STUDENT PROFILE Romina Nemaei
Immigrant advocate
Seventeen years navigating U.S. citizenship process inspired Nemaei to pursue law
As a child, Romina Nemaei moved with their family from Iran to the United States. Nemaei, who uses they/them pronouns, obtained citizenship in 2013. Seventeen years spent navigating the convoluted U.S. citizenship process inspired Nemaei to pursue law.
“I honestly think one of the best ways you can advocate for people, and help true governance, is by practicing law,” Nemaei says. “Because the law inherently is built to keep people out. It’s built to be confusing. It’s built to be difficult to understand.” Loyola University Chicago’s social justice-driven approach appealed to Nemaei. They share the twists and turns of the immigration process and how that experience inspired them to enroll in the School of Law to study immigration law and litigation.