RICAP co-hosted a naturalization ceremony at Rutgers Law in Camden in April 2023 where more than two dozen people from 18 countries became U.S. citizens.
ABOUT
Founded in 2017, the Rutgers Immigrant Community Assistance Project (RICAP) at Rutgers Law School strives to foster a safe environment on campus and to remove barriers to student success by providing free immigration legal services to all enrolled Rutgers students.
SERVICES
All students currently enrolled at Rutgers are eligible for a free and confidential legal consultation. In some instances, direct representation may be available through RICAP or by referral to a reputable attorney. RICAP also provides informational immigration and know-your-rights presentations on every Rutgers campus and the New Jersey community.
NEED HELP?
If you are a Rutgers student who has immigration concerns, please reach out! To schedule an appointment or to learn more about RICAP's services, email RICAP-Info@law.rutgers.edu or call 856-225-6568.
SPECIAL NOTICE FOR IMMIGRANT YOUTH UNDER AGE 21
If you are an unmarried, undocumented immigrant student who is under 21 years old, please contact RICAP as soon as possible or at least 6 months before your twenty-first birthday. Certain youth may be eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). In order to receive SIJS benefits, youth in New Jersey must complete the first step of the SIJS process before their twenty-first birthday. To make an appointment to learn more about SIJS, please contact our office at RICAP-info@law.rutgers.edu or (856) 225-6568.
Jason Hernandez, Managing Attorney and Adjunct Professor of Law (Pronouns: he, him, his)
STAFF
Jason Hernandez
RICAP is led by Managing Attorney Jason Hernandez, an advocate for immigrant rights for over 10 years. Jason began his career at HIAS Pennsylvania where he directed the Pennsylvania Asylee Outreach Project which provided legal and social services to asylees, refugees, and other vulnerable immigrant populations. Since 2017, Jason has represented hundreds of Rutgers students in a wide array of legal matters including Asylum, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), Change of Status, Consular processing, family-based adjustments, Removal Defense, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Mary Hewey, Paralegal (Pronouns: she, her, hers)
Mary Hewey
As the RICAP Paralegal, Mary Hewey conducts intakes with new clients and assists RICAP’s Managing Attorney with case preparation. Prior to joining RICAP, she worked for over four years at the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program at Harvard Law School.
CONTACT
Email: RICAP-info@law.rutgers.edu
Phone: (856) 225-6568
Fax: (856) 225-6666
Social Media: Instagram & X (formerly Twitter): @RU_RICAP
Rutgers Law School provides legal assistance and information on various issues facing New Jersey residents. More information can be found here.
Student with non-legal immigration questions or concerns are encouraged to reach out to representatives at their local campus. Click the campus tabs on the left below.
- CAMDEN
- NEW BRUNSWICK
- NEWARK
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS / CONOCER TUS DERECHOS
Rutgers Law School takes a leadership role in educating the public about legal rights, including rights in relation to law enforcement and immigration officials.
- Frequently Asked Questions about Power of Attorney Document (English & Español)
- Power of Attorney Document (English & Español)
- American Civil Liberties Union-NJ Know Your Rights Resources
- Immigration Legal Resource Center Know Your Rights Resources
- ICE at your home (English) /ICE en tu casa (Español)
- If questioned about your immigration status (English) / Que hacer si le preguntan acerca de su estatus migratorio (Español)
- If stopped by the police, immigration agents, or FBI (English) / Que debe hacer si la policia, agentes de immigracion o el FBI lo detienen (Español)
See more information about your rights on the ACLU website.