2025 AILA Chapter Pro Bono Champions

Congratulations to the 2025 AILA Chapter Pro Bono Champions! The 2025 Champions demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to providing pro bono assistance through various worthy initiatives. Thank you for promoting justice and advocating for underserved members of the immigrant population!

Arizona

Rekha Nair

Rekha Nair, Executive Director of the Phoenix Legal Action Network (PLAN), is a visionary leader who has redefined pro bono advocacy through community-driven movement lawyering. Since joining PLAN in 2018, she has spearheaded critical initiatives, including Know Your Rights workshops, asylum clinics for Afghan refugees, and the Colectivo Capullo—a collaborative effort to foster accountability between lawyers and immigrant communities. Rekha launched a legal training program to empower immigrant leaders as BIA Accredited Representatives and expanded PLAN’s services to address housing insecurity. A tireless advocate, she organizes storytelling events to humanize immigrants’ experiences while balancing leadership, fundraising, and direct legal representation. Her dedication, from co-founding PLAN in response to anti-immigrant policies to her ongoing mentorship, makes her an exemplary Pro Bono Champion.

Central Florida

Rachelle Grand-Pierre

Rachelle Grand-Pierre received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English (Creative Writing) at the University of Central Florida. She then earned her Juris Doctor at Barry University where she was a member of the inaugural class of the Collaborative Family Law Clinic. She is the lead attorney at RGP Law Firm in Minneola, FL. Rachelle is a long-time active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and Orange County Bar Association. She has previously been AILA Central Florida Chapter's Secretary. Outside of her practice, Attorney Rachelle routinely volunteers at local immigration clinics helping low-earning individuals apply for humanitarian benefits. Rachelle is being recognized for always being ready to volunteer at all our AILA CFC clinics, often being the first one to show up and the last one to leave. She also often donates and supports local nonprofits.

Chicago

Julie Reiter Pellerite

Julie is currently a Chicago based AILA attorney working at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS). In her position, she has helped the Chicago AILA chapter organize its existing partnership in providing pro bono opportunities to members in its long running immigration law clinic. Julie also helps train volunteers to work on immigration cases through her position in CVLS. She also helped organize TPS and Asylum clinics. Julie is an amazing member of the Chicago AILA chapter and the Chicago legal community at large.

Colorado

David Simmons

David Simmons began practicing immigration law in 1986. He maintains a private practice in Englewood, Colorado. An outstanding immigration attorney, David has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he taught Immigration Law in English and Spanish.

AILA Colorado proudly recognizes David for his unwavering commitment to pro bono service, demonstrated through his many years of support for local legal night events and his consistent efforts to staff them with experienced immigration attorneys. His dedication has been essential in ensuring that our community receives the critical legal assistance it needs. In addition, David has been an invaluable resource to his fellow AILA members—always ready to provide guidance, answer questions, and thoughtfully address ethical concerns. His leadership and generosity with both his time and expertise have had a lasting and meaningful impact on our chapter and the broader community.

Michigan

Alex Vernon

Director, Immigration Law Clinic, Assistant Professor of Law. Professor Vernon joined Detroit Mercy Law faculty in 2015, to direct the Immigration Law Clinic. Professor Vernon has practiced exclusively in immigration law, with prior experience with several firms in the Detroit area, as well as four years of clinical teaching prior to joining Detroit Mercy Law.

Professor Vernon is a founding member of the Canada/US Cross Border Network and is on the steering committee of a new legal clinic serving the migrants navigating the Canada/US border. Professor Vernon is a volunteer attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and Freedom House Detroit. He is a Board Member of Detroit's Southwest Immigrant and Refugee Center, Southwest Florida's Organizaci6n Internacional de Latinos en el Exterior, and the Deported Asylum Seekers Assistance Project. Professor Vernon also participates in the American Immigration Lawyers Association, State Bar of Michigan Immigration Chapter, Canadian Council of Refugees, the Canada Sanctuary Network and the International Sanctuary Declaration Network.

For 10 years Alex has provided excellent legal representation to hundreds of people who had no place else to turn. He has served the most vulnerable (children, asylum seekers, those in detention, victims of crime) while giving Detroit Mercy students an exceptional educational experience. His clients and the students have benefited in ways hard to measure but it would not be an exaggeration to say he probably has saved lives. Beyond individual cases he has reached across the US-Canada border to help organize a network of service providers and shelters to further support migrants navigating these two complicated systems. He says "yes" to most requests for assistance including finding housing and other material support. The title "Pro Bono Champion" certainly suits him.

Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC)

MIRC serves all clients pro bono. MIRC is at the forefront of advocating for the immigrant community and voicing the impact of changes in policy and funding. MIRC team members are regularly the voices featured on Michigan Public Radio informing listeners of what is going on with immigration law and impact on our immigrant community.

Minnesota-Dakotas

John Medeiros and the Faith-Based Working Group

At a time when immigrant communities have faced unprecedented legal and humanitarian challenges, John Medeiros and the Faith-Based Working Group have stood firmly at the intersection of law, faith, and justice. Their work embodies the spirit of pro bono advocacy—courageous, compassionate, and unrelenting in the pursuit of dignity and justice for all.

The mission of the Faith-Based Working Group is to equip and empower places of worship to serve as safe havens for immigrant communities.

The Group’s efforts are as expansive as they are impactful. They have delivered tailored presentations and practical resources on sanctuary-related issues to dozens of congregations across Minnesota, the Dakotas, and beyond, reaching a broad national audience through regional religious networks. In collaboration with other advocacy organizations, they have conducted trainings on the history and legal framework of the sanctuary movement—empowering others to become educators, advocates, and protectors within their own communities.

The Faith-Based Advocacy Group has responded to their call for help by offering clarity, risk assessments, and guidance on how to navigate the intersection of federal immigration law and their spiritual work.

Through this work, John Medeiros and the Faith-Based Advocacy Group have created a model for how legal expertise can be shared in ways that are accessible, actionable, and grounded in community solidarity. Their contributions have not only supported individual immigrants but have built the capacity of entire congregations to serve as agents of justice and mercy.

Missouri-Kansas

The Asylum Clinic Kansas City

The Asylum Clinic Kansas City (ACKC) promotes justice through the provision of pro bono legal services that empower underserved noncitizens in the KC area. ACKC has a contract to serve both detained and released unaccompanied children (UCs). This year the Federal Government threatened cancellation of these funds nationwide, then provided a 6-month extension after litigation compelled it. Under incredible stress around funding loss, the team at ACKC worked diligently maintain their client base and preserve their ability to serve unaccompanied minors who are released from Office of Refugee Resettlement shelters around the country to sponsors in the Kansas City area. The ACKC attorneys on the UC Project are Aly Englander and Douglas H. Bartel, IJC Fellow.

ACKC also represents hundreds of Afghan parolees evacuated from Kabul in August of 2021. Staff attorney Becky Tolman and DOJ Accredited Rep Ayse Tary developed the Afghan Legal Services Project so that ACKC could help as many Afghans as possible through both in-house representation and pro bono placements. The need for pro bono immigration services for UCs, Afghans, and other noncitizens only continues to grow while funding threats remain. This team has shown remarkable courage, grit, and dedication to ACKC’s mission in a time of unprecedented challenge.

New England

SangYeob Kim

AILA New England is honored to recognize SangYeob Kim, Senior Staff Attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire. Esteemed equally highly for the creativity and ingenuity of his legal arguments, as for the tireless advocacy he brings to every litigation. SangYeob is best known for the mentorship, support, and thoughtful analysis he offers constantly for colleagues and pro bono attorneys practicing in the immigration space, within all of the sundry working groups, questions emailed, calls to his cell phone at all manner of day and time – in the First Circuit and far beyond. SangYeob is also ever ready to take first chair, to enable attorneys at legal services organizations to pursue relief for clients up to the First Circuit – clients with compelling claims who could not possibly otherwise have the resources to seek justice in their cases. We are so deeply grateful to SangYeob and pleased to be able to take this gesture to acknowledge him.

New England Detention Warriors

AILA New England is honored to recognize the vital work of our New England Detention Warriors, organizations that work tirelessly to provide free legal services to immigrants in ICE detention. These warriors include New Hampshire Legal Assistance (NHLA), the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR Project), the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP), and the University of Maine. They face obstacles far beyond the extreme challenges experienced by today's all immigration practitioners as they confront the impact of increased enforcement both inside the US and at ports of entry, the use of federal detention centers which are notoriously difficult to access, rapid transfers out of the jurisdiction without notice, and threats of removals to third countries where people are likely to suffer serious harm. We applaud these organizations and the incredible women who staff their programs.

New Jersey

The New Jersey Chapter is proud to recognize Erin Sweeney and AFSC Immigrant Rights Project as their 2025 pro bono Champions.

Northern California

Johnny Sinodis

Johnny is a selfless and fierce advocate and has mentored many of us personally over the years. He fights tooth and nail for his clients and does not back down when the government is being aggressive.

Recently, Johnny co-counseled on Mahmoud Kahlil’s case pro bono. He also worked on filing a complaint against the Biden Administration for complicity in genocide. The order issued by the court in this case has been cited by numerous practitioners across the nation who represent Palestinian asylum seekers.

Marc Van Der Hout

Marc Van Der Hout is a nationally recognized litigator known for taking and winning complex impact and individual immigration cases. Marc has been an inspiration, pro bono champion and mentor to many of us Chapter Members in Northern California and beyond.

This past year, he has successfully co-chaired cases involving students and immigrants targeted for their political beliefs or activism. Throughout his career, Marc Van Der Hout has challenged draconian immigration policies through impact and individual litigation. He served as lead counsel in numerous successful class actions that provided a path to legal status for tens of thousands of noncitizens and their family members and has represented thousands of noncitizens in immigration court and at all levels of the federal court system.

Ohio

David Larson

David has spent decades serving the immigrant community of the Miami Valley, taking on numerous pro bono cases and helping countless low-income individuals over the course of his 40-year career. He has also volunteered his services with the Welcome Dayton initiative and the Miami Valley Community ID card initiative since the inception of both programs.

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE)

ABLE has had an indescribable impact on their clientele, in particular, on the individuals who fled Haiti to seek safety in the United States. They have hosted what I can only guess to be an unimaginable number of clinics to serve that population. They expanded their program from asylum clinics to also hosting TPS clinics and developed a model that allows them to provide brief advice to prospective clients at asylum clinics as well. They continued to host clinics even in the face of escalating threats following the malignment of Haitian folks in 2024 after the presidential debate. They did not just continue the work under ordinary circumstances but continued to do so even as other infrastructure in the city closed. Not only have they grown this program, but they also continue to advocate for clients on an individual level. Their services range farther than most other nonprofits, expanding into federal courts with habeas work, including a recent successful suit against the termination of a student visa. Lastly, their Know Your Rights materials, which they have worked to expand, are some of the most thorough and helpful in the country. Katie, Maria, and their whole team are truly leaders in our community. They go above and beyond to protect vulnerable populations across the state but still have time to return a panicked email or text about strategizing to protect our programs. It feels like all the time that I learn something new about their services that blows my mind. I don't know how they do it, but they do, and the impact of their work ripples across the whole state. We are all better advocates because of their work.

Oregon

Amanda Ellen Gray

AILA Oregon is proud to select Amanda Gray for the Pro Bono Champion award.  Amanda is the owner of Amanda Gray Immigration Law, LLC and specializes in removal defense, detention work, criminal immigration, asylum, appeals and federal litigation.  Her pro bono work in Oregon has been a constant.  She is a regular Citizenship Day volunteer, offering her services year after year.  Most recently, she has provided pro bono consultations to Ukrainian asylum seekers.  AILA members have taken note of her willingness to volunteer her time and her generosity in sharing her knowledge.   Oregon AILA applauds Amanda’s commitment to pro bono work and supporting non-citizen Oregonians year after year.

Arnav Dutt

AILA Oregon is proud to select Arnav Dutt for the Pro Bono Champion award.  Arnav is a staff attorney at SOAR Immigration Legal Services in Portland, Oregon specializing in removal defense.  Arnav implemented and ran a limited scope representation program that sought prosecutorial discretion and termination of removal proceedings on a large scale.  In the around two and a half years he ran the program, the program achieved over 570 terminations or dismissals of removal proceedings.   Arnav’s colleagues observe him to be an innovator and pragmatist, unafraid to try new strategies to the benefit of his clients. He is skilled at looking for large scale ways to prevent deportation for as many people as possible, as is evident by the program’s success.  Articles featuring his work are available from Oregon live and CLINIC.  AILA Oregon applauds Arnav’s success at creatively advocating for so many non-citizen Oregonians; and, thanks to his work, ensuring 570 fewer deportations.
 

Philadelphia

Jessica Daly and Brenda Nogales

Jessica Daly, HIAS PA's Pro Bono Coordinator and Brenda Nogales, Crisis & Humanitarian Response Program Manager at HIAS PA, form a team to assist vulnerable immigrants. The team, along with HIAS PA staff have organized "Know Your Rights" Webinars for the community in Spanish, Ukrainian, French and Chinese. The team assisted many newly arrived asylum seekers file their pro se I-589 applications to meet the one-year deadline. Using a clinic model, the organization has hosted numerous clinics since 2023, often partnering with major law firms in Philadelphia which donated space and personnel. The team provided valuable educational resources and videos to pro bono participants, which included immigration and non-immigration attorneys. As many as 100 volunteers were recruited for this effort, along with volunteer interpreters. After the I-589 is completed, Brenda Nogales reviews everything and ensures the applications are appropriately filed/mailed, coordinating next steps with the pro se applicants. In addition, Jessica organized "adjustment of status" clinics for refugees. Over the past two years Jessica Daly has placed scores of cases with non-immigration pro bono attorneys who receive excellent training and resource materials which are constantly updated. This team and the HIAS PA Pro Bono program is a model for engaging attorneys, interpreters and others in pro bono. Major law firms and attorneys have learned to trust HIAS PA because of the mentoring and resource material it offers and the result is recruitment of enthusiastic volunteers, growing an expanding volunteer base to place cases. The Director of Esperanza, another legal service non-profit, explains that "We look to HIAS PA as an example, sounding board and trailblazer in this space, whether working on asylum, legal screening, green card clinics."

Southern California

The Southern California Chapter is proud to recognize International Rescue Committees Children’s Legal Services as their 2025 Pro Bono Champion.

Upstate New York

Jeremy Richards

Jeremy Richards of Richards and Jurusik Immigration Law in Buffalo is our Pro Bono Champion for 2025. For years, without much fanfare, Jeremy has worked with the refugee population in Buffalo providing them with information about getting green cards and naturalization and helping them to get that status, all pro bono. He has held several know your rights presentations through the Say Yes Buffalo program. He has also helped immigrants understand their rights and status with all the changes caused by the Trump Administration.

Washington

Karin Tolgu

Karin Tolgu is an exceptional attorney whose dedication to pro bono work extends far beyond individual representation. She leads a monthly pro bono mentorship group that supports and educates young and new immigration lawyers, fosters professional development, shares her legal expertise, and provides invaluable guidance. She consistently and generously makes herself available to answer questions and offers support to mentees. Karin is also a devoted participant in legal clinics and volunteer events, including asylum and citizenship days. Her consistent presence at these events underscores her passion for making the law accessible to underserved communities. Her tireless efforts and generous spirit truly embody the values of the pro bono tradition.

Ester Greenfield

Since autumn 2023, Ester has co-led the Monday afternoon pro bono TPS clinic at Riverton Park United Methodist Church in Tukwila. The Monday clinic also helped CBP-1 parolees apply for their work permits. Working with co-leader Ellen Kleyman (a non-lawyer) and several dozen dedicated volunteers, the clinic helped hundreds of low-income and homeless applicants gain benefits until the administration shuttered these humanitarian programs – at least for now. The Monday clinic is now pivoting to supporting asylum seekers. She is consistently going above and beyond and is truly an inspiration.