What type of work do you do at CLINIC?

I prepare petitions for religious workers to come to visit the United States and serve their religious communities.

Where did you work and what were you doing before joining CLINIC?

I actually used to contract with CLINIC’s former Defending Vulnerable Populations, or DVP, team! I worked with DVP from October 2021 until February 2022. During that time, I mostly helped prepare petitions for folks that belong to underserved communities and translated for clients. I briefly worked with the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, or NIPNLG, as a legal assistant. During my time there, I helped prepare petitions for individuals and families that also belong to underserved populations, along with providing backend support for continuing legal education courses for practitioners and members of impacted communities. Before working with CLINIC and NIPNLG, I worked with a law firm that focused on domestic violence law.

How did you become interested in immigration?

During my time in college, I, like the rest of the world, watched how the migration crisis was exacerbated by the pandemic and Donald Trump’s presidency. I grew up in a community that has a high population of immigrants from around the world, more specifically from Latin American countries, so I felt a personal connection to what was happening around me. I began volunteering to help arriving families and individuals find shelters, food, and potential pathways to residency and citizenship. On the cusp of graduation, I found a position at an immigration law firm and began working in the field full-time. I have loved working in this field ever since, and I certainly cannot envision doing any other kind of work.

What do you like most about working in religious immigration law?

I enjoy the constant learning that is involved in religious immigration. Whether it is learning about a new client, a new religious order, or new sections of the religious immigration processes, I feel that I am constantly engaged in this fast-paced environment.

What do you wish other people had told you before you took the role?

I wish that I had known how huge the Catholic Church is! At first, I felt very overwhelmed by the sheer number of different dioceses and archdioceses in the United States. As time goes on, I feel more comfortable with learning and understanding how these integral communities work together to spread their messages and promote their faith.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring law clerk working in the immigration field, what would it be?

I would recommend reading up on immigration law basics, watching YouTube videos on the subject, or even listening to a podcast regarding the matter. Immigration law may seem incredibly difficult to digest, and in some cases, it is very complex, but the more you ask questions and learn, the more you’ll be able to utilize it in the field.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?

I think that the most fulfilling aspect of working in religious immigration is knowing that I am helping facilitate the arrival of individuals that are essential to their communities. Religious workers, in particular, serve a specific need that I feel is often overlooked, and it makes me feel proud that I work with a team that focuses on these communities as well.