An anonymous gift has secured funding for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law immigration clinic, allowing the program to reopen for at least three and up to five years, Nebraska Public Media reported.
The immigration clinic originally opened in 1998, giving law students hands-on experience handling immigration cases while offering pro-bono legal services to immigrants. The facility shut its doors in May after professor Kevin Ruser stepped down from directing the program to concentrate on classroom teaching.
College of Law Dean Richard Moberly said an anonymous donor learned about the closure and provided an undisclosed sum to restart operations.
“We’ve always been thoughtful that if we were able to find funding for it, that this would be something we’d want to restart,” Moberly told Nebraska Public Media.
Hiring a New Director
Moberly said that students and community members expressed widespread disappointment following the May closure. While the clinic remained dark, many students turned to externships to gain practical immigration law experience.
The newly secured funds will finance the search for a new clinic director. Brett Stohs, director of clinical programs and professor at the College of Law, is leading the recruitment process.
“Our community never wanted this program to go away, and it’s always a challenge in an academic setting because so much of what we do is dependent upon having someone willing to invest their time and professional energy into a program,” Stohs told Nebraska Public Media.
Reopening in Fall 2027
Stohs explained that the exact scope and capabilities of the revived clinic will ultimately depend on the incoming director. The primary objective is to recruit an experienced professional dedicated to training the next generation of immigration lawyers.
The immigration law clinic is scheduled to resume operations in fall 2027.
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