In August, RMIAN celebrated its 16th Annual Immigrant Liberty Awards, illuminating the incredible power of RMIAN’s community of clients, staff and board members, volunteers, donors, advocates, and supporters. This month we celebrate RMIAN’s work while staying resolute in our commitment to ensuring justice and protection for immigrants and refugees.

RMIAN Stands In Solidarity With Afghanistan and Haiti

In Afghanistan, women, children, journalists, LGBTQI+ people, people with disabilities, advocates, U.S. allies, and many others fearing for their lives and the lives of their families have been desperately trying to seek safety in countries like the United States. RMIAN is joining advocates from across the country like Evacuate Our Allies and the American Immigration Lawyers Association to ensure protection for those fleeing.

In Haiti, people have struggled to deal with the aftermath of a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake, which comes on top of continuing political instability, economic hardship, other natural disasters, and impacts from COVID-19. RMIAN has joined over 300 advocates and leaders urging the Biden Administration to stop deportations to Haiti and implement additional protections for Haitian immigrants. Read more about this call to action here. 

RMIAN stands in solidarity with the Afghan and Haitian people seeking safety and protection in the United States and mourns the loss of life of U.S. soldiers and Afghan and Haitian people.

RMIAN’s Mission Video

At this year’s Immigrant Liberty Awards, RMIAN premiered its mission video. The video highlights the fundamental importance of legal representation in immigration removal proceedings and elaborates on RMIAN’s various programs. The video features two of RMIAN’s clients, Maybelline Diaz Recinos and Mr. Alvarado Alvarado, along with RMIAN Board Chair Malcolm Evans, RMIAN Co-Founder and Board Member Hiroshi Motomura, and RMIAN Executive Director Mekela Goehring.

Immigrant Liberty Awards

On Thursday, August 19th, RMIAN came together as a community virtually and hosted its 16th Annual Immigrant Liberty Awards. The event was themed “Dare to Find the Light" in recognition of the outstanding leaders and advocates in our community who, despite myriad obstacles, continue to fight for justice and lead impactful change. This year’s Immigrant Liberty Awards were presented to Z Arellano & Jordan Garcia, Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, and Christina Yutai Guo. The Pro Bono Service Award was presented to Dr. Carlos Franco-Paredes. 

Together, we raised over $50,000 to support RMIAN’s work fighting for justice for immigrants in Colorado. Funds raised exceeded the $10,000 match offered by longtime RMIAN supporter Jerry Glick and included an incredible $10,000 gift made by Federico & Cindy Peña. We here at RMIAN are beyond grateful to our donors, volunteers, and supporters who make our work possible. 

Unable to watch the event live? Click below to view the recording!

RMIAN Adamantly Opposes Dedicated Dockets for Asylum-Seeking Families

The first "Dedicated Dockets," expediting the cases of newly arrived families seeking asylum protections in the United States, started at the Denver Immigration Court at the end of July. Families must appear in person at the downtown court, while the Immigration Judges at the Aurora Immigration Center appear via video conference. RMIAN staff has been providing support to families by providing "Know Your Rights" information, assistance with the completion of required forms, and information regarding access to legal representation. 

 While RMIAN is committed to providing as much support as possible to these families, RMIAN continues to call on the Biden Administration to reconsider this unjust and harsh policy.

"The reality is that these are parents, fleeing violence and persecution in their countries of origin, seeking protection for their children in the United States who have very little access to resources. The effect is a devastating lack of due process. It is heartbreaking to look into the teary eyes of a father, who risked everything to protect his children, and explain that with no resources and no work permission, this expedited schedule requires him to hire an attorney within six weeks if he wants help proceeding with his case at his next hearing and that we might not be able to schedule him for a consultation before then."- Emily B. Brock, Children's Program Senior Staff Attorney

RMIAN Sits Down with KGNU Radio

RMIAN’s Executive Director, Mekela Goehring, and LOP Legal Assistant, Carly Howenstein, sat down with KGNU reporter, Rossana Longo-Better, to discuss RMIAN’s work, the challenges inherent in the U.S. immigration system, as well as several legislative accomplishments from these past 15+ months.

Upcoming Training on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

RMIAN is collaborating with long-time partner, the Colorado Lawyers Committee (CLC), to host a two-part series to train pro bono attorneys on Special Immigration Juvenile Status. This training will specifically create several cohorts of attorneys to represent SIJS-eligible kids in their state court proceedings.  The training dates are August 25, 2021, and September 10, 2021. Please join us and please spread the word! Additional information is available here.

Welcoming RMIAN’s New Staff Members

Keiko Diaz-Pezua, Legal Orientation Program Staff Attorney

Keiko joined RMIAN as a Legal Orientation Program staff attorney in August 2021. Prior to joining RMIAN on a permanent basis, she interned with RMIAN’s Children's Program in the winter of 2021. Keiko graduated from the University of Michigan in 2016 where she received a degree in Political Science. In May of 2021, she graduated from DePaul University College of Law with a Certificate in Business Law. As a student, Keiko worked as a paralegal and law clerk at several private immigration firms working on affirmative petitions. As a first-generation immigrant and first-generation college graduate, Keiko feels fortunate to have the opportunity to advocate for the immigrant community.

Alicia Conrad, Children’s Program Staff Attorney

Alicia joined RMIAN as a Children’s Program Staff Attorney in August 2021 and represents detained unaccompanied children seeking humanitarian relief such as asylum, special juvenile status, U visas for survivors of crime, and T visas for survivors of human trafficking. Prior to joining RMIAN, Alicia worked at CARECEN as a Staff Attorney in the Survivors of Violence Unit in Los Angeles, California. In this role, Alicia represented survivors of domestic violence and violent crimes. Alicia also worked for the Immigrant Home Foundation in Las Vegas, Nevada representing survivors of domestic violence and violent crimes. Alicia received her B.A. from the University Illinois at Urbana- Champaign in 2007 and her J.D. in 2015 from Western New England School of Law. Prior to law school, Alicia mobilized Latina/o’s through civic engagement and taught Anáhuac Studies to adolescents. Alicia is admitted to practice law in Utah and is a native Spanish speaker. Alicia is a first-generation American with very proud Mexican roots. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, dancing, and cooking new vegetarian recipes.

“I am very grateful to be welcomed by the RMIAN family. I feel very fortunate to join RMIAN in this fight for justice.”