SALT LAKE CITY — Brigham Young University is now offering an online course for people who want to learn the ins and outs of immigration law.

The class focuses on the practical parts of representing immigrants and refugees with a certified nonprofit group. Students can also use the course in preparation to get accredited through the Department of Justice to represent refugees and immigrants.

For Carolyn Andrews, the associate dean of BYU’s Continuing Education, the course hits close to home.

“This project is deeply personal to me,” Andrews explained. “Thirty-four years ago, I was a confident newlywed BYU student beginning the immigration process by myself. I didn’t have money for an immigration attorney. I thought, ‘How hard could it be?’”

Not long after starting her immigration process, Andrews, who came from Canada, said she learned how complicated and long the process to become a United States citizen could be.

“That experience gave me lasting empathy for others walking the same path today,” Andrews said. “For me, this work represents commitment in action — what we mean at BYU by Covenant Belonging: extending Christlike love and support to our neighbors.”

Andrews said the course is also part of collaboration efforts between BYU Office of Belonging, BYU Law Legal Clinic and No More A Stranger Foundation. 

Andrews said the idea to create the online course began in 2022 during a university conference breakfast. Years later, the idea finally became a reality after conversations between Andrews, Belonging Vice President Carl Hernandez, BYU Continuing Education legal counsel Erin Cranor, and former BYU dean of Continuing Education Lee Glines.

Community members can now sign up for the class, which costs just under $1,000, and The Daily Universe reports students will be expected to go through eight modules within six months to finish the course.

So far, the university said around 900 people have expressed interest in the class but the school thinks that number will go down when people learn a bit more.

Those interested can enroll for the course on BYU’s continuing education website.

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