Brittany Castle

  • Hosted by Immigrant Defense Project
  • Sponsored by Morgan Stanley, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
  • Service location New York, New York
  • Law school New York University School of Law
  • Issue area Immigrant Populations
  • Fellowship class year 2019
  • Program Design-Your-Own Fellowship

The Project

Brittany will provide legal advocacy to detained immigrants experiencing serious physical or mental health concerns through direct representation and litigation support.

As the rate and length of immigrant detention rise each day, tens of thousands of immigrants are subjected to harsh conditions of confinement while they pursue relief from deportation. Affected individuals, communities, and non-profit organizations have documented a systemic denial of adequate medical treatment in detention, yet individuals often have few avenues to seek release from detention. This project seeks to utilize creative litigation strategies to challenge the legality of detention under these conditions, providing direct representation while also developing materials for pro se individuals.

Fellowship Plans

Brittany plans to convene with community members and legal services providers to identify current trends in the NYC area detention facilities and collect data on practices related to medical treatment in detention. And, Brittany plans to request information regarding ICE policies and procedures through FOIA, FOIL and OPRA requests. Also, Brittany will develop a referral system for organizations who regularly meet with detained individuals in order to identify potential clients, conducting follow-up meetings with detained individuals and their families. Finally,  Brittany will research and draft briefing challenging the legality of detention in the absence of adequate medical care, in conversation with habeas and prison condition experts, as well as mental health and disability rights organizations.

I work from a deeply held belief that no person should be locked away and that all people are deserving of compassion and affirmation of their human dignity. I am deeply committed to immigrant rights.

Brittany Castle /
Equal Justice Works Fellows

Meet Other Fellows Like Brittany

View All

Photo of Tim Sanders Szabo

Timothy Sanders

Host: Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota

Sponsor: 3M Company, Faegre Baker Daniels

Photo of Pete Weiss

Peter Weiss

Host: Pangea Legal Services

Sponsor: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, The City of San Jose

Photo of Lydia Sinkus

Lydia Sinkus

Host: OneJustice

Sponsor: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, PayPal

Photo of Lauren DesRosiers

Lauren DesRosiers

Host: New York City Anti-Violence Project

Sponsor: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Proskauer Rose LLP