Desireé Hernández ’08 has been named Immigrant ARC’s 2022 Immigrant Justice Award winner. An experienced and compelling immigration attorney and Interim Executive Director at Safe Passage Project, she is being honored for her tremendous leadership and dedicated work on behalf of immigrants in New York State. She also leads New York Law School’s Immigration Law and Litigation Clinic as an adjunct professor, teaching and mentoring law students as they gain practical legal experience in immigration law.
In announcing the honor, Immigrant ARC praised Hernández for her leadership and grace in navigating internal shifts and tackling challenges faced by migrant youth while enabling Safe Passage Project and its pro bono network to deepen its support for vulnerable youth and expand access to justice.
They noted that she “embodies and exemplifies the talent and persistence of the New York legal community, and particularly the organizational staff that make access to justice a reality for thousands of people in our city.”
Hernández will receive her award on October 6, 2022 at Immigrant ARC’s annual celebration in Brooklyn.
“Desireé is a spectacular lawyer, teacher, and role model for our students and alumni. She undertakes her important and soulful work with heart and tenacity. She is a great leader and advocate who always makes us proud,” said NYLS Dean and President Anthony Crowell.
Congratulations to Desireé Hernández for this exceptional recognition.