The Immigration Detention and Appellate Clinic is a one-semester clinical course where students represent non-citizens in appellate matters before the Board of Immigration Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals, and in petitions for writs of habeas corpus before the U.S. District Court. The cases will usually involve the appeal of an order of removal and a denial of an application for relief from removal by an immigration judge or the refusal by an immigration judge to release a detained non-citizen on bond during the removal hearing process. Most of the cases will involve situations where the client is seeking asylum, protection under the Convention Against Torture, or other forms of humanitarian protection. Students will review the immigration court record, including transcripts of hearings, interview the client (who will usually be detained in a local ICE detention center), conduct research, develop a theory of the appeal, file appropriate motions, and write an appellate brief or habeas petition. There is a weekly class which will provide students with an understanding of the relevant substantive law, procedural rules, and skills necessary to represent clients.In addition to the weekly class, students will need to commit on average approximately 10-12 hours per week to case work and periodic meetings with clinical professors/attorney supervisors.
