Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic Helps Buddhist Teacher Become Citizen

On July 8, 2011, Choying Rabjam “Khenpo” Dzogchen became a citizen of the United States with the help of Boyd’s own Thomas & Mack Immigration Clinic.

In the fall of 2003, the clinic took on Khenpo as its first client. The Buddhist teacher from Tibet had come to the United States seeking asylum. Eight long years later, the clinic’s first client has finally been naturalized.

“This is a really exciting milestone,” said Angela Morrison '05, the legal director of the Nevada Immigrant Resource Project at the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic, “In a way, it’s like the law school is growing up.”

Khenpo, who passed the required Civics and English tests after teaching himself to write English, was sworn in as a United States citizen by Federal Judge James Mahan who also serves as an adjunct Professor for Boyd.

Present at his oath ceremony along with Morrison was Elizabeth Naccarato, a 2007 Boyd graduate who worked on Khenpo’s green card application.

“We joke that almost every student in the clinic has worked on Khenpo’s case,” said Morrison, describing the way the clinic has truly come to know Khenpo and how moving this day has been for everyone. “It’s nice to work on such a righteous case and help someone like Khenpo who otherwise might not have access to the system.”

An impressive 93 people were naturalized at this ceremony; however Khenpo was a featured speaker and focused on why freedom of speech and freedom of religion are two of the things that he loves most about the United States.

Khenpo will now be able to pursue his passion and travel the world as a Buddhist teacher for longer intervals of time; however he will continue to make Las Vegas his home base.