My passion for immigration law began in childhood, shaped by my parents’ lifelong commitment to serving immigrant communities in Chicago. Growing up, I witnessed my mother accompany refugees from Asia and Africa in the city’s north side, and my father work alongside Latin American immigrants on the west side. Their example taught me to admire the resilience, strength, and dignity of the people they served—and it planted in me a deep desire to walk alongside those seeking a better life in the United States.
That early interest evolved into a sense of urgency in college, where I studied international relations and history. There, I began to understand the historical and structural forces—particularly colonialism and imperialism—that have driven global instability and displacement. The inspiring stories I had grown up hearing gained a new dimension: they were also stories of people fleeing profound violence and poverty, often caused or exacerbated by systems far beyond their control. Learning about this painful history—and our own country’s role in it—compelled me to find a way to respond through my work.
Before law school, I joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and spent a year at Southern Migrant Legal Services (SMLS) in Nashville, Tennessee. At SMLS, I supported migrant and seasonal farmworkers across six southern states with legal issues related to employment, trafficking, and immigration. I saw firsthand how our country both depends on and exploits immigrant labor—often trapping workers in cycles of violence and abuse. I also saw how legal relief could transform these workers’ lives. Through outreach, petitions, and lawsuits, we helped as many workers as we could challenge their abusive working conditions and reclaim their dignity.
In law school, I discovered another way I can support immigrants’ dignity: helping individuals obtain legal protection. During my first summer, I worked with clients applying for U-Visas, DACA, and cancellation of removal. Each case represented not just a legal petition but also a path forward—an opportunity to help clients begin breaking free from systems of violence and marginalization. With every client, I had the privilege of helping to write a new chapter— one where they had more tools to survive and to thrive.
I believe that one of the most important roles I can fulfill as an attorney today is in protecting what makes our country truly great: our immigrant communities. I am deeply grateful to Equal Justice America for supporting my work at Legal Aid Chicago and honored to serve these communities through this Fellowship.
