Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law received a gift of $5 million from Harry Siegle to establish the Seigle Clinic for Immigrant Youth and Families, according to an announcement.
The clinic’s goal is to defend young people who are seeking humanitarian protection in immigration court proceedings because of violence, persecution or torture in their home countries. By defending parents facing deportation and separation from their American-born and foreign-born children, the clinic strives to keep families together.
With the donation, the clinic hopes to represent more immigrants and contribute to hiring, retaining, and training new employees.
Uzoamaka Emeka Nzelibe, a clinical professor of law, will oversee the Seigle Clinic for Immigrant Youth and Families. She is an expert in unaccompanied minor migration, removal defense, and various types of humanitarian status, including asylum. In order to enhance the pool of lawyers qualified to take on immigration matters, the donation will also cover the cost of hiring a second immigration lawyer.
“We are extremely grateful to Harry Seigle for this impactful gift endowing the Seigle Clinic for Immigrant Youth and Families,” said Hari Osofsky, dean of Northwestern Pritzker Law. “His generosity will make a critical difference in the Law School’s efforts to assist immigrants and provide our students with important learning and service opportunities.”
Seigle made the gift in memory of his mother, Lora H. Seigle, who was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States as a Jewish refugee in 1936, according to the announcement.
“My mother’s life experiences inspired me to make this gift to improve legal services for immigrants,” Seigle said in the announcement. “The idea behind e pluribus unum, ‘out of many, one,’ is central to my family’s heritage. Immigrants have helped make this country what it is today, and we are better for it.”
