Written by: WSCL Immigration & Deportation Defense Clinic
Throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, WSCL students enrolled in the Immigration & Deportation Defense Clinic to engage in a range of legal advocacy on behalf of clients defending their immigration cases before federal agencies and courts. Students immersed themselves in immigration law, provided direct legal services under faculty supervision (Profs. Rivera and Camacho) and collaborated closely with community stakeholders to deliver pro se legal resources.
Students engaged in a range of casework and advocacy projects, defending clients before federal immigration agencies, including immigration court, and navigating constantly changing enforcement policies. Students gained practical lawyering experience in various stages of the legal process, from client interviews and fact investigation to legal research, drafting, and courtroom advocacy. Below are a few highlights from the teams:
Highlights:
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Motions to terminate granted over government opposition
- Vivian and Lily were successful in their motion to terminate filed with the immigration court. Their client now waits to apply for naturalization and soon become a U.S. citizen.
- Nicole, Mia, and Brenda worked closely together to terminate their teenage client’s deportation proceedings in court. The young clients are now seeking permission to remain in the U.S. outside of immigration court.
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Prepared for a complex asylum evidentiary hearing
- Matt S., Matt D., and Michelle extensively prepared their client’s case set for an evidentiary hearing next semester, including consulting with potential expert witnesses and researching complex areas of immigration law.
- Emily, Lily, and Vivian successfully prepared and represented their client’s case during an evidentiary hearing before the Santa Ana Immigration Court this semester. They had the valuable opportunity to present live testimony, examine witnesses, and advocate on behalf of their client. The case is currently on appeal and remains pending before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
- Aaminah and Adam represented a detained client in preparation for an evidentiary hearing. They conducted extensive legal research, gathered and organized supporting evidence, prepared witness statements, and developed the case strategy. Through this experience, they gained valuable insight into navigating the complexities of the immigration detention system while developing trauma-informed lawyering skills and learning to effectively advocate for clients who have experienced significant hardship.
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Fact investigation for a motion to vacate in criminal court
- Jason and Kevin conducted a complex factual investigation and legal analysis for a motion to vacate, to be heard next semester, as part of the post-conviction relief project supervised by Prof. Camacho. If granted, this relief will allow their client, a longtime lawful resident who has lived in the U.S. since childhood, to avoid deportation and remain on a path toward U.S. citizenship.
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Provided pro se legal assistance to dozens of community members and families
- The Clinic team provided technical support to WSCL’s OUTLaw Legal Advocacy Clinic Project, in partnership with the LGBTQ OC Center, to recruit and train student volunteers and provide consultations and pro se assistance to litigants unable to secure representation in their deportation proceedings.
- Serving as guest speakers on behalf of the Clinic, Vivian, Lily, and Kevin presented an Instagram Live community education session on “Citizenship” hosted by the LGBTQ OC Center.
- The Clinic welcomed Ana Morel (’25) as a clinic fellow and is working on legal empowerment initiatives focused on access to counsel for pro se litigants in removal proceedings.
- The Clinic team, including students, staff, faculty, and student volunteers, provides ongoing consultations to dozens of community members through referrals from partner community organizations.
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Clinic client becomes U.S. citizen
- One of the Clinic’s first clients, referred by a community partner, has officially become a U.S. citizen due to the students’ work over the past couple of years. Students successfully terminated the client’s proceedings, allowing the longtime U.S. resident to remain with their family and become a citizen.
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Spring 2026:
Mia Carcamo, Graciela Bonilla Diego, Emily Rivera, Brenda Salinas, Adam Decker, Aaminah Islam, Nicole Velasco, Sapar Sairan
Fall 2025 Students:
Matt DosSantos, Matthew Secoquian, Lily Contreras Perez, Vivian Alejandre, Jason Ruiz, Kevin Torres, Erick Aranzabal
Clinic Faculty and Supervisors:
Clinic Director and Professor, Sabrina Rivera, and Professor Demis Camacho (’19).
For any questions about the clinic program, email Prof. Rivera at srivera@wsulaw.edu