St. Thomas Immigration Law Students Host Free Legal Screening Clinic

On Saturday, March 17th, the School of Law and the Immigration Law Students Association (ILSA) partnered with Catholic Legal Services and Americans for Immigrant Justice to provide free immigration legal screenings to the surrounding community. The clinic primarily offered an interview and legal consultation for the purpose of determining immigration relief eligibility.

Student volunteers

More than 20 student-volunteers from St. Thomas Law received valuable hands-on experience working alongside a team of attorneys. The volunteers got the chance to complete intake forms for those seeking aid, observe attorneys conduct legal interviews, and were introduced to South Florida’s two leading immigration nonprofits for future internships and employment opportunities. 

“Participating in the clinic provided me with the unique opportunity to observe attorneys’ interactions with clients,” stated Catherine Yepes (1L). “This experience allowed insight into what my day-to-day life would be as an immigration attorney,” she added.

Student-volunteers 

For Tessa Juste, an LL.M student graduating in May, the experience hit close to home. “My parents were immigrants to this country, and I know it was not an easy road for them. So I am grateful that, because of their struggles and efforts, I am able to bring things full circle and help people who are walking that same path today,” stated Tessa.

Students had face-to-face interactions with individuals who may be eligible for different types of relief, including asylum-seekers and survivors of domestic violence. Alida Bustos (1L) was excited to have the opportunity to complete an intake for someone who needed to renew her application for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. She hopes to be a part of future programs.

Students interested in participating in similar projects should contact ILSA at ilsa@stu.edu.

St. Thomas Law Intercultural Human Rights Law Review Hosts “Dreaming with DACA” Symposium

The St. Thomas Law Intercultural Human Rights Law Review recently hosted its annual symposium. This year, the event focused on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Titled “Dreaming with DACA”, the event took the form of a panel discussion featuring immigration attorney and St. Thomas Law alum Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez, Esq.’03; Andrea Senteno, Legislative Staff Attorney of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Adrian Escarate’11, St. Thomas Alumni and DACA Recipient; and Julio Calderon, a South Florida community organizer and DACA Activist.

The panelists had an open discussion about the issues regarding DACA, case laws, decisions and where the program stands. The symposium was sponsored by the St. Thomas Law's Intercultural Human Rights Law Review, the LL.M./J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights, the Human Trafficking Academy and the Themis Bar Review.

Ranked 6th amongst human rights journals worldwide, the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review is an annual journal, whose goal is to publish well-written, cutting-edge human rights scholarship by academics, practitioners, and students. Each year, the journal sponsors numerous discussions and debates on a wide variety of intercultural human rights issues.

Editorial Board Members of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review

Professor Roza Pati, Faculty Advisor, and Guest Panelists

St. Thomas Law Graduate, Tarlika Navarro, Appointed to Broward County Circuit Court

Tarlika N. Navarro '10

St. Thomas Law alum Tarlika N. Navarro is one of two recent South Florida judicial appointments made by Governor Rick Scott.  She will serve in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit for Broward County.

Navarro, who graduated from St.Thomas Law (cum laude) in 2010, is currently in private practice. She is a managing partner at Tarlika Nunez Navarro PLLC. and the Bacchus & Navarro Law Group. She previously served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.

"I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Broward County," stated Tarlika.

While a student at St. Thomas Law, she was active on our Mock Trial Team, the St. Thomas Law Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL), and the American Trial Lawyers Association. 

We proudly salute Tarlika on this achievement.

St. Thomas Law Students' Life-Changing Experience Assisting Detained Somali Refugees

Professor Lauren Gilbert and eight St. Thomas Law students -  Carolina Acosta-Fox, Mirtha Garcia-Alvarez, Tessa Juste, Diego Sanchez, Melany Cornejo, Catherine Perez, Vanessa Baez, Nathalia Lozano -  recently spent two days at the Glades County Detention Center working on behalf of several Somali deportees whose flight back to Somalia got turned back in Senegal for reasons that remain unclear.

Members of the student team from St. Thomas Law included  Catherine Perez, Diego Sanchez, Vanessa Baez, Nathalia Lozano, Mirtha Garcia Alvarez, and Carolina Acosta-Fox. 

A team of lawyers including groups from the University of Miami School of Law, Americans for Immigrant Justice and Broward Legal Aid successfully sought a preliminary injunction in federal court against the return of the Somalis on that flight. 

Ready to work: Members of the St. Thomas Law student group will be
participating in similar projects in the future.
Pictured are Cynthia Rosa (standing), Tessa Juste and Diego Sanchez. 

Many of these Somali fled their country when they were little children, and entered as refugees. Many still suffer PTSD as a result of their experiences, and several relived those experiences while meeting with the student teams. One young man, who fled with his family when he was eight, described being carried by his father through the jungle and witnessing his sister’s leg being blown off after she stepped on a land mine. 

Another young single mother described the fear she experienced about being sent back to Somalia as an Americanized woman, and how the guards on the plane refused to allow her to change into more traditional clothing before the plane landed. Several of these individuals are seeking a second chance, applying to have their removal orders reopened and for relief under the Convention Against Torture. 

Al Shabaab, an extremist group that has taken over large parts of Somalia and targeted Americanized Muslims and Christians, has carried out several bombings in recent months, including a deadly car bombing in February near the Presidential Palace. Also, the return of the Somalis’ flight has been extensively publicized in Somalia, making the persons on that flight likely targets of Al Shabaab. While the federal lawsuit is pending, pro bono attorneys and law students are seeking to have their cases reopened based on changed country conditions. 

"The Glades experience was life changing," stated Catherine Perez.  "After hearing some of the detainees stories, you really start to cherish principles like freedom of religion, that the great majority of Americans take for granted. This experience reminded me of why I chose to come to law school in the first place."

Over the two-day period, the students and Professor Gilbert met with approximately 15 individuals finishing up work on the cases, including finalizing I-589 applications, personal statements and notes from the meetings. The St. Thomas Law team has been collaborating with Miami Law and Americans for Immigrant Justice providing on the ground support for the pro bono attorneys around the country assigned to these cases. Each team worked on at least two different cases, and had the experience of drafting a personal statement and I-589, while some also explored other possible remedies. Diego Sanchez (3L), the President of  St. Thomas Law's  Immigration Law Students Association was pivotal in recruiting and organizing teams. 

There are similar, future projects being planned. Students interested should contact Professor Gilbert or Diego Sanchez.