When DACA recipients and other Dreamers face uncertainty in their immigration status, the stakes extend far beyond paperwork. Their ability to remain in the United States—teaching in classrooms, working in hospitals, building careers, and supporting families—often depends on access to employment-based immigration pathways that are complex, costly, and out of reach without legal representation.
Through Path2Papers, an initiative based at Cornell Law School, a growing network of pro bono law firms is helping to open those pathways. By pairing Dreamers with employers and firms willing to take on technically demanding, multi-year cases, Path2Papers works to secure long-term immigration solutions for people who might otherwise have no viable way forward.
“Our theory is simple,” said Miguel Bocanegra, an immigration attorney who leads employer and law firm outreach for Path2Papers. “The best protection against deportation is status. And for many Dreamers, employment-based visas may be the only foreseeable route to permanent residence. With DACA being in perpetual limbo we are hoping to prevent crises before they happen.”
Each Path2Papers case begins with a comprehensive legal consultation. Dreamers receive a written assessment outlining potential nonimmigrant or immigrant visa options. If a viable path exists—and the client is willing—Path2Papers brings the employer into the conversation.
Bocanegra then prepares a referral memo that synthesizes the legal theory, supporting facts, and key documentation. “Quality over quantity is one of our hallmarks,” Bocanegra said. “Partner firms receive organized documents, clear case strategies, and ongoing support. We remain a collaborative partner throughout the entire process.”
That front-end preparation is critical for firms considering whether to accept complex pro bono matters. Diane Butler, an employment-based immigration attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine, said Path2Papers’ intake and case development remove common barriers to participation.
“They know the right questions to ask,” Butler said. “They gather information from both the employer and the employee, do the initial strategizing, and give us a real leg up. It makes it easier to jump in and proceed with a strategy—or strategies.”
Path2Papers also tracks timelines and identifies trends across cases, such as waiver adjudication patterns and evolving U.S. Citizenship and Immmigration Services practices, allowing participating firms to benefit from shared insight.
For many attorneys, partnering with Path2Papers reflects both professional values and practical considerations.
Lucy Oh ’25, an associate immigration attorney at Harter Secrest and Emery and former student in the 1L Immigration Law and Advocacy Clinic at Cornell Law School, said the work allows her to use her technical expertise to support clients who have long contributed to the United States but lack stability. “Working on these cases through Path2Papers is a way to lend my expertise to people who have been contributing to the U.S. for decades but still don’t have security,” she said.
Firms also see meaningful professional benefits. Pro bono partnerships offer visibility among employers, educators, and community organizations that are actively seeking long-term solutions for valued employees. For firms, that visibility reinforces their expertise in complex employment-based immigration and signals a genuine commitment to social impact—both to potential clients and to future recruits.
Angeline Chen, a Los Angeles–based immigration attorney with Clark Hill who is supporting Path2Papers’ regional partnerships, said that visibility is not just reputational—it’s relational. “When firms partner with Path2Papers, they’re visible to school districts, community organizations, and employers who are actively looking for long-term solutions,” she said. “That visibility builds trust. It shows institutions that a firm understands both the technical complexity of employment-based immigration and the real-world impact these cases have on classrooms, workplaces, and families.”
Butler emphasized Path2Papers’ role as a collaborative knowledge hub for technically complex cases. “One of the reasons I wanted my firm to be part of this partnership was to draw on that amazing brain trust—not just Miguel, but Dan Berger and everybody else,” she said.
That collaboration is particularly important when strategies involve significant risk, such as consular processing abroad. “It’s always anxiety-promoting to send somebody outside the United States,” Butler said. “You need careful risk assessment and client buy-in to minimize the chance they won’t be able to return.”
One of Path2Papers’ fastest-growing areas involves K–12 school districts, particularly in Los Angeles, where thousands of longtime educators are DACA recipients or otherwise lack permanent status.
“Many schools already sponsor international teachers on H-1Bs,” said Chen. “But they often don’t realize they may have other current employees who are also eligible for sponsorship.”
Path2Papers works with administrators, HR teams, unions, and community organizations to help schools retain the educators and other staff they rely on. “In L.A., immigration status affects families, classrooms, and entire neighborhoods,” Chen said. “This work gives Dreamers a chance at long-term security.”
Employment-based immigration pro bono cases can span years and require sustained effort. But for firms willing to take them on, the impact is profound.
“This is preventative medicine for immigrant justice,” Bocanegra said. “A green card means stability—a teacher who stays in the classroom, a parent who no longer fears losing everything.”
Path2Papers continues to build the infrastructure that makes this work possible. What it needs now are more partners—firms ready to use their expertise to advance stability, dignity, and opportunity.
For more information visit path2papers.org, or contact Miguel Bocanegra at miguel@path2papers.org.