Erin Barbato
Director, Immigrant Justice Clinic
Biography
Erin M. Barbato is the Director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Law School. She teaches second and third year law students to represent individuals in removal proceedings and with humanitarian-based immigration relief. The work often involves representing people seeking refuge in the United States. Previously, Erin worked as an immigration attorney at a non-profit organization and in private practice as well.
Prior to attending law school, Erin volunteered as a teacher at El Centro del Muchacho Trabajador, a non-profit organization in Quito, Ecuador. While in Quito, she worked with families and recently resettled refugee families living at or below the poverty line.
The Wisconsin Law Journal recognized Erin in 2010 as an Up and Coming Lawyer for her dedication to representing immigrants and pro bono service. In 2013, she received the Lee and Lynn Copen Family Justice Award from Women and Children's Horizons for her work with immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Wisconsin Law Journal again recognized Erin's work with immigrants by awarding her as a Woman in the Law in 2014. She has also been a member of Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society since 2013. In 2021, the students at the University of Wisconsin Law School awarded her with the Clinical Teacher of the Year Award.
Currently, she is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, (AILA) the Wisconsin Bar Association, on the Board of Directors of the Community Immigration Law Center (CILC) and DREAMers of Wisconsin. She is also a faculty affiliate with Chican@ & Latin@ Studies at the College of Letters & Science.
Scholarship & Publications
SSRN
Law Repository
Activities
Erin Barbato presented "Understanding the Impact of Racism and White Supremacy on U.S. Immigration, Detention and Enforcement" during the YWCA 8th Annual Racial Justice Conference on Nov. 10, 2022.
Erin Barbato presented "Understanding the Impact of Racism and White Supremacy on the US Immigration System in order to Better Serve People that are Undocumented and DACAmented" as part of the Social Workers Confronting Racial Injustice Conference 2021.
Erin Barbato participated in an online forum, “Current Realities for DACA Recipients and Asylum Seekers,” in June 2020. The event was sponsored by Alverno College and ACLU Wisconsin and organized by the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County.
In January 2020, Erin Barbato gave a talk at Medical College of Wisconsin, as part of a Pediatric Grand Rounds program titled "Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Immigrant and Border Health."
Erin Barbato participated on the panel, “From Awareness to Action: Immigration’s Impact on Children from Madison to the Northern Triangle of Central America,” in November 2019. The free, public event was held at UW-Madison.
In March, Erin Barbato presented the keynote, “Our Current Immigration Policies: Reflections from Our Southern Border to Our Badger State,” at UW-Madison’s Academic Staff Institute.
News & Media
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2023Erin Barbato: Young Adults Who Age Out of Parents’ Visas 'Left in Limbo'
Milwaukee Journal SentinelTuesday, Jul 18, 20232 UW Law Projects Awarded Research Forward Grants
Thursday, May 18, 2023Erin Barbato On Understanding Immigration After Title 42
Wisconsin Public RadioTuesday, Jan 24, 2023Erin Barbato Comments on Employment of Chinese Nationals Without Work Visas in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Public RadioMonday, Sep 26, 2022Cameroonian Man Wins Asylum Case; Erin Barbato Comments
NewsyThursday, Sep 15, 2022Erin Barbato Comments on Increased Collaboration Between Local Law Enforcement and ICE
Wisconsin Public RadioFriday, Sep 9, 2022Center for DREAMers Offers Resources to Immigrants Living Without Documentation; Erin Barbato Comments
Wisconsin Public RadioMonday, Aug 15, 2022Erin Barbato Discusses Legal Paths for Afghan Evacuees
Milwaukee Journal SentinelWednesday, May 18, 2022Erin Barbato discusses Afghan evacuees and the shortage of immigration lawyers
Press TimesTuesday, May 10, 2022Afghan evacuees enrich Wisconsin's workforce: Erin Barbato comments
Wisconsin WatchMonday, Apr 11, 2022ICE may clear up to 40% of immigration case backlog: Erin Barbato discusses
Wisconsin Public RadioThursday, Mar 17, 2022Center for DREAMers outreach efforts support DACAmented students in Wisconsin
Tuesday, Jun 29, 2021UW Law School Clinical Professor Erin Barbato receives grant to launch Center for DREAMers
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2020Erin Barbato describes increasing legal challenges for immigrants and asylum seekers
Monday, Oct 7, 2019UW Law speaker series to feature Erin Barbato, Scott Colom and former Gov. Tommy Thompson
