The Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic (LIJC) continues to lead the charge in advancing immigrant rights and advocacy through its groundbreaking initiatives like their newest Binational Migrant Advocacy Project (BMAP). Most recently, the clinic's BMAP brought together law students, legal professionals and 250 DACA recipients for an educational trip to Tijuana.
BMAP is the first-ever binational immigration clinic based at a U.S. law school. The project brings together law students from LMU Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, ITESO in Guadalajara and the IBERO- Tijuana to work collaboratively in an international setting, offering invaluable hands-on experience in advocating for migrant rights along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The latest chapter in this project took place this week, with LIJC Fellow Kevin Sarabia ’24 and Marissa Montes ’12, Director and Co-founder of LIJC, leading a full day educational trip to Tijuana. Over 250 DACA recipients from across the United States participated in the event, which focused on providing essential education on immigration law. The event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of LIJC, IBERO Tijuana, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), and the Justice Action Center.
Sarabia and Montes guided participants through discussions on U.S. asylum law, its ongoing challenges, and future border policy. After the academic portion of the program, the group visited migrant shelters in Tijuana, providing participants with firsthand insight into the harsh realities faced by migrants in transit. All DACA recipients successfully crossed back into the United States, safely returning after a day of learning and engagement. Besides providing an educational program, this one-day collaboration provided DACA participants with a lawful admission to the United States, which can facilitate an easier pathway to obtaining legal status in the United States.
“This trip was a powerful reminder of the resilience of the immigrant community and the critical need for advocacy that transcends borders,” said Montes. “Through initiatives like BMAP, we are able to offer not only vital legal education but also practical support for those navigating the often-complicated immigration system. We are so thankful for our partners, ImmDef and the Justice Action Center, who made it possible for us to include their DACAmented clients in our cross-border educational program. We are proud to have been a part of this historic day.”
LIJC, a community-based collaboration between LMU Loyola Law School, Homeboy Industries, and Dolores Mission Church, provides legal services to immigrants facing significant barriers to legal support. The clinic equips law students with real-world experience in immigrant rights lawyering while actively supporting the immigrant community in East Los Angeles and migrants at the U.S.- Mexico border. For more information on LIJC or BMAP, please visit the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic website.
