Safe Passage Project Managing Attorney Alexandra Rizzio was recently profiled in Practical Law The Journal as part of their series profiling counsel dedicated to serving the public interest:
“I truly love being on the cutting edge of pro bono practice, as well as developing creative litigation strategies for my clients. We have the opportunity to provide excellent legal representation to young people who are fighting for their lives in one of the most complex, often cruel systems in the country. To stand with my clients during that fight is extremely meaningful.
The greatest challenges are related to the system itself. Immigration law is a behemoth, and it has evolved such that many policy decisions are in the hands of the Executive. Representing children who had been separated from their families (for example, five-year-old children who were desperate to see their parents, who were being detained in another state, and who could not understand what was happening), there are no words to describe that feeling. All we could do was try to figure out what they wanted, and then get that done. At the end of the day, it is that simple — we fight for our clients.”