Originally from Snellville, Georgia, Anthony Ruiz is a sophomore at Brandeis University, double-majoring in Anthropology and Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (LACLS), with a double minor in Hispanic Studies and Business. He is passionate about civil rights law, and his interests lie in the intersectionality of immigration policy and LGBTQ+ rights. Throughout the course of multiple legal internships, Anthony has cultivated a specialized knowledge of immigration law. At Brandeis, Anthony is Secretary for the Brandeis Student Association for the Right to Immigration Institute, as well as a Coordinator for the Waltham Group, a Community Advisor, and a Posse scholar. Anthony currently volunteers with the Right to Immigration Institute (TRII), a non-profit dedicated to empowering community members to represent people in immigration matters, in Waltham, MA. He serves as an Accredited Representative through the Department of Justice’s “Recognition & Accreditation (R&A)” Program, assisting with tasks such as translations, casework, and client meetings. Throughout his work with TRII, Anthony seeks to empower immigrant communities and his clients by providing access to knowledge and resources needed for self-sufficiency and independence in the American cosmopolitan. He believes knowledge catalyzes self-autonomy, an essential for protecting oneself against systemic oppression and structural violence. Anthony is excited to get more involved in advocacy work for immigration policy change and immigrants’ rights as a Segal Fellow this summer.