FALL 2008 LEGAL INTERNSHIP WITH CAIR COALITION

The CAIR Coalition is the only organization working with individuals detained by the immigration authorities in Virginia and many of the jails in Maryland.  CAIR Coalition’s legal staff and volunteers conduct weekly visits to rural jails in Virginia and provide “Know Your Rights” presentations to immigrants detained by the immigration authorities.  These rights presentations replicate the model developed in 1998 by the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project and approved by the Executive Office for Immigration Review.   In addition, CAIR Coalition staff, interns, and volunteers meet with individual detainees who wish to fight their deportation cases.

JAIL VISITS:

CAIR Coalition’s legal staff conducts legal rights presentations in rural county jails in Virginia for detained immigrants.  Detained immigrants include asylum seekers, long term residents, and other individuals who have committed immigration violations.  After the presentation, volunteers meet with detainees in the facility and distribute relevant informational packets on immigration relief.  In addition, CAIR Coalition staff and summer law clerks may take additional information that will be used to assess our involvement in their situation.  This is a rare opportunity to meet face to face with detained immigrants, enter a facility, and in certain facilities, meet with senior members of jail administration.

REPRESENTATION OF DETAINED IMMIGRANTS:

During our jail visits, we encounter individuals in need of representation in their immigration cases. Upon review of cases, we assist individuals in removal proceedings to apply for protection-based relief (asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture), Cancellation of Removal for Lawful and for non-Lawful Permanent Residents, U and T visas, Adjustment of Status, Refugee Waivers and claims to United States Citizenship.  CAIR Coalition may take on direct representation of such individuals or partner with local law firms.  Interns will work with CAIR Coalition’s legal team to provide both direct representation to detainees and assistance to pro bono attorneys who agree to represent detainees.

REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF INDEFINITE DETAINEES:

CAIR Coalition assists individuals who are detained indefinitely and who are eligible for habeas release under the Supreme Court decision in Zadvydas v. Davis.  The Supreme Court held that the immigration service could not indefinitely detain non-citizens whom it could not deport.  Prior to this decision, non-citizens with final deportation orders could be detained indefinitely if they were from countries with whom the U.S. had no repatriation agreement (i.e., Laos, Cuba, or Cambodia) or if they were stateless.  The immigration service maintained that their detention was to facilitate deportation, yet deportation would never happen for these people.  Therefore, the Supreme Court held that if deportation is not reasonably foreseeable, a person could not be detained six months after a final order of deportation. The Court reasoned that to interpret the statute otherwise would raise serious constitutional questions. 

There are presently a dozen individuals in detention who are eligible for release under this Supreme Court decision.  These detainees need attorneys to file petitions for habeas corpus in the Eastern District of Virginia or the District of Columbia and/or advocate for their release before Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s office.  Attorneys at several law firms have already represented several individuals in their habeas petitions.  CAIR Coalition has also a prepared a packet of information to assist interested attorneys in preparing these petitions.  Summer law clerks interested in federal court work may assist in these habeas filings.

REPRESENTATION AT CREDIBLE FEAR INTERVIEWS:

When someone arrives at an international airport without documents (or with documents that are not their own) they are first interviewed by airport personnel.  If they express a fear of returning to their country because of persecution (based on their race, religion, political opinion, social group or nationality/ethnicity) they are put into the "credible fear" process, and given an opportunity to further articulate that fear and be given a chance to ask for asylum before an Immigration Judge.  When an asylum seeker arrives at BWI or Dulles Airport and is scheduled for a credible fear interview, the Arlington Asylum Office contacts CAIR Coalition to allow us to arrange for someone to be present at the interview and speak with the applicant to explain and guide them through the process.  CAIR Coalition summer law clerks may be asked to attend one or more such credible fear interview.

How Do I Apply?

If you are a law student who wishes to apply for the fall internship program, you should submit an application packet containing:

A cover letter describing your interest in an internship with CAIR Coalition

A resume

Your most recent academic transcript (unofficial is acceptable) and

A writing sample to:

Vanessa Allyn,
Selection Committee Chairperson
1612 K Street, NW Ste. 204
Washington DC 20006
Tel (202) 331-3320 x 24
Fax (202) 331-3341
vanessa.allyn@caircoalition.org

Application materials may be sent via email, fax, or the United States Postal Service. However, all materials must be must be received by August 1, 2008 in order to be considered for the Fall 2008 Program.