Name: Kasey Quiche
Class Year: 2027
Majors: Political Science, Sociology

Internship Organization: Safe Passage Project
Internship Title: Legal Intern
Location: New York, NY

Hall of Judges in building C of New York Law School

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

Located in Manhattan and housed within the New York Law School building, the Safe Passage Project started as pro bono law school project in 2006 to place children’s cases with pro bono attorneys. It established itself as a formal nonprofit corporation in 2012 and has a staff of attorneys and paralegals who take on cases of unaccompanied immigrant young people who have suffered violence, abuse, or neglect. My work has largely centered around signing up young people on the waitlist, serving as a Spanish interpreter for legal screenings, and completing legal document applications like the I-765, I-360, and G-28. I have also translated important documents like birth certificates.

The Ernst Stiefel Reading Room in building E

Why did you apply for this internship?

I have always been really passionate about providing legal support to the immigrant community, especially because I’ve seen firsthand how the current administration has made it increasingly more difficult for immigrants to navigate the system. Last summer, I worked at a separate non-profit organization that focused more on asylum cases. The clientele was mainly adults, but there were a couple of young people (e.x., 17 years old) who were interested in applying for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) that we couldn’t help. Working at the SPP was the perfect opportunity to gain direct, hands-on experience working with children on the SIJS process. Working alongside attorneys and paralegals has also given me a much clearer sense of what legal work entails on a day-to-day basis.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part has been interacting with other interns. There are around 20 interns, and the weekly “Brown Bag Lunches” allow us to be informed on changes made by the immigration court while also getting to know one another.

The Great Big Game show team bonding event with all the interns. Interns and SPP staff were split into four groups and made to compete against each other and work together in a series of word puzzles, trivia, and memory challenges!

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?

Something that I have learned about this internship that I didn’t expect is to be comfortable with silence! Oftentimes, while serving as a Spanish interpreter, some of the intake form questions can make the young person feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. Trying to dig up potential history of violence, abuse, and/or neglect has made me more conscious of how I react and respond.

Working remotely for the first time? What has that experience been like for you?

I work remotely on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It has been an interesting experience answering phone calls and signing up young people to the waitlist. It has also provided me with the opportunity to complete other tasks assigned by attorneys and paralegals that I wouldn’t have completed otherwise in the office.

What is most rewarding about your internship?

Getting to interact with clients 🙂