Inaugural Immigration Justice Fellowship is Established at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, Honoring Professor Vanessa Merton

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The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is pleased to announce the creation of the Vanessa Merton Immigration Justice Fellowship, a key component of the school’s Immigration Justice Clinic focused on ensuring the legal system’s just treatment of immigrants in the Hudson Valley and local New York Metropolitan region. Barbara Sarmiento, a 2024 graduate of Haub Law, has been selected to serve as the program’s inaugural fellow beginning this fall.

Through the generosity of her family, the Immigration Justice Fellowship was established in honor of Professor Vanessa Merton, founder and recently retired director of the Immigration Justice Clinic, who has been a renowned visionary, providing leadership and advocacy in support of the clinic’s important mission for nearly two decades. The Fellow will serve as a liaison between the clinic, immigration organizations, and the migrant community, helping to connect those in need with free legal services, resources or referrals.

"We are deeply grateful for the inauguration of this new fellowship that will enable the Immigration Justice Clinic to expand its reach, particularly to those community members and families who are barred from most immigration relief,” said Stephanie Tombrello, Vanessa's sister. “Vanessa is known for her tenacity and dedication to accompanying and advocating for her clients, always exhausting every option. Now, the next generation of new students will carry on this commitment and thrive with the support and guidance of the inaugural fellow, Barbara Sarmiento, a recent Haub Law graduate who herself has witnessed Vanessa's passion and compassion over the past half decade."

A former paralegal, Barbara Sarmiento first joined Haub Law in 2018 as the Immigration Justice Clinic Administrator and an Assistant Clinic Administrator for John Jay Legal Services, the not-for-profit legal services firm that houses and runs the clinic and externship programs at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law. Working closely under the auspices of Professor Merton, she was responsible for leading orientation and training for legal interns, supporting interns with their case management, and often worked directly with clients as a Spanish translator. “Professor Merton has had a profound effect on my life,” said Barbara. “I have always been impressed by her extraordinary intellect, knowledge of the law and passion as an advocate for immigrant rights. She has been an inspiration to so many students, like myself, demonstrating the hard work needed to represent clients well and further their interests.”

Realizing the vast need for immigration lawyers, it was this experience at the clinic and with faculty such as Professor Merton, that inspired Barbara’s interest in a law degree “to be able to do more to help clients.” As a part-time Flex JD student, Barbara has pursued her law degree at Haub Law for the past 4 years, all while juggling roles at the clinic and internships at organizations such as the Empire Justice Center. She is currently preparing to take the Bar Exam and looks forward to joining the clinic in her new capacity as Immigration Justice Fellow this fall.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to continue Vanessa’s extraordinary and vital work in immigration justice, through the creation of this fellowship which will enable us to expand our legal services to underserved immigrant communities, and support the hard work of our students and supervising faculty,” said Haub Law Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. “Barbara is a most deserving fellow; as both a law student and a member of the clinic staff, she has demonstrated the type of dedication and personal commitment that has typified Vanessa’s tenure at Haub Law.”

If you wish to contribute to the Immigration Justice Fellowship and help further the important work of Haub Law’s Immigration Justice Clinic, please make a gift online “in honor of Vanessa Merton.”