ILCM is grateful to all our pro bonos – we couldn’t do what we do without you all! It’s volunteer appreciation month and we wanted to honor some of our pro bonos. We asked them why they began volunteering at ILCM, what they find most rewarding, and more.
Allira Sharma, Vice President, Senior Corporate Counsel, US Bank
Allira has been volunteering with ILCM for over three years! She has taken on many DACA clients and recently started working on naturalization cases as well! We appreciate our long term pro bono volunteers branching out to other types of cases. Thank you, Allira!
1. What inspired you to get involved with Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota?
I wanted to get involved with ILCM because I am first generation American and both of my parents went through the naturalization process. I feel passionately about assisting clients through this process because I understand how confusing it can be and how life changing it is.
2. What has been the most rewarding part of your pro bono work with the organization?
My favorite part of pro bono work with ILCM is getting to know the clients. During my day job, I work as in-house counsel and my only client is a business, so I appreciate hearing my pro bono clients’ individual stories and I value that they are able to share their experiences, which can sometimes include quite traumatic life events.
3. Has there been a stand-out moment (a certain case, interaction, and/or overall story) from your volunteer work that you would like to share?
I don’t have a stand-out moment regarding a certain case, but universally, what stands out for me is how appreciative each client is for the services we provide as volunteers. In turn, during the pandemic, I appreciated the flexibility that clients had to meet me at odd places like FedEx in order to get signatures and send documents to USCIS because I wasn’t able to go into my office.
4. What would you say to others who are contemplating volunteering with the organization?
Take a leap of faith and volunteer! I don’t have a background in immigration law but ILCM has provided me with excellent training, mentors and a space to meet with clients. ILCM makes it easy to volunteer and provides you with the tools to successfully advocate for your clients.
Minnesota Freedom Fund Team
- Mirella Ceja-Orozco, Co-Executive Director & Attorney
- Adriana Lopez and Julian Alvarez, Immigration Bond Team
The Minnesota Freedom Fund team, Mirella, Adriana, and Julian have taken on over forty cases with ILCM ranging from DACA to naturalization to removal cases! We have been so grateful to this team using their immigration experience to help our clients with complex cases! Thank you, MN Freedom Fund team!
1. What inspired you to get involved with Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota?
All three have worked in immigration law firms in the past and believe it is important to continue supporting ILCM’s work and impacting communities in ways that are meaningful while simultaneously impacting MFF’s mission. Mirella has been practicing immigration law for over 10 years and is a former ILCM removal defense attorney. Both Adriana and Julian served as paralegals at local firms, and Julian also served as a diplomatic official at the Mexican Consulate in St. Paul and Chicago. The MFF Immigration Team is inspired daily by ILCM’s work in community. What better way to further support their work and protect people from the harms of ICE detention than by giving of our time to ensuring people can get or maintain status in the US.
2. What has been the most rewarding part of your pro bono work with the organization?
The most rewarding piece for us has been seeing clients glow when their cases are approved and are granted status in the US. Clients are always so excited, we love that.
3. Has there been a stand-out moment (a certain case, interaction, and/or overall story) from your volunteer work that you would like to share?
One of our most recent cases had been pending for over 7 years. The amount of Kleenex we needed when her Green Card finally arrived was simply overwhelming.
4. What would you say to others who are contemplating volunteering with the organization?
Do it! You literally make all the difference in the world. You won’t regret being able to support community members in this special way. ILCM makes it easy to volunteer and provide the tools and resources you might need if you are new to this space.
Anna Zagaria, Compliance Manager, Prime Therapeutics
Anna is a new ILCM volunteer and has already taken a case! We’ve been lucky to get to meet with Anna at our pro bono office and love getting to hear about questions that come up during representation and hear about updates with the client! Thank you, Anna!
1. What inspired you to get involved with Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota?
My husband is an immigrant from Ecuador, so I have been on the client side of immigration matters before. I have experienced the frustrations of the immigration system in our country and wanted to help others in the way I had been helped in the past.
2. What has been the most rewarding part of your pro bono work with the organization?
The most rewarding part of my work thus far has been interacting directly with my client and building trust. The day I accepted her case I called her and I could hear the relief in her voice as we talked. She has been so grateful for the services at ILCM and I am glad to have been a part of that experience!
3. What would you say to others who are contemplating volunteering with the organization?
ILCM makes volunteering easy! Their staff attorneys and office staff are helpful and support volunteers throughout every step of the process. They provide access to their legal server, weekly office hours, and many other resources to ensure their volunteers’ success. I highly encourage others to volunteer with ILCM!
Tinzing Artmann, Lead Litigation Paralegal, Target 
Tinzing has been a leader in DACA cases at Target for years. She has assisted on over 100 cases and continues to bring more people into the program to widen support for our clients! We love when pro bono volunteers find their passion in helping on DACA cases. Thank you, Tinzing!
1. What inspired you to get involved with Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota?
I am a Tibetan American who grew up in India and immigrated to the U.S., so I know how complex the U.S. Immigration system is and have lived that experience. I grew up with nothing and many people have helped me get to where I am today, so I see this as my turn to give back. The skill set I gained while working with ILCM set me up to provide the best service that I can to others. What I love about working with ILCM is that they’re dedicated to helping those who have no voice advocate for simple things that all human beings should have. There are many things that ILCM offers as an organization, but the top reason why I got involved is the training they offer that makes you confident to serve.
2. What has been the most rewarding part of your pro bono work with the organization?
Pro bono work opportunities provide me with a basis for my purposeful existence in this world. Every time I help an individual, I end my day with a feeling that I helped someone and made a difference in someone’s life.
3. Has there been a stand-out moment (a certain case, interaction, and/or overall story) from your volunteer work that you would like to share?
Yes, I have many stories, but one stands out the most. Many individuals that I help are in their early 20s to early 30s and they know America as their land and find it a safe haven. Someone recently asked me if they could get a butterfly tattoo on their hand. This made me realize what a privilege it is to be born here and have legal status because you don’t have to worry about these things, while DACA kids have to think twice about doing anything that could jeopardize their status in the U.S.
4. What would you say to others who are contemplating volunteering with the organization?
As lawyers and paralegals, we have a unique skill set that can benefit a lot of people who can’t speak up. There are great organizations like ILCM that can connect you with a cause you’re interested in, and I urge everyone to try this out and see if this gives you a purpose as it does for me. It doesn’t have to be a huge commitment, but you never know if that one or two hours might turn into a lifetime of dedication. If you’re afraid of volunteering your time, reach out to me and I can show you the world of happiness that makes my living complete through this work!
