The law school has partnered with Catholic Charities Immigration Services (CCIS) to create the Bowen Immigration Rapid Response Team. Through this program, Bowen students may volunteer with CCIS to provide assistance to immigrants and their families in the aftermath of large-scale enforcement actions conducted at Arkansas workplaces by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). When CCIS receives notice of a large-scale ICE enforcement action, it mobilizes a response team to set up a processing center and establish intake procedures to determine the legal status of detained individuals and provide assistance to their family members. CCIS needs volunteers to assist its staff and its volunteer attorneys in these efforts. The Bowen Rapid Response Team provides that assistance.
Students who join the Rapid Response Team will receive training in basic immigration law and, when an enforcement action occurs, perform tasks such as screening client calls to identify missing family members, conducting intake interviews with clients and family members, and referring clients for appropriate social services. Students also will coordinate with CCIS staff and volunteer attorneys to provide ongoing immigration services to clients. Through these activities, students will have the opportunity to provide a valuable community service to an underserved population and practice their client counseling and interviewing skills. To join the Rapid Response Team, students must complete eight hours of mandatory training, commit to serve for one year as a member of the Team, and volunteer a minimum of 20 hours of service as needed during the one-year commitment.
