Welcome the MHR Class of 2022: Eric Ryu
Welcome Eric Ryu to the Master of Human Rights class of 2022! A Texas native, immigration lawyer and graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, Eric is excited to deepen his knowledge of human rights policy and advocacy work. To learn more about Eric’s past work, current interests, and future plans, check out the article down below!
Originally from Texas, Eric attended the University of Texas in Austin where he majored in Sociology and Government. Upon completing his undergrad, Eric ventured to Minneapolis to attend law school at the U. After graduating and practicing law in two states, Eric made the decision to pursue his interest in policy and advocacy work by moving back to Minnesota to join our Master of Human Rights cohort class of 2022.
Eric, having received a fellowship to do work with the Advocates for Human Rights in Minnesota post-law school, spent a year representing and working with individuals that had been detained and were in removal proceedings within ICE. Eric describes this work as being both challenging and rewarding due to the difficulty of winning asylum cases and the rapid pace at which immigration cases tend to move for detained individuals. In addition to representing and working with these clients, Eric supported and served as a contact for pro bono lawyers that collaborated with the Advocates, gave talks on immigration law, undertook outreach initiatives for the program, and worked with other immigration attorneys in the Twin Cities on several other pro bono projects.
Upon finishing his fellowship, Eric moved to San Francisco, California, and practiced immigration law at a private firm. The clients with whom he worked with here were not detained; Eric found that the cases were more numerous and diverse. Despite the fact that Eric found himself oftentimes taking on a heavy caseload, he was still able to serve and connect with his clients in meaningful ways. Focusing on asylum cases, Eric represented clients before the immigrations courts across California and prepared clients for their asylum interviews with USCIS. Eric also worked with families looking to obtain green card status and in their preparation for interviews with USCIS. While his time in California was full of rewarding experiences, Eric decided to listen to the desire he had to study human rights in an academic setting. Drawn to the MHR program’s central focus on human rights and the hands-on experiences it offers, Eric decided to make the trip up north and call Minnesota home once again.
Within the MHR program, Eric is interested in concentrating on immigration policy and advocacy. Being the son of South Korean immigrants and having worked and formed relationships with clients as an immigration lawyer, Eric is looking forward to learning more about migration and human rights issues, specifically as they relate to North and South Korea.
Despite having begun his MHR career remotely, Eric feels like he knows his fellow cohort members well. Through group chats and socially distance meet-ups, he is getting to know the other students that make up the 2022 cohort. Looking forward to his time in the program, Eric is grateful to be learning alongside and in collaboration with such a diverse, welcoming, and accomplished group of people.
