JLI staff members Annali Cler, Kevin Thomson, and Marisa Tillman recently interviewed John Bruning, who serves as a staff attorney for The Advocates For Human Rights. The Advocates for Human Rights, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Minnesota, works to change systems and conditions that cause human rights abuses.

John is an attorney in their Refugee and Immigrant Program and received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2017. In addition to being a UMN Law alumni, John is also a JLI alumni.

In this conversation, the group discussed how COVID-19 has impacted the ability of migrants to seek asylum, the challenges associated with obtaining legal representation in this moment, and how advocates are working to ensure that migrants receive adequate protection and access to justice.