Working to make access to
justice affordable for New
Mexico’s immigrants and to
promote knowledge of legal
rights and the immigration
process.
Dear Friends,
We dedicate this newsletter to our volunteers, without
whom there would be many more immigrants in New
Mexico who would face the threat of deportation without
legal representation. From committed college students
like Barbara Gomez who provide vital support to our
attorneys, to talented pro bono attorneys such as Julia
Catron who represent unaccompanied minors in family
court, we are able to keep more New Mexican families
together.
Since our last newsletter, NMILC’s volunteer and
permanent staff has expanded thanks to support from
individual donors and grants, and thanks to an outpouring
of support from the community. We rely on our team
of dedicated volunteers and pro bono attorneys to
supplement our staff of two full-time attorneys (with a
third to start in the fall), two immigrant advocates, and
part-time staff members. Our team is helping more New
Mexico families than ever, but we know that there is still
much more work left to do.
We could not do it without our volunteers – and we could
not do it without you.
t
Jennifer Landau
Executive Director
Photo by Wes Naman
From left: Collin Troy, Sarah Neitz, Megan Jordi, Eva Eitzen, Adriel
Orozco, Jennifer Landau, Lauren Garrity, Jessica Martin, Barbara Gomez.
Big Dreams from Pajarito Mesa
This year, NMILC represented Liz in
her application to obtain Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA),
a policy announced last summer
by President Obama. DACA allows
individuals brought to the United States
as children to apply for protection from
deportation for two years and receive a
work permit.
Despite facing many obstacles, Liz is
a successful student and community
leader. As a freshman in high school,
Liz’s family had to move to the Pajarito
Mesa community because they could
not make ends meet. Pajarito Mesa is
Photo by Wes Naman
a community outside of Albuquerque
“I never would have
that has no water service, electricity,
sewers, telephone lines, mail service,
applied on my own, but
or even legally recognized roads.
after getting legal help,
Liz stayed late at the library to do
I felt safe.”
homework after the sun went down.
She graduated from South Valley Academy as a member of the National
Honor Society, and is currently a junior at the University of New Mexico.
Not content with just academic success, Liz has volunteered with local
organizations to improve the community.
Like many potential applicants, she was scared to apply. Liz explains, “I
never would have applied on my own, but after getting legal help, I felt
safe.” NMILC has represented Liz and dozens of other young people
through partnerships it has formed with South Valley Academy and ACE
Leadership High School.
Liz has already found that having a work permit has opened doors. She has
volunteered for the Southwest Organizing Project for many years, but this
summer she was able to get a paid internship with the organization. Liz will
serve as an intern next spring for the New Mexico delegation of the U.S.
Congress through UNM’s Fred Harris Congressional Internship program.
“I would not have been comfortable traveling to Washington, DC without
legal status,” she explains. NMILC is proud to announce that Liz has just
agreed to start with NMILC this fall as our first DREAMer Fellow.
NMILC’s DREAMer Fellowship provides paid internships so that
DACA recipients who still face limited work opportunities can
help other members of their community who face immigration
challenges, and become the next generation of social justice
leaders. Our first fellowship is made available thanks to funding
from Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters. Please send an email
to [email protected] if you would like to support our DREAMer
Fellowship program.
This past year, NMILC has provided direct representation to
268 immigrants, assisted 243 DREAMers at our legal fairs and
workshop events, and provided information and referrals to over
600 immigrant families.
“ Working with NMILC has
been a thoroughly enriching
experience for me. I know that
the family is truly thankful
for the work I did, and I, too,
am thankful to the family for
allowing me to become a part
of their lives.
Julia Catron
”
Pro Bono Attorney
Volunteers in Action
We appreciate the work of the following volunteers
who have helped with everything from cleaning
our office to providing assistance at legal fairs. We
could not do it without you!
Josh Allison
Dee Dee Alvarado
Sara Berger
Iris Calderon
Douglas Carver
Julia Catron
Alison Cimino
Alana De Young
John Duran
Joan Friedland
Lauren Garrity
Barbara Gomez
Samuel M. Herrera
Dustin Hunter
Brett Janos
Meredith Johnstone
Karen Kahn
Peter Katel
John Kelly
Pamela Kennedy
Rebecca Kitson
Jessie Miles
Wes Naman
Susie Newman
Lorena Olmos
Debora Ramirez
Sarah Reinhardt
Christina Rosado
Luella Rubio
Maggie Shipley
Quentin Smith
Grace Spulak
Sarah Stevenson
Miriam Villa
Brenda Villalpondo
Olsi Vrapi
Amber Weeks
Daniel White
Fred Yoder
June Yoder
It’s official!
NMILC has been recognized by
the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
organization. Many thanks to the
NM Center on Law and Poverty
for serving as our fiscal agent while
our application was pending.
Volunteer Spotlight
Two years ago, Barbara planned to become a
journalist, but after volunteering at NMILC, she
discovered her real passion: helping immigrants.
“The more I am in touch with the immigrant
community, the more I am aware of their needs,
and the more I want to help them,” she explains.
Barbara, a UNM international student from
Mexico, started helping NMILC in 2011 by
translating documents and drafting affidavits.
Barbara’s assistance has expanded to include
collaboration with several of NMILC’s partners,
including Enlace Comunitario, an organization
that provides services to victims of domestic
violence; PB&J Family Services, an organization
that helps children and their families in New
Mexico; and Encuentro, an organization that
provides educational opportunities to Latino
immigrant families.
Barbara volunteers under the direct supervision of
NMILC attorneys and provides case management
for immigrants who are survivors of crimes and for
young immigrants who are eligible for Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Photo by Wes Naman
“The more I am in touch with
the immigrant community,
the more I am aware of their
needs, and the more I want to
help them.”
Barbara values the opportunty of volunteering at NMILC because it has guided her
personal and career goals of studying law to fight for immigrants’ rights.
“Volunteering at NMILC has completely changed my life,“ Barbara says. “Not only has
it shaped my professional goals, but it has also inspired me to make a difference in my
community.“
Learn more about
our work
Like us on Facebook or follow us
on Twitter to meet more of our
clients and keep abreast of the latest
developments in immigration law.
New Mexico Immigrant Law Center
@NMILC
Many thanks...
to Sarah Neitz, our Jesuit Volunteer,
and Adriel Orozco, our Public Ally,
for their outstanding work during their
placement this year. As immigrant
advocates they greatly improved our
clients’ outcomes by connecting them
with social services in the community.