Andrew Feinberg

The Project

Andrew (he/him) will work with Human Rights First to dismantle systemic barriers that prevent indigenous peoples from Central America from receiving asylum in the United States.

Indigenous peoples face racial discrimination and state-sanctioned violence throughout Latin America yet are denied asylum in the United States at a greater rate than the general population. These asylum seekers often struggle to find interpreters or lawyers who are familiar with their cultural backgrounds, which leads to long delays in their cases and a higher likelihood of errors or missed deadlines. As a result, many are denied asylum and other critical protections under our immigration laws for which they should qualify.

Andrew’s firsthand experience working with indigenous asylum seekers compels him to undertake this project in pursuit of racial and language justice in the asylum system.

Fellowship Plans

During his Fellowship, Andrew will represent indigenous individuals in their immigration proceedings. By working collaboratively with community organizations, Andrew will strengthen networks for interpreters, translators, and subject matter experts to publish pro se legal guides in underserved indigenous languages. Additionally, Andrew will organize know-your-rights presentations and asylum clinics in partnership with schools, community organizations, and legal services providers. Finally, he will develop a policy report detailing the failures of the asylum system to meet the needs of indigenous peoples in the Los Angeles area.