Focus: Immigration & Nationality Law

• Asylum

• Other Forms of Humanitarian Relief (TPS, DED, DACA, VAWA, U, T, and S visas, Humanitarian Parole)

• Removal (Deportation) Proceedings

• Appellate (Board of Immigration Appeals and Federal Court)

• Family and Marriage-based Immigration

• Naturalization and U.S. Citizenship

• Special Immigrant Juveniles

• Business Immigration (H, L, and E-2 visas)

• Religious Workers (R visas)

• Students (F, J, and M visas)

• Researchers and Scholars

Affiliations and Memberships

• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

  • Board of Publications (National) (2016-2020; 2021-Present)

    • Chair (2023-Present)

    • Vice-chair (2019-2020; 2022-2023)

  • Asylum Conference Committee (National) (2020-2021)

  • Federal Circuit Court Asylum Case Wrangler (National) (2012-Present)

  • Refugee & Asylum Liaison Committee (National) (2012-2016; 2023-Present)

  • Distance Learning Committee (National) (Co-chair) (2011-2012)

  • Planning Subcommittee for 2011 AILA National Annual Conference, San Diego. (Fundamentals and Special Sessions)

  • Immigration Reform Committee (National) (2010-2011)

  • Planning Committee for 2009 AILA National Fall Conference, Boston. ("Goin' to the Crossroads of Immigration and Criminal Law: Convictions, Removability, and Relief")

  • Planning Subcommittee for 2009 AILA National Annual Conference, Las Vegas. (Due Process, Enforcement, Criminal, and Asylum)

  • Co-Liaison with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    (Minnesota/Dakotas AILA Chapter) (2009-2012)

  • Immigrants of Distinction Awards Committee (Minnesota/Dakotas AILA Chapter) (2008-2013)

• Federal Bar Association (FBA), Advisory Board Member, Immigration Law Section (2010-2012)

• Pro Se Project of the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, and the Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter (2011-Present)

• Steering Committee Member: National Campaign to Safeguard the Due Process Rights of Mentally Ill and Developmentally Disabled People, Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition (2009-2010)

• American Bar Association (ABA)

  • Immigration and Naturalization Committee

• National Immigration Project

• Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS)

• Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA)

  • 2014 President's Award (Human Rights Committee - Co-chair)

  • Recognized as North Star Lawyer for Pro Bono Service (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)

  • Immigration Law Section (former Chair)

  • Human Rights Committee (former Co-chair) (1993-2014)

  • Diversity Planning Task Force (2009-2010)

  • COLLEAGUE Program-Immigration Law (Consulting Attorney)

  • Haiti Relief Committee (2010)

  • Contributing Writer - Bench & Bar of Minnesota

• Haitian Asylum Project (Catholic Emergency Legal Aid for Haitians), Miami. (May 1992)

• The Advocates for Human Rights (Consulting Attorney)

  • 2010 Volunteer Award Co-Recipient

• Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) (Volunteer Attorney)

• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) (Wall of Tolerance Honoree)

• Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial (Founding Sponsor)

• Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights

• Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (Charter Member)

• American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS)

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

• The Carter Center

• National Museum of the American Indian - Smithsonian

• Center for Global Education, Augsburg College

• City of Shoreview, Minnesota Human Rights Commission (former Chair and member) (1995-2013)

• Proud Sponsor of Programming at Community-based KBEM-FM Radio (Jazz88FM), Minneapolis

Publications, Posts, Presentations & Teaching

• Recent Publications and Posts (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021)

  • 2024 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (March 2024).

  • 2023 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (December 2023).

  • 2023 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (October 2023).

  • 2023 “It’s Time to Register for the DV-Lottery!” LinkedIn. (10/1/2023).

  • 2023 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (August 2023).

  • 2023 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (July 2023).

  • 2023 “A Brief Overview of Forms of Relief in Removal Proceedings.” Navigating the Fundamentals of Immigration Law, 2023-24 Ed. American Immigration Lawyers Association. (June 2023).

  • 2023 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (March 2023).

  • 2022 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (December 2022).

  • 2022 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (October 2022).

  • 2022 “DV-Lottery Registration Period Will Soon Open!” LinkedIn. (10/3/2022).

  • 2022 “INA §209(c) Waivers for Refugees and Asylees.” Updated by R. Mark Frey. The Waivers Book: Strategies for Overcoming Inadmissibility, Removability, and Other Barriers to Immigration Benefits, 4th Ed. American Immigration Lawyers Association. (September 2022).

  • 2022 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (August 2022).

  • “A Brief Overview of Forms of Relief in Removal Proceedings.” Navigating the Fundamentals of Immigration Law, 2022-23 Ed. American Immigration Lawyers Association. (June 2022).

  • 2022 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota (May/June 2022).

  • 2022 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota (March 2022).

  • 2021 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota (December 2021).

  • 2021 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota (October 2021).

  • 2021 “Immigration Roundtable: The Biden administration so far.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (August 2021).

  • 2021 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota (August 2021).

  • 2021 “A Brief Overview of Forms of Relief in Removal Proceedings.” Navigating the Fundamentals of Immigration Law, 2021-22 Ed. American Immigration Lawyers Association. (June 2021).

  • 2021 AILA’s Immigration Litigation Toolbox, 7th Ed. Contributor. American Immigration Lawyers Association. (June 2021).

  • 2021 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (May/June 2021).

  • 2021 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (March 2021).

  • 2021 “Immigration Law - Notes and Trends.” Bench & Bar of Minnesota. (January 2021).

• Recent Publications and Posts (Pre-2021)

• Recent Presentations

  • Panelist on “How to Write and Communicate More Effectively.” 2022 AILA Paralegals Virtual Conference. (August 10-11, 2022).

  • Discussion Leader on “‘When All Else Fails’: Relief Under the Convention Against Torture.” 2020 AILA Virtual Asylum Conference. (September 30, 2020).

  • Moderator on "Asylum Law Nuts and Bolts." 2016 Federal Bar Association Annual Immigration Law Conference. New Orleans. (May 12-13, 2016).

  • Panelist on "How to Prepare the Most Compelling Case: Gathering Probative and Consistent Evidence." Federal Bar Association Asylum Conference. American University Washington College of Law. Washington, D.C. (February 21, 2014).

  • Facilitator on "Same-Sex Marriage: A General Overview of Changes with Implications for Practitioners at the State and Federal Levels." Minnesota State Bar Association. Minneapolis. (December 12, 2013).

  • Moderator on "When All Else Fails: Prosecutorial Discretion." 2012 Upper Midwest Immigration Conference. St. Paul. (April 13, 2012).

  • Facilitator on "'Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free': A Tour of the Immigration History Research Center and its Archives, University of Minnesota." AILA Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter. Minneapolis. (October 14, 2011).

  • Panelist on "AILA National Conference Recap." Minnesota State Bar Association. Minneapolis. (July 14, 2011).

  • Panelist on "The I-751 and Removal of Conditions on Residence." 2011 AILA National Annual Conference. San Diego. (June 16, 2011).

  • Moderator on "Professionalism in Immigration Courts: An interview with our local immigration judges." Minnesota State Bar Association. Minneapolis. (June 3, 2011).

  • Panelist on "TPS and NACARA: What to do with an RFE or Denial." 2011 Federal Bar Association Annual Immigration Law Seminar. Memphis. (May 13, 2011).

  • Panelist on "Competency Issues: Working with the Mentally Disabled Respondent, Memory Loss, PTSD, and Other Competency Issues." 2011 Federal Bar Association Annual Immigration Law Seminar. Memphis. (May 14, 2011).

  • Panelist on "Asylum or Withholding Victory! Now What?" 2010 AILA National Annual Conference, Washington, D.C. (July 3, 2010).

  • Panelist on "Family Relationships, Joint Sponsorship, and Affidavits of Support." 2010 Federal Bar Association Annual Immigration Law Seminar. Memphis. (May 15, 2010).

  • Moderator for Panel devoted to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and I-9 Audits. 2010 Upper Midwest Immigration Conference. Minneapolis. (May 7, 2010).

  • Moderator for Panel devoted to Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). Minnesota State Bar Association. Minneapolis. (April 19, 2010).

  • Panelist on "Applications for Relief and Waivers." 2009 AILA National Fall Conference. Boston. (December 14, 2009).

  • Panelist on "Inadmissibility and Deportability Defenses." 2009 AILA National Annual Conference. Las Vegas. (June 5, 2009).

  • Panelist on "Bona Fide Relationships and the Child Status Protection Act, Parts One and Two." 2009 Upper Midwest Immigration Conference. Minneapolis. (April 30, 2009).

• Teaching & Other

  • Intern Tutorials with students from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (University of Minnesota Law School, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and Institute for Global Studies); Emory University; Grinnell College; Macalester College; University of St. Thomas

  • Coordinator - Law Professors Interest Group (American Immigration Lawyers Association) (2005-2012)

  • Contributing Writer - Asian American Press

  • Book Reviewer - The Federal Lawyer (Federal Bar Association) (2012-2017)

  • Contributing Writer - Korean Quarterly (1999-2015)

  • Former Community Educator - VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)

Educational Background

• B.A.: Anthropology w/ minor Broadcasting & Film
  (University of Iowa, Iowa City)

  • Phi Eta Sigma

  • Phi Beta Kappa

• M.A.: Cultural Anthropology (University of Iowa, Iowa City)

• M.A.: Social Anthropology (University of California, Davis)

• J.D. : (Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota)

Contact Info