Kerry McGuire

  • Hosted by Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
  • Sponsored by 3M Company, Faegre Baker Daniels
  • Service location St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Law school University of Minnesota Law School
  • Issue area Immigrant Populations
  • Fellowship class year 2016
  • Program Design-Your-Own Fellowship

The Project

Minnesota is a leading refugee resettlement state, and its immigrant population has tripled in the last 30 years. Agricultural and factory work draws immigrants to rural areas that lack adequate legal services. Many immigrants do not receive the legal advice and representation they need. Unfamiliarity with the law often results in consequences as extreme as deportation. This constant threat and fear of deportation destabilizes families and communities. This project created access to legal representation, referrals, and advice to immigrant communities.

Fellowship Highlights

In the past two years, Kerry has:

  • Established two medical legal partnerships in rural Minnesota
  • Assisted 170 persons located in rural Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota through direct representation, referrals, and pro se materials
  • Conducted Know Your Rights workshops immigrants, service providers, and the general public, giving an overview of the immigration system, the deportation process, and a guide to safety planning and preparing for removal proceedings
  • Partnered with healthcare providers throughout the state of Minnesota to identify ways in which they can support and protect their immigrant patients

What’s Next

Now that the Fellowship is complete, Kerry plans to:

  • Expand the reach of her current medical-legal partnership in Southeast Minnesota with her medical partner in Red Wing, MN
  • Partner with a new Equal Justice Works Fellow to create MLPs in areas of need in North Dakota
  • Represent a greater number of clients in removal proceedings

Meet Other Fellows Like Kerry

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