AILA Presents Karol Brown with the 2010 Advocacy Award
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
CONTACT:
George Tzamaras
202-507-7649
gtzamaras@aila.org
Sara Ibrahim
202-507-7626
sibrahim@aila.org
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) awarded Karol Brown, an attorney at Global Justice Law Group, PLLC in Seattle, WA, the 2010 Advocacy Award for her outstanding efforts in support of AILA's legislative agenda. AILA Executive Director, Crystal Williams, will present the award to Brown on July 3, 2010 during AILA's Annual Conference held in National Harbor, MD.
"To call Karol Brown an advocate for justice is certainly an understatement," Williams said. Brown has been a leader in the Pacific Northwest in effective advocacy for immigration policy change. She coordinated the AILA Washington Chapter's report entitled "Why We Need Comprehensive Immigration Reform: A Collection of Case Examples." The report was shared with members of Congress during the 2010 AILA National Day of Action, and includes real life stories that exemplify the devastating consequences of different aspects of our broken immigration system. Williams called the report "exactly what is needed to show the human face of immigration policy."
Brown regularly speaks at community forums where she gives "Know Your Rights" presentations. "By explaining the politics of comprehensive immigration reform and the need for public participation and advocacy, she is constantly seeking to move the ball forward for true comprehensive reform," said Ms. Williams. Prior to forming her own law firm, Brown worked as a Policy and Advocacy Director for Hate Free Zone Washington (now called OneAmerica). In that role, she organized a grassroots voter mobilization and media campaign for immigrant communities.
Karol Brown also served as an attorney in Ali v. Ashcroft, a class action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to prevent the deportation of over 3,000 individuals to Somalia. She has worked with the American Bar Association and the Center for Human Rights and Justice at the University of Washington to study detention conditions in immigration facilities.
She serves as the chair of the Advisory Board of the Immigrant Family Advocacy Project at the University of Washington, which pairs law students with pro bono attorneys in the community to assist domestic violence survivors with self-petitions under the Violence Against Women Act. She holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School.
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The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.