Pathways to Protection: Navigating U.S. Immigration Law for Victims and Survivors of Crime

Description: This webinar will delve into the intricate mechanisms of United States immigration law, particularly focusing on the legal options available for victims of crime. We will explore the creation and enactment of immigration laws in the U.S., including the roles of various governmental agencies in shaping these regulations. The presentation highlights specific visa types, such as the U Visa and T Visa, which are designed to aid victims of qualifying criminal activities. Additionally, it covers the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which allows certain immigrants who are survivors of sexual and domestic violence to obtain legal status independently. The webinar will be presented in English. Interpretation will be provided upon request.

Presenters:

McKenna Newsum-Schoenberg is one of the immigration attorneys at Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center (JAMLAC). McKenna has been at JAMLAC for about 3.5 years. A proud Colorado native, McKenna is a graduate of Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, CO, Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. McKenna graduated from law school in May 2020 and was awarded the Public Good Distinction, an honor that Denver Law awards graduating students based on their demonstrated commitment to public interest law throughout their legal education. McKenna joined JAMLAC in October 2020 hoping to continue to work with people struggling with poverty and oppression and hoping to continue to work in a capacity that increases Coloradans’ access to legal assistance and justice.

Carmen Murillo Stevens has worked in the victim/survivor advocacy field for fifteen years. She currently serves as a Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representative with the Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center, where she provides representation and immigration legal assistance to immigrants, including crime survivors. Previously, she worked as a DOJ Accredited Representative/Immigrant Advocate at another recognized agency, and as a bilingual victim advocate and crisis hotline coordinator for a dual domestic and sexual violence agency. For the last ten years she has dedicated her career to working with immigrant survivors. Being an immigrant from Mexico herself, she can empathize with her clients’ immigration experience. Carmen has served on national and statewide boards, task forces, and committees focused on sexual assault, domestic violence, and community wellness. She currently serves on the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault Board of Directors.

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