Patrick O’Meara Named a 2022 Rising Star by the National Immigrant Justice Center

Winston & Strawn Associate Patrick O’Meara was recognized as one of nine Rising Stars during the 23rd Annual National Immigrant Justice Center’s (NIJC) Human Rights Awards on June 15. The annual awards recognize attorneys who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to ensuring access to justice for immigrants by devoting substantial time to NIJC pro bono work, serving a significant number of NIJC clients, and/or representing clients with complex cases.

In 2021, Patrick was a key member of a Winston & Strawn pro bono team that reached a settlement agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that curtailed its use of illegal traffic stops and mass arrest practices nationwide.

“My work with NIJC on the Castañon Nava class action has been one of the most rewarding professional experiences of my career. One reason the settlement we obtained in that case is so important is that it gives our class members—those arrested by ICE without a warrant in violation of immigration law or the Fourth Amendment—remedies they would not otherwise have. It has been great to be a part of something that will have a real and immediate impact on people’s lives, as all of NIJC’s important work does,” Patrick said.

View the full list of Rising Stars here.