Harvard Immigration Project
First, to advocate for positive changes in U.S. immigration law with an emphasis on protecting immigrant’s rights. This advocacy takes many forms, including the writing of editorials for publication, partnership with the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Coalition and other local immigrant’s rights organizations that lobby state legislatures and Congress for positive change, and the rallying of grassroots support on Harvard’s campus for immigration reform.
Second, to provide a forum for Harvard Law students interested in immigration law and policy, and to raise the profile on campus of immigration policy issues. Part of HIP’s mission is to host speakers and roundtable discussions on campus that bring together students with a common interest in immigration policy. For example, in 2005, our inaugural year, HIP hosted a brown bag lunch with Brian Concannon of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, held a screening of a documentary on migrant day laborers entitled “Farmingville” followed by a discussion with John Wilshire-Carrera of the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic, and held an informational teach-in open to the public in which HIP members analyzed various provisions of the House’s immigration reform bill, H.R. 4437.
Third, to bring together students who are interested in doing academic research for the purpose of exchanging ideas and critiques. This past year, HIP coordinated with the editors of the Harvard Latino Law Review, leading to the publication of three student-written articles on immigration law in the HLLR’s latest edition.
Fourth, to provide professional networking opportunities for students interested in immigration law. Through HIP, students interested in immigration law can network with alumni, faculty, and students who work in the field. This function is even more important given that few immigration law firms, if any, participate in the OCI process.
Finally, HIP plans to aid immigration law practitioners by maintaining an updated list of students at Harvard University who are willing to translate/interpret on a pro bono basis. This is a concrete and practical need that HIP will be uniquely positioned to address in the 2007-08 year.
Contact us: hip@law.harvard.edu
2008 AILA Conference Volunteer Scholarship Application
The Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program