I-ARC’s 5th Anniversary Benefit: “Fast Five” with Alina Das

I-ARC’s Champion of Immigrant Communities Award recipient, Alina Das.

In honor of our upcoming benefit commemorating our fifth year, we wanted to share a bit more about our awardees!

To celebrate those five years, we’ve done a “Fast Five” with our Champion of Immigrant Communities awardee, Alina Das, Co-Director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at the New York University School of Law.

How did you become so passionate about immigration law?

I am the daughter of South Asian immigrants who came to the United States in search of opportunity. I was born here, and my parents became citizens. Yet I grew up with a sense of otherness, assumed to not be "from here", which fueled my interest in racial justice and inclusion. Then, a few days after I began law school, came the horrific September 11, 2021 terrorist attacks. I saw how, in the aftermath of September 11th, fear and anger fueled a series of unjust policies against immigrants. I decided to join the NYU Immigrant Rights Clinic as a law student, and that set me on my path as an immigrant rights lawyer and professor today.

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

I’d like to say "compassionate" - I believe in the power of compassion to transform lives and I'm grateful for the compassion that has been shown to me and my clients.

How does immigration impact global policy, in your opinion?

Immigration is a result of global policy and it is a driver of global policy. We have a responsibility to our neighbors--here in the U.S. and across the world.

If there was any advice you could give others in this work to avoid burnout, what would it be?

Embrace community. When we begin to feel burnout, we tend to collapse inward. There are, of course, sources of inner strength, but my greatest source of strength has always come from the broader community. This includes the clients I've had the privilege of representing -- they model resilience and remind us of how powerful we are when we fight injustice collectively.  

How has collaborating with I-ARC impacted the work of your organization?

I-ARC has been a trusted partner who has cultivated a close, supportive community of legal service providers at a time when both our clients and our profession are under attack. I am so grateful that I-ARC has built the kind of systems and relationships necessary for us to face these new challenges collectively.

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As a reminder, we invite you to join us on May 8, 2025, as we recognize the exceptional legal advocates who have played a pivotal role in championing Immigrant Justice in New York State.

During the event, we’ll celebrate our community advocates and partners, enjoy amazing food, and hear from our CEO, Camille Mackler, as she steps down from her role and passes the torch. We also acknowledge our host committee members–Murad Awawdeh, Julissa Sarragoza, Alison King, and Sara Valenzuela–who have been instrumental in the success of the event.

Tickets are going fast, and this will be an event you won’t want to miss! Register here today!