Congratulations to Kim Pederson, third-year Santa Clara law student, and Lori Benintendi, second-year student, for their successful advocacy and representation of a Law Center’s client who has been granted legal status in the United States under recently-approved provisions for immigrant victims of crimes. The students’ representation included outreach to law enforcement, as well as persistent advocacy with various offices of Immigration.
The client and her son were victims of severe domestic violence. The client and her son were shot by the abuser. As a victim of a crime who has cooperated with law enforcement in the investigation of the crime, the client has been granted legal status that will allow her to obtain work authorization and possible permanent residence in the United States.
Immigration recently began granting this type of benefit in mid-October 2003. The benefit will help many immigrants who have been victims of violent crimes in the United States. The success of Kim and Lori marks the beginning of similar successes for other immigrant victims of crime.
