Center News

Prof. Linus Chan Honored for Outstanding Contributions to Immigrant Justice

The National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild is honoring Professor Linus Chan for outstanding contributions to the cause of immigrant justice. 

Chan will be recognized as the group’s 2020 Member Honoree during the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Virtual Conference on Wednesday, July 22.

Linus Chan

Law Students, Alums on Frontlines of Aiding Asylum Seekers

Minnesota Law students and alumni have been on the frontlines of protecting the rights of asylum seekers in a challenging political climate.

While a number of legal actions have been brought against various aspects of the “zero tolerance” immigration policy, some of the most poignant stories have come from asylum seekers. Some are locked in jail-like detention facilities under harsh physical conditions; some are trapped at the border waiting endlessly for a chance for a hearing; and some have already been returned to the lands that they fled without a ever having had a hearing.

Barbed wire featured image

Students Experience ‘Profoundly Human Stories’ of Immigration and Detention in Louisiana

In January, students and staff of the James H. Binger Center for New Americans traveled to Alexandria, Louisiana, for what has become an annual service trip to work with immigration detainees in rural communities. Previously, the Binger Center worked with detainees in Arizona and Texas. This trip included students from the Binger Center’s Detainee Rights Clinic and the Asylum Law Project.

Left to right: 2L Nicholas Wolfson, 2L Eduardo Castro, 3L Allison Mrakovich, 1L Adam Green, and Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor Kathy Moccio

Students Experience ‘Profoundly Human Stories’ of Immigration and Detention in Louisiana

In January, students and staff of the James H. Binger Center for New Americans traveled to Alexandria, Louisiana, for what has become an annual service trip to work with immigration detainees in rural communities. Previously, the Binger Center worked with detainees in Arizona and Texas. This trip included students from the Binger Center’s Detainee Rights Clinic and the Asylum Law Project.

Left to right: 2L Nicholas Wolfson, 2L Eduardo Castro, 3L Allison Mrakovich, 1L Adam Green, and Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor Kathy Moccio

Immigration and Human Rights Clinic Helps Honduran Woman Win Asylum

On Feb. 12, U.S. Immigration Judge Audrey Carr granted asylum to a Honduran woman who is a client of the Law School’s Immigration and Human Rights Clinic.

While working as a transit police officer in Honduras, the client refused to accept bribes from gangs who sought to procure drivers licenses for their members and information about police operations. Because she refused to comply, the client was threatened by the gang and eventually she and her family were attacked by gunmen at their home. The client fears that if she returns to Honduras, she will be killed.

2L Brittany Turany, 3L Natacha Garcia, 3L Emily Ortlieb and Professor Stephen Meili

Immigration and Human Rights Clinic Helps Honduran Woman Win Asylum

On Feb. 12, U.S. Immigration Judge Audrey Carr granted asylum to a Honduran woman who is a client of the Law School’s Immigration and Human Rights Clinic.

While working as a transit police officer in Honduras, the client refused to accept bribes from gangs who sought to procure drivers licenses for their members and information about police operations. Because she refused to comply, the client was threatened by the gang and eventually she and her family were attacked by gunmen at their home. The client fears that if she returns to Honduras, she will be killed.

2L Brittany Turany, 3L Natacha Garcia, 3L Emily Ortlieb and Professor Stephen Meili

Students Argue, Win Immigration Appeal Before Sixth Circuit

Three University of Minnesota law students are effectively pushing back against potential executive overreach, arguing and winning an important case at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. The case, Jasso Arangure v. Whitaker, was decided in late December. The legal issue in Jasso was whether “res judicata,” a legal principle intended to prevent relitigation of cases between the same parties over the same issues, applies at the administrative level of an immigration proceeding.

Binger Center Sixth Circuit Litigation Team