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EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOW, CLASS OF 2008
Name of Host Organization: Centro Legal de la Raza
City, State: Oakland, California
Issue area: Immigrant Populations
Sponsor: Morgan Miller Blair
THE INSPIRATION
The inspiration for my project came when I represented a mentally ill man at the UC Davis Immigration Clinic. My client was detained and facing deportation to a country he had fled twenty-five years earlier after being tortured. I was shocked to discover that long-term lawful permanent residents could be deported for minor criminal convictions notwithstanding other equities in their favor. This experience made me realize that detained non-citizens are some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
THE PROJECT
Immigrant families increasingly face the chilling prospect of detention or deportation of a loved one. ICE raids have destroyed the lives of many immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for decades. The worst consequences of this nightmare can be avoided. Many detainees are eligible for permanent immigration relief. Through 'know-your-rights' presentations and legal representation, the project will focus on reuniting families, preventing unnecessary detentions and arrests, and educating the detained population about their rights.
BIOGRAPHY
Hometown: | Santa Rosa, California |
Law school: | University of California at Davis King Hall School of Law, 2008 |
Making the connection: | After working as an activist with a small solidarity group during undergrad, I realized that I wanted to develop a tangible skill I could offer my community. Becoming a lawyer seemed like a practical way I could address some of the inequities low-income communities face. |
Surviving law school: | I tried to find like-minded students or faculty and organize events with them. I also tried to create opportunities that I felt were missing at school. For example, during my first year, I proposed a delegation of law students to Chiapas, Mexico and persuaded the administration to partially fund the trip. During my second year, I organized a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border. |
Recommended books: | The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz is the best book I've read in a long time. It's the story of a Dominican immigrant family and it portrays the ways in which legacies of violence and colonialism can remain with people for generations. It's hysterical, yet sad. |
Favorite website(s): | www.zmag.org/znet - there's a huge array of articles covering a diverse range of topics, with new articles posted every day. http://goatmilk.wordpress.com/ - Wajahat Ali's blog is a mixture of interviews, movie reviews and commentary. It is funny and insightful. |
Music I love: | I love to dance so that means I listen to a lot of salsa, reggae and hip hop. I also love Capoeira Angola music! |