When the Access to Justice Fellows Program was first created in 2012, its founders hoped to build a community of senior and retired attorneys and judges who would harness their years of legal experience to offer much-needed pro bono support and guidance to nonprofits, legal services organizations, court programs, and other public service entities.
Since that time, the program has expanded far beyond what anyone could have envisioned. Today, over 200 participants—known as Fellows—have volunteered with nearly 100 different partner organizations, providing 250,000+ hours of pro bono assistance to help partners strengthen operations, serve their communities, and increase access to justice.
Fellows also frequently collaborate with one another, discussing the nuances of their projects and offering insights and advice. So it was no surprise when, in 2018, several Fellows created a working subgroup—the Immigration Group—comprising Fellows dedicated to helping immigrants and asylum seekers. Today, the Immigration Group boasts over 30 members who participate in an active email list and meet regularly over Zoom.
Most Fellows in the Immigration Group had no prior career experience in immigration but now help change the lives of their clients by providing direct representation and much-needed counsel. With increasing uncertainty regarding the state of asylum, detention, and immigration, and a lack of accessible legal support, the Immigration Group has become an essential resource for many who seek to stay in the United States.
Immigration Group member Irene Freidel first joined the Fellows Program in 2017, partnering with the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project, an organization providing free immigration services and representation to asylum-seekers and detained immigrants.
Irene now works as the Detention Program Manager for PAIR, visiting detention facilities and immigrants in custody and representing people in immigration court seeking humanitarian relief.
“Our clients have come from very, very traumatic backgrounds and difficult circumstances,” she said. “They really need support and stability in their lives going forward in order to feel safe and recover from the trauma that they’ve experienced.”
John Achatz became a Fellow in 2018, working with the De Novo Center for Justice and Healing, an organization that offers free legal assistance and affordable counseling to low-income individuals. He said most of his clients were victims of torture before seeking asylum in the US and that he has noticed changes in policy regarding asylum under the current Trump administration.
“I had one client who was a victim of severe torture before he fled, and I’m beginning to see some policies that would have made it more challenging for him to get asylum,” he said.
On January 20, the Trump administration published “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” an executive order calling for the suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The order suspends refugee applications until the Secretary of Homeland Security, along with the Secretary of State, determines whether resumption of the program “would be in the best interest of the United States.”
“The laws are getting murkier,” said Immigration Group member Judy Hogan. “Every time Trump announces a new thing, you kind of have to go back and evaluate: ‘Well, can he actually do that, or is he just making that up? What are the real risks to my clients, and do I have changes that I recommend that they take?’”
Since 2021, Judy has partnered with The Right to Immigration Institute (TRII), a nonprofit organization that provides asylum seekers, undocumented community members, and refugees with pro bono legal assistance.
Judy has spent the past few months consulting existing clients about the current political climate concerning immigration and conducting “Know Your Rights” training sessions to explain the rights clients have in different situations, what documents they need to carry, and what to do when interacting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“I have at least one client who basically doesn’t leave their house anymore because they’re too scared that they’ll be picked up by ICE and sent back to their home country,” said Judy.
For Fellows like Michael Felsen, who partners with Justice at Work (JAW), a workers’ rights organization, there’s a lot of uncertainty as to what the future holds for immigrants who rely on Biden-era programs.
Deferred Action for Legal Enforcement (DALE) is an immigration relief provision that allows non-citizens to cooperate in investigations relating to labor disputes. Individuals under DALE are granted a work permit and can remain in the United States for two to four years.
Michael fears that programs like DALE are subject to change or removal altogether. “The question would be: ‘What is going to happen to the workers who have deferred action and previously were not known to the Department of Homeland Security?’” he said.
Irene said the Immigration Group has to regularly adapt to changes in policy that are impacting the immigrant population, adding that “it’s a challenge to keep up with.”
“At every step of the process, there are hurdles that we have to overcome, but it’s extremely rewarding . . . I love the work, even though it’s very difficult,” she said.
Fellows Program Co-founder Martha Koster—a member of the 2012 inaugural Fellows class and a continuing Fellow with PAIR—finds there to be a type of camaraderie that builds a connection between Fellows in the Immigration Group, who act as useful resources for not only their clients, but for each other.
“It’s very affirming. It’s very comforting to have a group to share what’s going on,” said Martha. “There are sometimes members who are aware of things that the rest of us don’t know, like ‘there’s a new rule on this’ or ‘they’re changing the procedure on that.’”
“You’re dealing with really smart, dedicated people. When we get together, being able to bounce ideas, ask whether somebody has seen a certain thing or understands how a particular regulation might work, that’s extremely valuable,” said John.
Despite uncertainty surrounding asylum and the broader immigration landscape, the members of the Immigration Group remain committed to adapting to every shift to better support the clients who rely on them. There’s a sincere dedication to fighting for justice and supporting such a vulnerable community.
“[These] are some of the most hardworking, resilient, [and] brilliant people,” said Judy. “They are people who just add hugely to the United States.”
This piece was written by Communications Intern Lucas De Oliveira. Thank you, Lucas!
