Christian Veliz ’28 has dedicated his career to young students and their success. While pursuing a legal education as an evening student at Fordham Law, Veliz spends his days working as dean of students at KIPP Infinity Middle School. This summer, he had the opportunity to work with immigrant students and their families to help them navigate the complexities of immigration proceedings. “What I’ve valued most about this experience is the opportunity to make a direct impact in a young person’s life, particularly in a moment of growing uncertainty in immigration policy,” said Veliz of his summer experience.
Tell us about your internship this summer.
Throughout June and July, I was a legal intern at the Safe Passage Project. This was an externship through the Stein Scholars program, which included an accompanying seminar. In this role, I managed several of my supervising attorney’s cases at various stages of the asylum and special immigrant juvenile status process. My experience included communicating with clients daily, conducting intake screenings, preparing affidavits, guardianship petitions and continuance motions, and representing clients at master calendar hearings.
What about this opportunity stood out to you?
I believe it is an important time to be engaged in immigration work. It’s clear that our immigration system is long overdue for meaningful reform. I have to believe that we’re capable of building something better—something more reflective of our highest values, rather than our deepest fears.
What were you most excited about for this opportunity?
I was most excited about the opportunity to represent clients in immigration court after engaging in all of the preparation that comes with direct, client-facing work.
What has been your favorite part of the experience so far?
What I’ve valued most about this experience is the opportunity to make a direct impact in a young person’s life. I had the opportunity to go on the record at immigration court, and it was one of my most meaningful moments of the externship.
What are your areas of interest in the law?
I’m still exploring a range of legal practice areas during my time at Fordham, but I’m especially drawn to litigation that addresses systemic inequities. I’m interested in how the law can be used as a tool to hold institutions accountable and expand access for underrepresented communities—particularly in areas like education, civil rights, immigration, and economic justice. Ultimately, I hope to practice at an organization where I can work on complex, high-impact matters at the intersection of law, policy, and structural reform.
Where did you grow up and where did you attend school before Fordham?
I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and I attended Georgetown University where I majored in Sociology with a minor in Education, Inquiry, and Justice. I also attended graduate school at Brooklyn College, where I studied special education before beginning the evening J.D. program at Fordham Law.
How do you think this summer experience will help you when you return to Fordham Law?
One of the main reasons I chose Fordham Law was its emphasis on practical, skills-based experiential learning. This externship opportunity has truly fast-tracked my understanding of what it means to be a legal practitioner. It has been especially enriching to engage in this work on the heels of completing Civil Procedure with Professor Aaron Saiger just last semester.
This summer, hundreds of rising 2Ls and 3Ls from Fordham Law are gaining hands-on experience across the country and around the globe. Whether working as summer associates, judicial interns, or fellows, they’re building professional networks, sharpening their legal skills, and exploring their areas of interest through meaningful, real-world engagement. Follow @fordhamlawnyc to read more stories about Fordham Law students’ summer experiences in our #futurefordhamlawyers series.