(From Press Release) – Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) honored the UC Davis School of Law Immigration Law Clinic and the UC Immigrant Legal Services Center for their legal aid services catered to immigrants. Both of these organizations operate at the UC Davis School of Law and offer their services pro-bono to immigrants in need.
“In today’s political climate, many immigrants are afraid about how the next executive order or piece of legislation could turn their lives upside down,” said Senator Dodd. “Organizations like the Immigration Law Clinic and the UC Immigrant Legal Services Center provide immigrants with the resources they need to ensure they know their rights. I am honored to represent UC Davis as their Senator and commend the outstanding work done by these organizations.”
The Immigration Law Clinic at the UC Davis School of Law was founded in 1982 as one of the first clinics of its kind in the United States, using licensed attorneys and law students to help immigrants. The Clinic devotes its time to representing detained immigrants before immigration court and challenges unlawful and prolonged detention. Additionally, they stand alone in their statewide role in providing advice to public defenders about the potential immigration consequences facing immigrant defendants.
The UC Immigrant Legal Services Center, founded in 2015, serves the immigration-related legal needs of undocumented and immigrant students at the University of California system. While it is headquartered at the UC Davis School of Law, the Center reaches out to students at all UC campuses to provide the free legal assistance they need in order to succeed in the educational goals.
“With their work in our immigrant communities, the Immigration Law Clinic and UC Immigrant Legal Services Center have changed countless lives and helped make California a better place for all of us,” said Kevin R. Johnson, Dean of UC Davis School of Law. “I want to join Senator Dodd and his colleagues in the Legislature in expressing my thanks and admiration for all that they do, and to thank Senator Dodd and the Legislature for honoring that important work.”
On Thursday morning, Senator Dodd presented both organizations with a legislative resolution at the California State Capitol, lauding them for their contributions to the State of California and its immigrant population.
