop the presentation. Small groups assigned to each of the three specific sections will be expected to work on their parts and then present them to the group for feedback each week on Friday from 12-1. The challenge will be to research the relevant immigration law, understand its main points, and then present it in a way that’s both clear and engaging.

We will occasionally meet on Friday evenings as well. In November, we will give a draft presentation to leaders of SIM and the HIP board, and in the end of January, will give the final presentation to the entire SIM membership.  In the spring semester, we will then collaborate with SIM to jointly give the presentation, as a HIP-SIM team, to other immigrant rights and advocacy groups.

Through participation in this project, students will gain skills in advocacy, community education, and community organizing.

We hope to recruit 5-7 students who are willing to commit 5-8 hours per week.

Directors:

  • Nicole Summers, nsummers [at] jd13.law.harvard.edu
  • Genzie Bonadies, gbonadies [a] jd13.law.harvard.edu

Training: Tuesday, Oct. 11th, 7-9 pm. Lewis 202.

Immigration Services

Students in this project will work with current and prior clients of the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic to provide follow-up immigration services, such as applying for derivative refugee/asylee status for family members to come to the United States, or to file for adjustment of status.

This project will allows students to interact with clients, gain familiarity with the immigration process, and learn how to fill out and file immigration forms.

We are looking to recruit up to 24 students who are willing to take on at least one case per semester.  A single case may be completed in as little as 6-8 hours.

Directors:

  • Bradley Jenkins, bjenkins [at] jd13.law.harvard.edu
  • Summer Moore-Estes, smooreestes [at] jd13.law.harvard.edu

Training:  Wednesday, October 12, 7-9pm, Pound 200.

Bond Hearing Representation

This project will allow students, under attorney supervision, to represent ICE detainees in bond hearings before the Boston Immigration Court.  Bond hearings are separate and discrete proceedings that are not directly associated with a client’s immigration case-in-chief.  Bond hearings will give students the opportunity to appear in court and present an oral argument to an immigration judge.  Students will also meet with clients to develop and draft court filings.

In the first semester, students will participate in training to prepare for direct representation in the spring semester.  Training will include observing bond hearing(s), participating in mock hearings, and developing materials to support an intensive training for new participants in the spring semester.  In the Spring, students will work in teams of two to prepare court filings and represent individual clients at hearing.

Participation in this project will allow students to gain familiarity with certain ICE detention proceedings and afford them an opportunity to develop client-interaction and oral advocacy skills.

We are looking to recruit 15-20 students.

Director: Charlotte Alvarez, calvarez [at] jd12.law.harvard.edu.

Chair: Carol Wang, cwang [at] jd13.law.harvard.edu

Training: Thursday, October 13, 7-9pm, Pound 201.