“I would like to … thank you for your kind assistance in making my dream come true and appreciate your professional skill. It’s unforgettable. I will always be grateful and remember it.” -Z.H. (Ethiopia), granted asylum, children granted derivative asylum
The Gould School of Law Immigration Clinic is staffed by law students, faculty, and staff and provides free legal representation to adults and children from all over the world, including Mexico, Central and South America, and Africa.
The Immigration Clinic consists of two teaching clinics and a direct service program. Second and third year Gould students enrolled in the Removal Defense Clinic and the Immigration Detention and Appellate Clinic represent clients under the supervision of faculty and staff attorneys. Most of the cases involve applications for asylum, protection under the Convention Against Torture, and other humanitarian forms of relief. Students represent their clients before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Many of our clients are detained in ICE detention centers in Southern California and elsewhere. A significant number of our clients are LGBTQ asylum seekers.
The Immigration Clinic’s direct service project is the USC Gould Immigrant Legal Assistance Center (ILAC).
All legal services provided by the Immigration Clinic are free of chare. Our students and staff speak multiple languages, including Spanish, Farsi, Sinhalese, and conversational Italian, and we rely on volunteer interpreters to supplement our capacity and for other languages when needed.
The USC Gould Immigrant Legal Assistance Center (ILAC) provides free, confidential consultations, legal assistance, and referrals to members of the USC Trojan Family, students, staff members, contract employees, faculty and family members, who may be at risk of deportation, who may be eligible to apply for immigration status, or who have questions about their legal status and legal rights under the immigration laws. The Legal Assistance Center is supported by the Office of the Provost and USC Gould School of Law.
ATTENTION USC DACA RECIPIENTS: Although U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is not accepting initial DACA applications, DACA renewals are currently being processed. The USC Immigrant Legal Assistance Center offers renewal application assistance free of charge. USC First Generation Plus Success Center will pay the renewal filing fee for current USC students. The filing fees increased on April 1, 2024. The filing fee for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (I-821D) application is $85. The filing fee for the Employment Authorization Document(I-765) is $470 if filed online and $520 if filed by mail. The total filing fee is therefore $555 or $605. We recommend that anyone with DACA seek legal consultation regardless of when your DACA status expires. Contact our office to schedule a free and confidential consultation with our staff attorneys by emailing iclinic@law.usc.edu, calling 213-821-9627, or scheduling an appointment at https://calendly.com/usc-ilac.
Are you a current USC Gould student or are you interested in applying to USC Gould School of Law? Visit Gould’s website to learn how to enroll in the RemovalContinue reading Current Gould Students
Interested in volunteering for our office? Whether you are a current student, immigration attorney, or community member, you may sign up to volunteer. Email us at iclinic@law.usc.edu for more information.
“I would like to thank you and your staff so much for all the hard work in helping me obtain my U.S. Citizenship. I know the process would have beenContinue reading Testimonials
