Andrea Barrientos and Sadie Casamenti, Cardozo 3L students, have been chosen along with 26 other graduates from top law schools from around the country, as Justice Fellows with the Immigrant Justice Corps program. Both students have been active in the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic during their time at Cardozo. The Corps program was founded by Judge Robert A. Katzmann, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Barrientos will spend her fellowship period working at Make the Road New York and Casamenti, at the NY Legal Assistance Group.
The Fellows program is now in its seventh year. The chosen recipients will serve for two years, beginning in September 2021, as staff attorneys at strategically selected legal services agencies and community-based organizations across the country, providing legal assistance to low-income immigrants in an array of immigration matters including deportation defense and affirmative applications for those fleeing persecution. The fellowship is open nationwide to current 3Ls and recent graduates, and the biggest qualification is "talent, promise, and a demonstrated commitment to providing immigration legal services."
Professor Lindsay Nash, co-director of the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic, said, “Andrea and Sadie have been incredible advocates for their clients and immigrants’ rights more generally as part of the Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic at Cardozo, and I’m thrilled that they’ll get to begin their careers with the Immigrant Justice Corps—an organization doing groundbreaking work in the immigrant representation arena.”
“I am excited and honored to have been selected as an Immigrant Justice Corps Justice Fellow,” said Barrientos. “As part of my fellowship, I will work at Make the Road New York where I will provide legal services to the immigrant community of Staten Island. My focus will be on T & U visas for victims of human trafficking and crime, asylum for persons fleeing their home countries, and removal defense for immigrants facing deportation. The Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic has been an invaluable part of my law school experience and has taught me about the complexities of immigration law. I am particularly grateful to Professor Lindsay Nash for mentoring and supporting me and to Mauricio Noroña for teaching me through my first immigration case. I am eager to begin my legal career as an IJC Fellow and to become a part of an influential organization committed to promoting immigrants' rights.”
Casamenti said, “Receiving the IJC Justice fellowship is a great honor, and it would not have been possible without the mentorship, skills, and support I’ve gained through Cardozo’s Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic. Professor Lindsay Nash encouraged me and provided invaluable guidance on building on my career in this particular field. Now through IJC, I’m thrilled to join a community of attorneys and advocates who are dedicated to helping each other grow in their commitment towards advancing immigrants’ rights. As a fellow, I will work at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), where I will provide representation on various forms of affirmative and defensive cases, as well as the opportunity to work on federal relief. I’m excited to leverage the strong foundation of direct services and impact litigation experiences I’ve gained while at Cardozo in this new role at NYLAG."