Student and faculty volunteers gather for a photo at the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia.

With immigration legal help often unaffordable or hard to access, students at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law took the initiative with an event designed to meet that need. In partnership with the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia, law students hosted a legal assistance day providing support with naturalization applications, green card renewals, and “Know Your Rights” education. All services were provided under the guidance of immigration attorney Luis Canales.

“Our aim was not just to help with paperwork,” said Jazmin Tapia, the event’s lead organizer and Pro Bono Coordinator for the Drexel Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA). “We wanted people to feel informed and supported.”

The concept took root in the spring of 2024 when Tapia presented it to the Immigration Law Society (ILS). However, with the board preparing to graduate, efforts needed to be temporarily paused. Later that fall, after being elected LALSA’s pro bono coordinator, Tapia reintroduced the plan and quickly gained the support of the new ILS leadership, including President Keerthana Rao.

Tapia had previously worked with the Mexican Consulate for nearly a decade in the immigration legal field, and that connection helped secure the space. She also contacted Attorney Luis Canales, a former colleague, who agreed to supervise the legal work.

The event was organized by the ILS and Drexel LALSA, with support from the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and SOLID, a student group focused on mental health and harm reduction. LALSA helped ensure language accessibility, SOLID contributed to ‘Know Your Rights’ red cards, and NLG offered digital tools and resources for community legal education. “This was a true collaboration,” said Joshua Ventura, President of LALSA. “We worked closely with the consulate to offer free immigration services. It was entirely student-led and self-funded.”

This marked the third event organized by Drexel Kline students. Earlier efforts in the fall of 2024 focused on naturalization applications. This most recent event expanded in size and scope, involving 20 student volunteers and assisting more than 30 individuals.

The most recent consulate event took place on Saturday, March 8, 2025, running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with volunteers rotating through the intake, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) account setup, and form preparation. Canales was available throughout the day, reviewing documentation and advising students as needed.

Ahead of the event, students trained on common application issues, eligibility requirements, and best practices for engaging with the community. “Many volunteers were stepping into this work for the first time,” Tapia explained. “But the preparation and knowing we were doing it together made the day run smoothly.”

The team also presented four “Know Your Rights” sessions, adapted from Rao’s earlier workshops, to provide clear legal guidance.

Though hosted at the Mexican Consulate, the event welcomed individuals from a variety of backgrounds, including attendees from the Dominican Republic. Services were offered in Spanish and English, with volunteers focused on ensuring participants felt welcomed, heard, and supported.

Tapia recalled one moment in particular—a woman whose husband, guided through a previous event, had recently passed his citizenship test. “That reminded us how real the impact is,” she said.

Faculty at Drexel Kline recognized the event as a model for community-based legal learning. “What made this event remarkable was how students designed and led it themselves,” said Fernando Loayza Jordan, visiting assistant professor at the law school. “They translated legal education into something grounded, useful, and deeply connected to the public interest.”

The event received no external funding. Students brought snacks, coffee, and water from home to ensure volunteers and visitors stayed nourished during a long and active day.

“We remembered from past events that there’s often no time to stop,” Tapia said. “So we did what we could to take care of one another.” Roles were divided carefully to keep the flow moving. Some volunteers worked intake, others assisted with documents, and a public-facing resource table remained open throughout the event.

To support future organizers, the team is compiling a guide that includes contact templates, checklists, and training materials. “We are not just hosting events. We’re building something that can continue,” Tapia noted.

Another event is already in the works. “We’re planning for early summer,” Ventura added. “And we’re exploring partnerships with city and state leaders to reach more communities.”