Immigrants’ Rights Clinic: Individual Representations

IRC represents many individuals whose cases cannot be shared in detail due to safety and privacy concerns. Here are summaries of a few of the cases IRC students worked on in the past year:

• IRC represented a family from Mexico who were targeted by a cartel for one member of the family’s anti-corruption work. In November 2025, all 8 members of the family were granted asylum in the Chicago Immigration Court.
   
• IRC won asylum for an Iranian woman on the basis of her activism and support for women’s rights. In May 2026, IRC filed a mandamus petition to force the government to make a decision on her case and in July 2026, her asylum application was granted.
   
• IRC represented a domestic violence survivor from Uzbekistan in filing a petition under the Violence Against Women Act so that she can remain lawfully in the U.S. without her husband. In June 2026, she received a prima facie determination of eligibility, which will give her protection from deportation and work authorization.
   
• IRC represents a woman from South Sudan on her asylum claim based on her fear of forced marriage. She had her interview with USCIS in December 2025 and she awaits a decision.
   
• IRC represents an LGBTQ+ man from Venezuela on his asylum claim. The student team is working to prepare his case for trial, which is scheduled for July 2027. 
   
• IRC represents three members of a family who were previous recipients of T visas, a special visa for human trafficking victims, apply for their green cards. Their applications remain pending. 
   
• IRC represents two brothers with approved applications for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status apply for their green cards. Their applications remain pending.