Mainers have long shared a strong sense of fairness, a responsibility to one another, and a commitment to due process as provided by the U.S. Constitution.
At the University of Maine School of Law (Maine Law), these principles guide the ongoing work of the Refugee and Human Rights Clinic (RHRC), part of The Clinics at Maine Law. Consistent with its long-standing mission, this year the RHRC has initiated several rapid-response projects to assist immigrants facing increased enforcement better understand resources and their rights under the nation’s laws, ranging from direct services for those subject to immigration detention to vital outreach and advocacy projects.
Since January 2025, the RHRC has assisted over 650 immigrants through its direct representation of immigrant clients and its various outreach and advocacy projects. As part of this broader effort, the clinic has also provided legal information related to financial and family preparedness to more than 200 individuals facing potential immigration enforcement. Working in close partnership with community organizations and faculty and student attorneys within Maine Law’s General Practice and Prisoner Assistance Clinics, the RHRC has also assisted approximately 40 individuals and families in completing family preparedness planning in the event of detention or deportation.
Founding Director of the RHRC, Professor Anna Welch, said their work is evolving as the needs of immigrant communities shift. In addition to providing immediate services, Welch said they are also training the next generation of immigration lawyers, preparing them to advocate for one of the state’s most vulnerable populations.
Award-Winning Detention Project and Direct Services
In January 2025, the RHRC designed and launched the New England Immigration Detention Project, an initiative that works closely with the ACLU of Maine and the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project. As part of their work, RHRC student attorneys and faculty conduct one-time consultations with individuals detained in civil immigration custody in Maine by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This critical work garnered an award this fall through the New England chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Welch also recently received the ACLU of Maine’s prestigious Scolnik Award for her longtime work on behalf of Maine’s immigrant and refugee population.
The RHRC’s Detention Project
As of December, RHRC student attorneys and faculty had conducted approximately 300 consultations with immigrants held in Cumberland County Jail in Portland and Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset this year.
“This is a triage situation,” said Sally L. Stevens Immigration Teaching Fellow Bri Zhuang. Zhuang is one of the lead attorneys in the RHRC spearheading the rapid response team assisting immigrants in detention. “For the most part, we are only able to meet with each individual once, so it’s important we give them as much information as possible. We have to be well-organized and nimble, which has been a good experience for our student attorneys.”
The RHRC has quickly assembled resources to share with immigrants in custody and their families, including a library of resources and materials for individuals detained and additional Know Your Rights and Preparedness information for all immigrants.
This project involves:
- Meeting with immigrants in ICE custody in Maine, either in person or virtually.
- Providing information about the immigration court process and individual rights.
- Offering pro se assistance and self-help materials.
- Providing referrals to services or attorneys that can further assist them.
- Tracking on-the-ground data and information about trends in immigration enforcement in Maine and New England.
Community Empowerment Through Education and Training
Beyond immigration detention, the RHRC continues to collaborate with local nonprofits and community organizations to educate people who work with immigrants and empower immigrants with accurate information about U.S. law and their rights.
This work includes:
- Offering multilingual sessions on Know-Your-Rights and youth-specific legal options to nearly 150 students at area schools.
- Working with organizational partners such as the ACLU of Maine and Pierce Atwood to assist dozens of families with financial and family preparedness, helping equip immigrants with back-up plans for dependents and assets should they face immigration detention.
- Assisting over a dozen pro se asylum applicants in preparing their applications and securing work permits through ILAP’s Asylum Assistance and Legal Orientation Program.
The impact of the RHRC’s program is amplified through its commitment to education and professional development, strengthening the local legal community.
“Many of our student attorneys who help lead our work go on to practice immigration law after graduation,” Welch explained. “The multiplier impact of our program cannot be overstated. There is a dearth of immigration attorneys in Maine, and exposing our students to the richness of this work has led to a larger immigration bar here in Maine. We have graduated nearly 150 students from the RHRC since its inception in 2012 and many have gone on to practice immigration law full time and/or on a pro bono basis. Through this project, even more attorneys will be trained to provide information or representation to immigrants facing detention and deportation.”
