IIBA Volunteer: Rie Sugisawa
As a naturalized citizen, Rie Sugisawa wanted to use her knowledge of the naturalization process to help others. So Rie volunteers every week at IIBA’s Napa office, administering “mock” interviews to IIBA clients, preparing them for their citizenship interview.
Redwood City Citizenship Workshop Volunteers
IIBA offers citizenship workshops throughout the Bay Area, helping legal permanent residents apply for and gain citizenship. Many of IIBA’s workshop volunteers are attorneys providing valuable pro bono hours.
IIBA Intern: Peter Skow
“By the end of the summer, I hope to learn more about IIBA’s fundraising efforts and how to craft a legal argument for a case,” says Peter. He connected with IIBA through the San Francisco Social Impact Internship Program at Dartmouth College, where he is an undergraduate student.
IIBA Client: Amelia Hernandez
“IIBA staff always kept me updated on the status of my case and made me feel secure,” says Amelia Hernandez. She appreciates that sense of security more than ever after her nightmarish journey to the U.S.
IIBA Staff: Diamante Rueda
Diamante is the Legal Outreach Coordinator at IIBA’s Redwood City office and educates the immigrant community on their constitutional rights. She also works on diverse immigration cases and coordinates the DACA program. Diamante chose IIBA because she is passionate about advocating for the immigrant community.
IIBA Volunteer: Jennifer Boyle
Frustrated by the anti-immigrant rhetoric of last year’s presidential election, Jennifer Boyle decided to stand up and take action. She was intent on supporting the immigrant community, so she contacted IIBA Board President Jennifer Beckett seeking volunteer opportunities.
IIBA Staff: Valentina Ozbek
“I’m thrilled to be joining IIBA as a Staff Attorney and Pro-Bono coordinator,” says Valentina Ozbek. In addition to providing immigration legal services to our clients, Valentina will be working with major technology companies and law firms to advance our pro-bono program and broaden our mission of empowering and serving the immigrant community in the Bay Area.
Clara Blanco-Herrada: A Survivor’s Guide to Citizenship
IIBA client Clara Blanco-Herrada embodies the phrase, "Where there's a will, there's a way." With the devaluation of the Mexican peso, in the mid-1990s, Clara's life turned upside down. Her family lost their business and property in the recession, so they immigrated to the U.S., in search of new opportunities.
Volunteer: Stephen Filios
When Stephen Filios is not teaching Foundations of Science for Brigham Young University Idaho’s online program, hevolunteers in IIBA’s citizenship preparation classes. “I have always had an interest in working with people from different cultures,” says Stephen, so he stepped up to teach IIBA’s San Francisco class in the Tenderloin, attended primarily by Arab women.
Staff Attorney: Sara MacPherson
IIBA staff attorney Sara MacPherson recently traveled to the Dilley, Texas Detention Center. As a volunteer with the CARA project Her role was to conduct “credible fear determinations”. This process allows an individual to provide information which can help establish they have suffered persecution or have a well-founded fear of persecution were they to return to their home country.