Global Advisor Symposium on Youth Immigration Legal Status

New York, N.Y.  The Safe Passage Project and the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation  hosted a symposium on youth immigration, titled “An Overview of Immigration Law and the Paths to Legal Status for Youth” last Friday, April 13 at New York Law School.

Keynote speaker Professor Lenni Benson is a nationally recognized expert in the field of immigration and political asylum. She’s a professor of law and the founder of Safe Passage Project, created to address the unmet legal needs of indigent immigrant youth living in New York. Prof. Benson is also a Sr. Global Advisor to The J. Luce Foundation. Given her to years of service in expanding resources for immigrants, especially unaccompanied migrant children, Prof. Benson received the 2018 Candlelight Award at the foundation's 18th Annual Leadership Awards Gala on March 1st, 2018.

Prof. Lenni Benson has been teaching and writing in the field of immigration law since 1994. She is a professor at New York Law School and serves as the director of the NYLS Safe Passage Project.

Jim Luce, Founder & C.E.O. of The J. Luce Foundation shared,

Our once welcoming nation has sadly become hostile to immigrants. It’s heartbreaking to hear stories about families getting separated and young people forced to return to countries where their lives are in danger. Professor Benson brings hope to young people, giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Followed by the symposium, Prof. Claire Thomas and her law students offered one-on-one consultation session for any young global leaders or global advisors of the foundation who might have questions regarding their legal status as well as recommendations of immigration lawyers and attorneys in New York City.

About the J. Luce Foundation

The Mission of the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation ( www.LuceFoundation.org ) is to support young global leadership impacting positive social change and the NGOs that support them, particularly in the fields of the Arts, Education, and Orphan Care.

About Safe Project

Safe Passage Project, ( www.safepassageproject.org ) a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit, was created to address the unmet legal needs of indigent immigrant youth living in New York by providing these indigent youth with basic advice and assistance. We work with volunteer attorneys to provide representation for unaccompanied minors in immigration court. Safe Passage provides training, resources, and mentoring to volunteer attorneys regarding Special Immigrant Juvenile (“SIJ”) status as well as other possible immigration alternatives for children.

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