Erica B. Schommer

Erica B. Schommer serves as Clinical Professor of Law and South Texas Professor at St. Mary's University School of Law, where she directs the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. With over 19 years of frontline experience, she specializes in detained removal defense, asylum law, and trauma-informed representation of vulnerable immigrants including survivors of violence and individuals with mental illness. Her work bridges academic scholarship with direct service to South Texas border communities.

Her educational foundation includes:

• J.D., University of Texas School of Law, with honors (2003)
• M.A. in Latin American Studies, University of Texas (2003)
• B.A., University of Wisconsin, with distinction (1996)

Schommer's research critically examines U.S. immigration enforcement through human rights frameworks, with particular focus on detention conditions, mental health competency, and border policy failures. Her scholarship consistently identifies legal violations in practices like Title 42 expulsions while proposing trauma-responsive alternatives. International engagement with institutions like UNAM reflects her transnational approach to migration challenges.

Recent publications (2018-2022) demonstrate her responsive scholarship addressing emergent crises—from Haitian returns to Uvalde's aftermath—with op-eds in major media outlets blending legal analysis and policy advocacy. Her work reveals systemic patterns: the criminalization of migration, erosion of asylum access, and disproportionate impacts on Black and Brown communities.

Recognition includes:

• Pro Bono Award from AILA Washington State Chapter (2012)

As clinic director, Schommer supervises law students providing direct representation to detained immigrants while developing trauma-informed practice skills. The clinic functions as both a legal services provider and policy incubator, with student work informing Schommer's advocacy before bodies like the ABA Commission on Immigration. Though specific grants aren't detailed, the clinic's sustained operation reflects institutional commitment to border-region legal needs.

The Immigration and Human Rights Clinic operates as a nexus for South Texas advocacy, connecting classroom learning with real-world impact through representation at detention facilities like Raymondville's Willacy Center. Schommer's leadership ensures students confront ethical dilemmas in hostile enforcement environments while developing culturally responsive strategies for vulnerable clients.