“I am so honored and grateful to have been the Valerie Zukin Fellow at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) for the summer of 2026. When I applied for this opportunity, I was inspired by the stories of Valerie’s passionate advocacy. It is clear she left such a mark on all the organizations she worked with, and the clients she advocated for.

Prior to starting law school at the University of San Francisco, I had a few years of experience in immigration but had little experience working with clients who were detained. Over the summer I got the chance to participate in many aspects of the work of the Detained Immigrant Advocates (DIA) team at NWIRP. I conducted intakes, assessing people for eligibility for relief, performing crim-imm analysis and referring potential clients for partial or full representation. I supported pro se clients in filing notices of appeal and applications for relief. I worked on drafting legal writings including an opposition to civil monetary penalties and a declaration for an arbitrary re-detention habeas petition. I also represented an individual in a bond hearing. This experience was extremely impactful. My client was an individual from Guatemala who had lived in the United States for more than twenty years, was the father of a US citizen child, and had strong ties to his community. I worked closely with him and his family to collect evidence and prepare for the hearing. Unfortunately, the immigration judge denied the request for bond, basing a negative flight risk determination on my client’s lack of tax returns. Although I was unable to assist in an appeal, my supervisor was able to take on his case to appeal the immigration judge’s bond determination.

Going into the detention center every week was challenging and eye opening. I was so saddened and appalled by the dehumanization of people in detention centers. I am so glad that the NWIRP attorneys and advocates do this incredible work, meeting with people offering information and accompaniment to people who are detained. I was honored to be able to assist in their work this summer. I was so inspired by the DIA team and all the staff at NWIRP. Every advocate brings such passion and zeal to their work and advocates fiercely for the rights of immigrants. This summer solidified my desire to be an immigration attorney and continues to inspire me as I enter my second year of law school. I am so thankful to NWIRP and the Valerie Zukin Fellowship for this opportunity.”