Diana
  • Area of Law: Domestic Violence, Family, Immigration
  • Hometown: North Bergen, NJ
  • Student Activities: Domestic Violence Institute
  • Hobbies & Interests: Current events, reading, jogging
  • Undergraduate School: Saint Peter's College
  • Undergraduate Major: Economics
  • Undergraduate Year of Graduation: 2003

IN DIANA'S BLOG

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

RSS Feed

 

Northeastern University School of Law

« May 2009 | Main | July 2009 »

June 28, 2009

Summer Co-Op Update

I am half way through my first summer co-op. This past weekend my employer had their annual fund raiser that was attended by many attorneys and politicians from El Paso. At the fundraiser event many individuals were honored for working to protect and defend human rights in the El Paso community such as but not limited to individuals in activism opposing the border wall. The event was a success thanks to the hard work and tedious planning of the staff.

Furthermore, I've done two "Know Your Civil Rights" presentations at the Mexican Consulate focused on immigrants who are harassed by ICE agents or police officers. See below for some pictures from the presentation. I also observed an oral argument at the State of Texas Court of Appeals: Eighth Court of Appeals. The plaintiffs in the case I observed sued the City of El Paso for violating their constitutional right to procedural due process. The plaintiffs were "flood disaster victims" who lost their homes due to a flood back in 2006. These plaintiffs filed for flood disaster relief but the City of El Paso never reviewed their applications and were never granted flood relief. My supervisor, Briana Stone partnered up with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid and represented the plaintiffs in this case. It's an amazing experience to see the use of constitutional doctrines in real life away from the casebook and classroom experience.

Last weekend I visited Detroit, Michigan for the first time to attend a conference organized by CLEO (Council for Legal Educational Opportunity). At the conference I was fortunate enough to interview with organizations and law firms for internship opportunities for next summer. It was also a great opportunity to catch up with friends who attend various law schools across the country.

Till time everyone.


4584_129231445032_721600032_3279031_2832170_n.jpg 4584_129231460032_721600032_3279033_8125168_n.jpg 4584_129234640032_721600032_3279184_4879011_n.jpg 4584_129237225032_721600032_3279286_332609_n.jpg

June 9, 2009

Unaccompanied Minors

This week one of my supervisors at work took us to Immigration Court to observe proceedings for unaccompanied minors. Unaccompanied minors are individuals who are all under the age of 18 and cross the US/Mexican border all by themselves. Escaping political persecution or fleeing war, abusive families or other dangerous conditions in their home countries, these children -- ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers -- arrive in the US unaccompanied by their parents or legal guardians. All of the children are either from Central America or Mexico. El Paso, TX has three detention centers specifically for unaccompanied minors. It is important to note that these children are held in detention for administrative reasons, not as punishment for criminal behavior. Most of these children are either being voluntarily deported or reunified with family here in the states. Observing these minors in court brought this issue up close and personal. The youngest children I saw at this court were two sisters who were ten and eight years old. In this type of immigration proceeding, a child is not guaranteed a lawyer but is being represented by lawyers who work for the Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services, Inc. These two sisters had no other option but to accept voluntary deportation, which allows them to return to the U.S. only if they have proper legal documentation.
This experience puts another face to the issues of immigration. It isn't just adults who are affected by our immigration laws.