The Immigration Pardon Project (IPP) is a joint effort among the private bar and public interest law communities, led by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, to assist immigrants in securing pardons for prior criminal convictions that may bar them from citizenship or other immigration relief. Qualifying residents are selected by community-based organizations (CBOs), screened for eligibility by a criminal-immigration law expert, and then paired with a participating law firm pro bono volunteer. The law firm prepares the client's case to present before Governor Paterson's Special Immigration Board of Pardons (SIBP), which has the authority to vacate old or minor convictions, making it possible for the client to achieve naturalization and/or avoid deportation.

The IPP is supported by staff at Cleary Gottlieb and Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, with a large network of pro bono attorneys and nonprofit organizations working together to locate qualifying candidates and prepare their pardon packets. Online materials and listserv for the IPP are hosted by Reentry Net. Please apply to become a member of Reentry Net in order to receive IPP emails through our listserv, as well as to explore the training materials and presidential pardon models available in our library *.

If you have reviewed our online training materials and would like to take on an IPP case, please contact Meredith Mann, who will pair you with an available client. It is our hope that we can use this unique opportunity to gain previously unavailable relief for deserving individuals.

Advisory Committee Members

Mizue Aizeki - Community Organizer at Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights
Michelle Fei - Co-Director at the Immigrant Defense Project
Angela Fernandez - Executive Director at Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights
Carrie Grimm - Pro Bono Administrator at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Margy Love - Presidential Pardon Expert
Tony Lu - Pro Bono and Special Initiatives Coordinator at Pro Bono Net
Meredith Mann - Knowledge Management Paralegal at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Liz OuYang - President of the Organization for Chinese Americans

Terms and Conditions of Use / Disclaimer / Copyright

General user agreement for Pro Bono Net, of which Reentry.net/NY and the New York Immigration Pardon Project are practice areas.

* You must be a member of Reentry.net/NY to access the library. Please join the site in order to gain access.