The news flashes reports across the screen of ICE agents infiltrating communities stoking fears among their targeted sector, our Hispanic community, in a steady stream nationwide, including right here, in “River City.”

In fact, information has now been given to school bus drivers on what to do in the event ICE tries to board the bus, apprehending students, thought to be in violation of the current administration’s immigration laws.

“President Trump announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is empowered to enter ‘sensitive locations,’ such as schools and churches, while searching for illegal immigrants. This has created an extremely complicated new problem for school administrators and transportation directors,” according to news reports.

“Per the ACLU, only judicial warrants, originating in a court and with a judge's signature, allow ICE agents to forcibly enter private property – including schools or school buses. At present, it appears you can legally refuse entry if ICE only has an administrative warrant. However, a judicial warrant specifying a particular student by name must be respected,” it further stated.

But does everyone know the current law, and that it can be revised and/or reversed under any administration …

That’s where CIRA (Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement) can step in. As a community advocate, the local nonprofit law firm wants people to know their rights, according to Anne Wurth, its associate legal director.

She is among a number of attorneys being profiled in The Daily Record, as a tribute to the legal profession and the rule of law.

“In 2022, CIRA (formerly Immigrant Legal Center) solidified its impact by merging with the Refugee Empowerment Center (REC), creating a powerful force for empowering immigrants and refugees in our community,” the agency said.

Their mission: “To empower immigrants and refugees to live confidently through high-quality legal representation, resettlement, and social work and to create welcoming communities through education and advocacy,” they state.

As a senior attorney at the ILC, Wurth provided direct representation to clients who qualified for a form of immigration relief, including immigrant children who were in the juvenile justice system. 

During that time, she also managed ILC’s Pro Bono Program, coordinating attorneys from the private bar who wanted to volunteer their time with their nonprofit law firm.

Wurth graduated from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and English and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law in May 2019.

While in law school, Wurth clerked with the nonprofit law firm, Nebraska Appleseed, and worked as a student attorney in the Children’s Justice Clinic, working on a variety of issues of law primarily affecting immigrants and children within the Nebraska community, according to information obtained from her bio.

Given the political climate, here are some of her thoughts and insights into her legal profession:

• Why Did You Choose To Be A Lawyer:

A classic story that you hear in law schools across America is that we went into the field because we were told we were good at arguing. This is true for me as well. I got the compliment (or criticism, depending on who you ask) throughout my life, but it started to galvanize into a potential career around the time I entered high school. When, in the ensuing years, I was considering a future plan, it seemed the least restrictive path. Eventually, I saw how the degree would facilitate all of the goals I had at the time – to advocate for those who couldn’t do so for themselves and to be a voice for those who might not know what to say.

• What Type Of Law Did You Specialize In:

After law school, I looked for public interest work in Omaha. It happened that the Immigrant Legal Center had two openings on its legal team. I did not intend to go into immigration law because law school does a good job of scaring you away from it, but it ended up being a fateful decision to work at CIRA.

• If Nonprofit Or Pro Bono, Why Did You Pick That Field:

I was looking for public interest because I felt privileged by the opportunity to go to law school and the scholarship I received to do so. I could see throughout law school how hard it would be for a layperson to understand and access the system, so when I graduated, I was looking for a job that would allow me to help people gain that access. While I looked for public interest work, I came upon Immigrant Legal Center and learned about the important work to provide legal representation in the immigration system, which necessitates representation but does not guarantee it, and I was struck by the stark difference from our criminal justice system.

• The Importance Of Lawyers To Society:

The most important role a lawyer plays in our society is that of an advocate. Lawyers do important work to not only advocate for our clients, but the lawyers at CIRA and similar organizations around the country also advocate for the betterment of our community and the dignity of all our community members. Whether it is advocacy through education or policy work, we seek to share stories of our community members who are directly impacted by our legal system and to change the systems that do not benefit our society as a whole.

• What Are The Rewards Of The Job:

I feel rewarded when I see clients’ lives and livelihoods directly impacted by the work that we do. Whether it is when a client receives their first work permit and is able to join the workforce or when a client becomes a U.S. citizen and can vote for the first time, the work that we do impacts all aspects of our clients’ lives and allows them to work towards the elusive American Dream.

• What Are The Biggest Challenges:

The immigration system is in extreme chaos right now. It is incredibly difficult to have expertise in our immigration system and still not be able to provide stability or permanency for a client. While we work to advocate within this system, it is very hard to explain the slow-moving process of changing the broken legal system to a client who needs immediate help and answers.

• What Is Your Proudest Moment And/Or Accomplishment:

Becoming an Associate Legal Director this year.

• Honors, Awards, Or Publications:

CALI Award in Gender, Race, and Class Issues (2019).

• Best Advice To New Lawyers:

Have a specific “why” in mind when looking for a job. Why are you doing the job you are doing, and how will that “why” improve your life or the lives of others. It will make the hard days seem worth it and make the easy days feel like you are achieving your goals.

• After A Hard Day In Court/With A Client, How Do You Unwind:

Reading a good book or eating a comfort meal.

• If You Could Change One Thing About Your Profession:

I’d give every undocumented immigrant an attorney, free of charge.

• What People Don’t Know About You:

I wanted to work in child welfare before I got into immigration, but I ended up serving primarily immigrant children in my role before becoming associate legal director.

• Should A President Be Above The Law In Terms Of Immunity:

Never. Our system is predicated on accountability. This system was created in the wake of a war against a leader who demanded he was above the law, and to advocate for a system that puts our leader, the President, above the law is a slap in the face to our very foundation. Checks and balances have never been too much to ask of the office, and that should not change depending on who is in it.

• What More Is Needed To Make Sure We Have A Fair And Just Government:

Accountability to the people that the government serves. Our government is becoming increasingly distinct from the people who live and work in the United States. Our government needs to be directly responsive to those people, not just the people who have money to influence politicians and other governmental positions.

• What Is Needed To Solve The Immigration/Refugee Problem:

In the long term, our immigration system needs a complete overhaul. In the short term, our government should focus on increasing visa caps and creating opportunities for work permits rather than villainizing and terrorizing the people who are waiting for their visas and who want to work.

The immigration system needs to focus on the dignity of humans and the reality of the country we live in. Statistically, the immigrants waiting for solutions are not criminals and are not dangerous to our community – they are hard workers who want to fill jobs that Nebraskans are not taking. We have a workforce shortage and workers wanting to do those jobs, but the system prefers to vilify them and scares them into leaving the United States. This will leave our farmers, ranchers, cattlemen, factory owners and operators, food processors, and others in increasingly worse positions and will ultimately impact the fabric of our communities – from our children in schools, to our neighborhoods and community businesses, to our grocery stores, restaurants, and dinner tables.

• What Do You Want The Immigration/Refugee Community To Know:

CIRA and immigration advocates see the chaotic and scary system we are living in. We want to help you, and we want you to be here. We see that you are vital to our community – not just because of the work that you do, but because you are what makes America great.

• Why Do People Stake Everything To Live In The United States:

Immigrants and refugees upend their entire lives and take a grave chance on the life that U.S.-born individuals are lucky enough to have given to them. They want safety for their children and for themselves. They want to work and make a living. They want to prosper instead of just survive. They want access to the American dream, if not for themselves, then for their children. They know what it means to be an American, and they will spend their whole lives to be in the position that so many are born into and take for granted. They want the promise that the Statue of Liberty has etched into her tablet – they want to “breathe free.”

• Who Or What Inspires You:

The immigrants and refugees that I serve every day inspire me. I am inspired by the perseverance and their ability to meld the culture of their homeland into the fabric of what it means to be an American, and I am inspired by the bravery doing so takes, particularly right now.

• What’s Your Secret Sauce, So To Speak:

CIRA has always put the client at the forefront of our mission. This taught me the secret sauce – to listen to the client, and let their story guide you.

• How Did You Celebrate Law Day:

I worked!

• Anything Else You’d Like To Add:

Donate to CIRA to help immigrants and refugees in our community. (For more information, visit https://ciraconnect.org/)