My name is Gil Sander Joseph, and I am a recent graduate from Princeton University, where I majored in sociology with a minor in Latin American studies. Originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, I am currently pursuing a Master’s in International Policy at Stanford University as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar. This summer, I received a generous grant from the Class of 1978 Foundation, which allowed me to undertake an unpaid internship with Project Rousseau, a New York-based organization providing legal services to vulnerable youth, including asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors.
Internship Overview
Internship Duration:
June 23rd – August 15th
Location:
Newark, New Jersey (residence)
Commuting to New York City via PATH and subway
Internship Activities & Responsibilities
Asylum Clients
I was assigned to work with two asylum clients, focusing primarily on assisting with their asylum declarations. These declarations are central to an asylum application, as they outline the applicant’s life events and the reasons they fled their home country. One of the primary challenges in this process was helping clients, many of whom spoke little to no English and/or had never received formal education, articulate their narratives coherently and persuasively in English. Through interviews, I assisted clients in recalling important events in their lives, ensuring that their personal stories were presented in a way that aligned with the requirements of the asylum process.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Clients:
In addition to working with asylum seekers, I also worked with five minors (under the age of 21) applying for SIJS. This status is granted to minors who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment by one or both parents. My role involved helping clients draft declarations (affidavits) that would be used in family court to establish their eligibility for SIJS. These declarations focused on the abuse or neglect they had experienced. Moreover, I interviewed proposed guardians to assess their suitability for guardianship, filling out necessary forms for both family court and immigration court. I also filed these documents in person at various family courts across New York’s boroughs.
Personal Contributions & Accomplishments
My multilingual background in French, Spanish, and Haitian Creole proved invaluable during the internship, as it enabled me to serve a diverse group of clients, including those who spoke Haitian Creole, a group often underserved in legal services for immigrants.
At the beginning of my internship, the Executive Director expressed a desire for the organization to better support Haitian-speaking clients. Inspired by this, I initiated a project to connect Project Rousseau with other organizations serving Haitian migrants in New York. I successfully facilitated a meeting between Project Rousseau’s Executive Director and the leader of a network of Haitian-serving organizations across the Americas. This partnership has the potential to expand services to Haitian clients in New York. Additionally, I had the opportunity to assist pro se asylum seekers (applicants without legal representation) by hosting a workshop on declaration writing for mostly African asylum seekers in the Bronx. This initiative allowed me to support individuals in navigating a complex legal process.
Key Takeaways
This internship allowed me to deepen my understanding of the U.S. immigration process, particularly asylum law. I gained hands-on experience in both affirmative and defensive asylum proceedings, and I developed a nuanced understanding of how immigration courts operate.
One of the most striking realizations from this experience was the critical shortage of immigration lawyers. While the knowledge to support asylum seekers is widely available, there is a significant gap in the number of qualified lawyers to represent these individuals in court. Unfortunately, many asylum seekers are either unrepresented or inadequately represented, which severely impacts their chances of success. For context, applicants with legal representation have a 53% grant rate, while pro se applicants have only a 19% grant rate. This disparity underscores the need for more legal professionals in the field.
Through direct interactions with legal professionals during my internship, my initial interest in law has transformed into a firm resolve to pursue a legal education. I am grateful for the opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to the legal system and to explore a potential career in immigration law.
Acknowledgments
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Class of 1978 Foundation for their generous support, which made this internship possible. Without this grant, I would not have been able to undertake such a transformative opportunity. The financial assistance helped me cover living expenses, transportation, and other costs associated with the internship.
This marks the second time I have received support from the Class of 1978 Foundation, and each time, the experiences funded have proven life-changing—not only for me but for the clients I had the privilege of serving. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of individuals who are seeking protection and a better future in the United States.
Thank you once again for your support.
Due to the sensitive nature of the work and the vulnerable populations served, no photos or videos were allowed during the internship to ensure confidentiality and protect the identities of the clients.