Summer 2011 U Visa Project

Undergraduate Student Position

Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic

The Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic seeks three undergraduate students
to work as clerks for the Summer 2011 U Visa Project (“Project”).

The Project seeks to provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to

work with law students as they represent undocumented victims of crime to
pursue lawful immigration status through the U nonimmigrant visa provisions.

Project Background

Immigration law provides for a “U” nonimmigrant visa and path to lawful
permanent resident status for victims of certain crimes who have assisted in
the investigation and/or prosecution of the crime and who could show
substantial harm as a result of the crime. Although the law passed in 2000,
regulations which were not finalized until 2007 now provide a procedure by
which undocumented immigrant victims of crime can apply for legal status.

The Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic, partners with 24 community-based

organizations (CBO) serving low-income immigrants throughout the
Chicagoland area and including the collar counties. Clinic CBO partners often
identify clients potentially eligible for the U visa, but for whom there are no
legal resources available to assist in the application process. The need for
assistance in the U visa application process far exceeds the availability of
services.

The Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic is in a unique position to provide

assistance in a limited number of cases. Clinic faculty work with volunteer
law students and select undergraduate students who have the time to devote
in developing the case. The Clinic does not need to charge for services.

Role of the Student Clerk

The Clinic is able to provide a $1,500 stipend for a part-time, temporary

student coordinator position who will provide approximately 100 hours of
service beginning at the middle or end of May 2011 and continuing through
early July. The student coordinator will assist in preparation and presentation
of orientation and training sessions for law student volunteers and
undergraduate students, meet weekly with law student and undergraduate
students assigned to U visa cases to monitor progress of the cases, and meet
weekly with Clinic faculty.

Previous experience in immigration law preferred.

For more information, contact:

Johnny LaSalle
Community Internship Coordinator
Steans Center for Community-Based
Service Learning & Community Service Studies
2233 N. Kenmore Avenue

jlasalle@depaul.edu