Experience

ACLU of Minnesota

• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Policy Director

  • Jul 2019 - Present

  Promote and defend civil liberties through policy advocacy at the Minnesota Legislature and city councils.

• Policy Counsel

  • Feb 2019 - Jul 2019



Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota

• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Staff Attorney

  • May 2017 - Jan 2019

  Represented detained and low-income immigrants and refugees in removal proceedings before EOIR. Case types included bond, cancellation of removal (LPR and non-LPR), asylum/withholding/Convention Against Torture, and collateral USCIS applications for clients in proceedings. Trained and mentored pro bono attorneys handling removal cases. Conducted legal orientation presentations and brief screenings for ICE inmates at county jails. Represented detained and low-income immigrants and refugees in removal proceedings before EOIR. Case types included bond, cancellation of removal (LPR and non-LPR), asylum/withholding/Convention Against Torture, and collateral USCIS applications for clients in proceedings. Trained and mentored pro bono attorneys handling removal cases. Conducted legal orientation presentations and brief screenings for ICE inmates at county jails.



University of Minnesota

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Teaching Fellow

  • Jun 2015 - Apr 2017

  • Supervised law students in the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic representing clients before the Executive Office for Immigration Review and federal courts • Supervised law students in the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic representing clients seeking asylum before US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Executive Office for Immigration Review • Co-taught seminar component of the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, including both substantive and skills sessions • Co-counseled with non-profit and law firm partners on cases before the Board of Immigration Appeals and federal circuit courts, including drafting merits and amicus briefs, conducting research, and prepping for oral arguments • Coordinated and supervised law students on a service trip to provide legal services to detained mothers and children at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, TX • Argued a crim-imm case before the Eighth Circuit • Provided and supervised screenings of unaccompanied Central American minors and family groups at immigration court for potential relief and placement with an attorney Show less



Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota

• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Robina Public Interest Fellow

  • Sep 2014 - May 2015

  • Prepared and filed family reunification cases, U-visa applications, and U visa adjustments • Prepared and filed DACA renewal applications; responded to RFEs • Conducted general intakes with potential clients to evaluate their eligibility for services and relief • Answered Detention Project hotline and provide basic information to ICE detainees • Conducted research for Supreme Court crim-imm case Mellouli v. Lynch in conjunction with U of M Law School's Center for New Americans • Represented ICE detainees in initial master calendar hearings through the Minnesota Detention Project • Conducted research and helped draft merits brief for Eight Circuit crim-imm case Show less



University of Minnesota Law School

• United States
• Higher Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Student Director - Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic

  • Aug 2013 - May 2014

  • Co-wrote amicus brief for LGBT asylum case in 11th Circuit• Co-wrote merits brief and supplemental brief for gang-based asylum case in 2nd Circuit• Conducted legislative history research for cert petition on an issue involving intersection of criminal and immigration law• Represented client in individual removal hearing in immigration court.

• Research Assistant to Professor Steve Meili

  • May 2013 - May 2014

  • Analyzed and categorized UK asylum cases based on how human rights treaties were used • Conducted comparative research on US and UK detention of asylum seekers



University of Minnesota Immigration & Human Rights Clinic

• Minneapolis, MN

• Student Attorney

  • Aug 2012 - Aug 2013

  • Prepared I-589 asylum application, affidavits, supporting evidence and legal brief for client seeking affirmative asylum • Prepared client and accompanied client to asylum interview • Represented ICE detainees in master calendar hearings through MN Detention Project • Prepared I-589 asylum application, affidavits, supporting evidence and legal brief for client seeking affirmative asylum • Prepared client and accompanied client to asylum interview • Represented ICE detainees in master calendar hearings through MN Detention Project



Children's Home Society of Minnesota

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CHSFS Intern

  • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

  • Reviewed and updated agency procedures for compliance with Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption • Assisted in editing and assembling 400-page agency self-study for submission to Council on Accreditation • Reviewed and updated agency procedures for compliance with Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption • Assisted in editing and assembling 400-page agency self-study for submission to Council on Accreditation



Minnesota Adoption Resource Network

• Minneapolis, MN

• Adoptees Have Answers Program Coordinator

  • Feb 2010 - Jul 2011

  • Coordinated live events for adult adoptees in Minnesota • Hosted webinar presentations with ReadyTalk • Created and sent out monthly eNewsletters with Constant Contact • Built and maintained a database of individual and organization contacts • Updated and maintained program website • Scheduled and recorded Advisory Group meetings • Coordinated live events for adult adoptees in Minnesota • Hosted webinar presentations with ReadyTalk • Created and sent out monthly eNewsletters with Constant Contact • Built and maintained a database of individual and organization contacts • Updated and maintained program website • Scheduled and recorded Advisory Group meetings