Immigrant Justice Corps acquire FIU Law Alumna for prestigious fellowship

At eight years old, Chiani Murray knew the importance of community. Many of her childhood Saturdays were spent volunteering with her family, feeding the homeless and less fortunate at a church in her hometown, the Bronx, New York City. Their philanthropic efforts of pouring into their community laid the foundation for the FIU Law alumna to secure a fellowship with the Immigrant Justice Corps. The Immigrant Justice Corps offers recent law school graduates who are passionate about immigration an opportunity to match with prominent legal services and community-based organizations. The fellowship supports a chosen few with training and expert insight, prepping them to properly assist, communicate and work with immigrants.

Chiani chose to study law at FIU after attaining a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Humanities and Culture from Eastern Kentucky University in 2016. Miami’s weather and smorgasbord of culture attracted Chiani to the city but it was FIU’s College of Law immigration specialization and pro-bono clinic that rooted her decision. Chiani’s Cuban background influenced her goals of helping immigrants communally. As a volunteer at an attorney’s office in Kentucky, she discovered a passion for the fight against human trafficking after being asked to translate for an eleven-year-old that was suspected of abuse. “Special victims cases are something I cannot walk away from,” says Murray. Chiani continued to work for the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office human trafficking team in 2021.

“Law school is what you make it,” Chiani says, “if you’re up for the challenge, put in the work to find what you’re looking for and what it means to you.” Before graduating from FIU’s College of Law in 2021, Chiani served as the president of the Caribbean Student Bar Association and the Black Law Students Association. As a law clerk for the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, or USCRI, her commitment to helping the immigrant community prevails daily.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chiani sadly lost both of her parental figures to cancer and had to complete her law degree online. When asked how she conquered adversity upon the difficulty of law school, she confirmed her faith in God. “Mental health is very important, especially in law,” Chiani insisted, “You have to pour into yourself and God before you pour into anyone and anything else.” Chiani Murray graduated from Florida International University College of Law in 2021 and is currently working towards a Master’s degree in Social Work from Walden University as she awaits the kickoff of the Immigrant Justice Corps fellowship later this year.

Written By Terra Etkins