The attorneys based at CIRA’s Lincoln office smile for a photo. Many of them started their career in immigration law at the UNL clinic. “The Immigration Clinic was the greatest opportunity of my law school experience,” said Senior Attorney Natasha Naseem (second from right). Also featured (from left to right), Senior Attorney Luciano Ramirez Guerra, Lead Attorney Jenna Ripke, and Attorney Jodi Garrelts.
By Kassidy Arena, CIRA
Lincoln, NE – The Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) is launching a new externship program designed to provide hands-on experience in immigration law for future immigration attorneys in the state while also helping meet a growing community need for quality legal services.
As national immigration policy changes rapidly, communities throughout the state are experiencing a growing need for qualified legal experts to support them as they navigate a pivotal time in immigration law history. As an added complication, Nebraska, especially its rural areas, faces a sort of “legal desert,” in which qualified attorneys are increasingly hard to find.
“We can expand our services to support more neighbors in court while at the same time maintaining a pipeline of future immigration lawyers who will hopefully build their long-time careers in Nebraska,” said CIRA Law Clerk and UNL Immigration Clinic graduate Martha Sánchez-Hernández.
The CIRA Immigration Law Externship aims to address those needs, which intensified after the closure of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s School of Law Immigration Clinic closed last month after 28 years of operation. Due to financial restraints, the university was unable to replace the retiring professor who oversaw the clinic.
The paid program offers UNL law students the opportunity to earn academic credit while gaining practical experience and supporting pro bono legal representation.
“This externship maintains the opportunity for law students to learn about immigration law during a pivotal time,” said CIRA Associate Legal Director Anne Wurth. “We know how important the university’s Immigration Clinic was in teaching and creating new lawyers, so we want to continue this positive impact for our communities statewide.”
Martha Sánchez-Hernández (far left) has assisted CIRA’s Legal Team in multiple cases. (Photo by M. Julie Photography) Also featured are Legal Assistant Jocelyn Camarillo and Senior Attorney Ariel Magaña Linares.
Currently, there is a waitlist of a few months for potential clients to receive a consultation with a CIRA immigration attorney. Last year, CIRA attorneys represented more than 2,000 clients. Through this program, that number of clients served could grow.
Each externship cohort will run for one semester, with students working 15 to 20 hours per week at CIRA’s Lincoln office. Participants can earn between three and six academic credit hours while completing the program.
“The Immigration Clinic was extremely valuable to my career, and it’s incredibly meaningful to now help carry that work forward,” said CIRA Senior Attorney Luciano Ramirez Guerra. He will be supervising the law students.
“This program gives students the practical experience they need while making sure our community continues to have access to quality legal support. It’s about building the next generation of attorneys while meeting real, immediate needs of our immigrant neighbors,” Ramirez Guerra added.
UNL law students in their third year are eligible to apply. The applications, open through the summer, are found on the career page of CIRA’s website and follow all university requirements for an externship.
If you or someone you know needs help with immigration but don’t know where to start, call the NILAH hotline at 1-855-307-6730.
CIRA’s Nebraska Immigration Legal Assistance Hotline (NILAH) provides free, confidential legal screenings and referrals for low-income immigrants and refugees across Nebraska.
In 2022, Immigrant Legal Center and Refugee Empowerment Center merged, and the combined nonprofit organization is now CIRA, the Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement. Our diverse team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate legal representation, refugee services, and social work services. We take on the most complex immigration cases, resettle refugees from around the world, and ensure all clients have access to resources they need to live. Operating in 6 different offices from Council Bluffs to Scottsbluff, our team of more than 100 full-time employees helps communities welcome immigrants and refugees as they build their lives here. We assist with all forms of family and humanitarian-based immigration, and we never turn any family away due to inability to pay.
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