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About
the Immigration Trip
The
Immigration Trip was student-initiated as a Spring Break service
trip in 1988. BC Law professor Daniel Kanstroom has overseen the
project since its inception. In its first year about ten students
traveled to Florida to work with the Haitian Refugee Center. This
was the only placement for a few years until placements in El Paso,
Texas, and at the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Catholic Charities
and Lutheran Ministries were added. Through the tremendous energy
of many students over the years, and with the support of other BC
faculty including Frank Herrmann and Sarah Ignatius, the project
has grown. This year there were over 25 student volunteers at 6
regional placements (Miami, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Eloy, AZ; Harlingen,
TX; and Washington, DC).
The trip was
initially funded by the Dean, (supplemented by benefit concerts
and other activities), but Prof. Kanstroom's desire that students
understand that public service work is a great opportunity and a
privilege has led to a system where much of the fundraising is the
responsibility of the students. Today, the Dean has agreed to match
whatever fundraising the students generate.
The program
mainly seeks first year law students as participants because it
allows them to harness the idealistic impulses with which they entered
law school, and exposes them to public interest work in a most intense,
challenging and rewarding arena. A fundamental value of the project
is that it is driven by student initiative and energy.
Read
about past students' experiences
Find out how you can get involved
View photo gallery
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Asylum
and Immigration Project