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Immigration attorney Aidin Castillo ’07, JD ’11, has been appointed director of the UC Immigrant Legal Services Center. Prior to that, he was the managing attorney for Centro Legal de la Raza’s Immigrant Human Rights Project of Oakland.
He was appointed to the role shortly after the departure of Maria Blanco, who was the general manager, in June 2022.
“The experience was very exciting and meaningful for me. I think there is a great responsibility in this work. The way I work with students and families, the way I approach work and my guidance in this process, all of which are important. I hope it shows in the lessons I have learned in my own development as an undocumented person. I did not think during school I would like to have a program like this at the UC level,” said Castillo.
The UC Immigrant Legal Services Center was created in 2014. It provides undocumented and immigrant students with legal-related matters such as financial aid and legal support. The program runs across nine UC campuses.
At UC Davis, he double majored in political science and history, before attending the UC Davis School of Law. In law school, he participated in the Immigration Law Clinic and co-chaired the La Raza (now Latinx) Law Student Association.
While in school, he said he faced challenges related to his illiteracy.
“I remember coming to college thinking that this was where I could make a difference. However, it was difficult at first to realize that I could use my language. I went to school in before DACA, I faced many of the challenges that undocumented students are facing today,” said Castillo.
Castillo began her career as a community organizer, a legal clerk for the Immigration Legal Resource Center and an immigration policy attorney for the Immigration Legal Resource Center.
Castillo said he believes it is up to the people affected to make amends.
“In my work and experience, I have learned that hope is a lesson that you have to do. I was told a lie that as a citizen and have the right to vote, I can change it. – but I found that the undocumented youth program showed me how to use my voice and my speech to participate in public affairs and showed me that I still have the power to bring about change, including stories about what it means to be an American.
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