The Immigration Clinic was established in 1998. Its purpose is to give students an intensive experience working in-depth on immigration cases and projects on behalf of low-income clients in need of legal assistance. Students interested in the Immigration Clinic must apply and go through the Clinic selection process that takes place in the spring of each year. The maximum enrollment in the Immigration Clinic is eight students each academic year. However, because of ongoing client needs, two of those eight students will be selected to participate in the Immigration Clinic for an entire calendar year – from May following their second year to May of their third year. Those two students will receive commensurate academic credit for participating for an entire year.
The types of cases handled by students vary with the needs of the clientele, but generally include such matters as family-based immigrant cases, deportation defense, asylum cases (both affirmative and defensive), immigration applications based on being a crime victim or victim of domestic abuse, Special Immigrant Juvenile visa cases, post-conviction claims based on failure of defense counsel to advise of immigration consequences of criminal proceedings, and other like matters.
There are also ongoing projects in the Immigration Clinic – each team of two students will be responsible for heading up one of those projects.
Currently, those projects include:
(1) Organizing and running a community naturalization clinic
(2) Administering the “crimmigration” memo project which provides legal analysis to criminal defense attorneys of possible immigration consequences their non-citizen clients face
(3) Administering the Immigration Legal Assistance Project, which involves representing clients in limited scope proceedings in cases that the Clinic cannot accept for extended representation
(4) the Schuyler Project, which is a project in which the Immigration Clinic collaborates with the community of Schuyler, Nebraska, to address immigration-related issues faced by the public schools and the community of Schuyler.
Crimmigration Analysis Memos for Criminal Defense Counsel
During the academic year, students in the Immigration Clinic at the University of Nebraska College of Law, under the supervision of Professor Kevin Ruser, are available, on a limited basis, to consult with criminal defense counsel regarding possible immigration consequences their non-citizen clients may face as the result of clients’ involvement with the Nebraska state criminal justice system. Complete the Email Template Request found below and send it to Professor Kevin Ruser at kruser1@unl.edu. Additional information can be found in the Consultation Agreement. Contact Professor Kevin Ruser at kruser1@unl.edu with questions.
Immigration Questionnaire Consultation Agreement Email Format for Consultation
The Nebraska Criminal Law Practitioner's Guide to Representing Non-Citizens in State Court Proceedings
The goals of this Guide are to give Nebraska criminal law practitioners and judges an overview of the federal immigration system, acquaint them with immigration issues that may arise as the result of state criminal proceedings, and analyze various Nebraska criminal statutes in terms of their potential immigration consequences.
Learn about your rights with our recorded Know Your Rights presentation! This presentation provides guidance on understanding and asserting your legal rights, including how to handle encounters with law enforcement or immigration officials. The presentation covers key topics such as your rights at home, in the workplace, and in public. It covers your right to remain silent, your rights if arrested, and it offers practical steps to safeguard yourself and your loved ones in the event of your detention or deportation. Whether you're looking to stay informed or share this knowledge with your community, this resource is a tool for empowerment and preparedness.
Conozca Sus Derechos! Esta presentación proporciona orientación para comprender y hacer valer sus derechos legales, incluyendo como manejar encuentros con agentes del orden o funcionarios de inmigración. La presentation cubrirá temas claves como sus derechos en el hogar, en el lugar de trabajo, y en público. Cubre su derecho a permanecer en silencio, sus derechos en caso de ser arrestado, y ofrece medidas prácticas para protegerse a usted y sus seres queridos en caso de su detención o deportación. Ya sea que estás buscando mantenerse informado o compartir este conocimiento, este recurso es una herramienta para el empoderamiento y la preparación.