New UNLV Immigration Clinic program to benefit immigrant children
The UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law formally launched the Edward M. Bernstein & Associates Children’s Rights Program in which attorneys and law students work together to represent unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings.
During a ceremony Nov. 16 at the Law School’s Thomas & Mack Moot Courtroom, university leadership, elected officials and community supporters recognized a transformational $250,000 gift from Edward M. Bernstein & Associates that will enable the school to continue its work on behalf of local unaccompanied immigrant children.
Three years ago, the UNLV Immigration Clinic was one of only seven organizations – and the only law school – to receive an AmeriCorps grant to provide legal defense to children fleeing violence and abuse in Central America who arrived alone in the United States. However, the AmeriCorps program has been discontinued causing UNLV’s AmeriCorps grant to end in October. The Bernstein’s donation will fund the clinic for the next five years and ensure its work will carry on uninterrupted.
The Children’s Rights Program works closely with the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada to represent unaccompanied children in both family court and in their immigration cases.
KJ