Jenny Regier

Hosted by Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
Sponsored by Pfizer Inc.
Service location Westminster, Colorado
Law school University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Issue area Immigrant Populations, Medical-Legal Partnership
Fellowship class year 2020
Program Design-Your-Own Fellowship

The Project

Jenny coordinates a medical-legal partnership to improve health and legal outcomes for medically vulnerable women and gender minorities in immigration detention in Aurora, Colorado.

While the conditions at immigration detention facilities are difficult for everyone, they can be particularly devastating for gender minorities and women: domestic and sexual violence survivors face the physical and mental effects of their trauma with limited support, transgender people contend with extended periods of damaging solitary confinement, and pregnant individuals struggle to access adequate prenatal care. Not only do detention conditions affect health, but health concerns aggravated by incarceration prevent women and gender minorities from successfully advocating for themselves in their immigration cases.

Jenny coordinates a medical-legal partnership to improve health and legal outcomes for medically vulnerable women and gender minorities in immigration detention in Aurora, Colorado.

Fellowship Highlights to Date

In the first year of the Fellowship, Jenny has:

Provided robust direct representation for medically vulnerable individuals in detention, including six medical advocacy cases, nine cases seeking release from detention, and six removal defense cases
Won release from detention for three medically vulnerable individuals with the support of declarations from volunteer medical professionals
Advocated to end detention for trans and HIV+ individuals in coalition with other organizations serving vulnerable individuals in immigration detention

Next Steps

In the next year, Jenny plans to:

Continue representing medically vulnerable individuals in their removal defense, medical advocacy, and release cases
Create and conduct additional trainings for medical professionals, RMIAN staff, and pro bono attorneys, and create additional materials for attorneys and pro se individuals
Continue supporting advocacy efforts aimed at improving medical care in the short term and ending immigration detention in the long term

Media

A deep look inside Aurora’s ICE Detention Center

The Bridge Between Medical and Legal Immigrant Assistance

Access to health and legal professionals can make all the difference in a person’s life. Access can mean better health care, reunification with family and friends, and a new life in the United States free from persecution.

Jenny Regier /
2020 Equal Justice Works Fellow