tvc.dsj.org | May 21, 2019
COMMUNITY
9
Law Students from Santa Clara University Travel to US/Mexico Border
During Fall Semester 2018, Profes-
sors Evangeline Abriel and Lynette
Parker posted an announcement for
a Spring Break service trip to the
United States/Mexico border. Many
Santa Clara University School of
Law students responded, and nine
students were selected for this first
annual Spring Break Border service
trip. With the generous support of
several alumni, and after two full-days
of trainings, nine Santa Clara Law
students and the professors departed
for Arizona. Their destinations were
Tucson, Florence, and Eloy, and their
mission was to assist the nonprofit
Florence Immigration and Refugee
Rights Project (FIRRP) with their legal
services work on behalf of detained
immigrant children and adults.
Visits included the San Xavier Mis-
sion on the Tohono O’odham lands
just south of Tucson then south to the
border town of Nogales – the only city
on the southern border literally cut in
half by the border wall. Peter Neeley,
S.J., from the Kino Border Initiative
provided an overview of the work of
the project and then walked with the
students and professors down to the
physical barrier, including rows of
rals to minors released to sponsors
throughout the country (kids team),
“know your rights” presentations (to
adult detainees and to families with
children in shelters), and much more.
Some law students and one professor
working with the kids team attended
hearings in Juvenile Dependency Court
in Tucson, while other law students and
two professors attended Immigration
Court in Eloy and Tucson. The students
noticed that most detainees were not
represented by an attorney.
As student Linette Salcedo shared,
“This week of working alongside
such dedicated attorneys and legal
assistants who fight on despite the
Santa Clara University Law students at the United States/Mexico border wall in Nogales.
challenges and set backs, has been
extremely encouraging. I am also
barbed wire cutting roads and com-
conducts their “Know Your Rights”
extremely inspired by my peers and
munities in half.
workshops to the detainees, followed
professors who selflessly decided to
The work with FIRRP including
by their individual intakes,” said stu-
spend their time and energy immers-
working with both adults and mi-
dent Thania Lopez explained
ing themselves in this work during
nors. The staff of FIRRP provided the
In turn, the Santa Clara Law stu-
Spring Break. Overall, witnessing all
students with orientations of their
dents with support from the profes-
of these little moments of compassion
program and work, as well as spe-
sors dedicated their legal skills to
on behalf of the attorneys, clients,
cific presentations about the types
FIRRP and its clients by working on
and my peers has encouraged me to
of systems they interact with on a
legal research projects, intakes and
continue pursuing a career in the im-
daily basis. “In addition to reviewing
screenings of detainees (adult team),
migration law; an area of law that is
substantive immigration law, FIRRP
searches of records, drafting projects,
full of individuals with such caring
CCH153_CarDonateAd2_4.937x6in_PressQuality.pdf
7:41
PM
explained to us how their organization
follow up
phone calls and legal refer-
hearts 1 and 8/10/15
resilient
spirits.”
Hope for the Journey
By Gregory Kepferle,
Chief Executive Officer
Catholic Charities of Santa
Clara County
Imagine stepping out of your house
not knowing if you will ever return.
Imagine moving from your home not
knowing where you will go. Imagine
having to leave your family and friends
not knowing if you will ever see them
again. Imagine starting a new venture
not certain if you will succeed. Imagine
joining a new group wondering if you
will be accepted.
Most of us know the sadness of say-
ing farewell, the anxiety of taking a
new path or meeting new friends, and
the anticipation of new possibilities.
We know both the griefs and fears and
the hopes and joys of the journey of life.
Since we have experienced that in our
own lives, it is easier to empathize with
others who have similar experiences of
the journeys of leaving home, going to
school, starting a new job, or joining a
new parish or club.
At Catholic Charities our guests are
on even more difficult journeys from
poverty and despair that require deep
hope and help along the way. We create
hope for our children and youth who
seek knowledge, understanding and
a sense of acceptance and belonging
through our early childhood programs,
after school enhanced learning and
youth empowerment services. We cre-
ate hope for refugee orphans seeking a
safe home, for immigrants who seek to
learn a new language and become right
with the law, for citizens returning
from jail who seek a stable income, and
for those living with mental illness and
physical disabilities who seek the path
to healing. We create hope for those
seeking affordable housing and jobs
and for neighborhoods seeking to cre-
ate safe communities. We create hope
for seniors who seek a daily hot meal,
wellness and a sense of community.
At Catholic Charities, we urgently
need your help to create hope for the
journey for 40,000 people we serve
each year. I invite you to join us on the
journey with our guests by investing
in their lives. Each new and increased
gift will be matched 2 – 1 by the Sobrato
Family Foundation. To donate go to
www.CatholicCharitiesSCC.org.
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M
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CY
CMY
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