Multiple Justice Catalyst Fellows File Lawsuit Protesting Border Patrol Treatment of Haitian Migrants

In his lawsuit, Mirard Joseph, center, accused the U.S. government of abuse, inhumane treatment and denial of due process under a public health rule that gives border officials the authority to expel most undocumented people who cross into the United States during the pandemic.

Image Credits: Paul Ratje/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Justice Catalyst Fellows Trillium Chang ’21-’22, Lauren Michel Wilfong ‘21-’22, and former Justice Catalyst Fellow Tess Hellgren ‘19-’20, alongside team members at Justice Action Center, Haitian Bridge Alliance, and Innovation Law Lab, filed a class action lawsuit early December on behalf of Haitian migrants against the government for alleged inhumane treatment and denial of due process during the migrants’ attempt to seek asylum by crossing the Rio Grande River in September. A full review can be found in The New York Times here.

Trillium Chang is a ‘21-’22 Justice Catalyst Fellow at Innovation Law Lab working to ensure asylum seekers in the Deep South have legal representation and leveraging data analysis to inform representation and advocacy efforts.

Laruen Michel Wilfong is a ‘21-’22 Justice Catalyst Fellow works with detained people to challenge the constitutionality of immigration detention and seek federal relief through strategic representation with Justice Action Center.

Tess Hellgren was a ‘19-’20 Justice Catalyst Fellow working to defend the rights of noncitizens in hostile immigration jurisdictions at Innovation Law Lab, and is now their Deputy Legal Director.