ABC's of Immigration Law

Description

Supporting a Growing Diverse Population across SE South Dakota o

• Description o This session will provide general information to better inform local, regional, and public leaders. • ABC’s of Immigration Law • Work Authorization • Pathways to Permanent Residency • Policy Updates that include Parole Programs

Presented by:
Erin Schutte Wadzinski is an immigration attorney and founder of Kivu Immigration Law PLLC, dedicated to providing legal resources to immigrants and revitalizing rural communities. Hailing from Worthington, Minnesota, Erin established Kivu Immigration Law in Worthington in 2019 after winning the Initiators Fellowship. She earned a BA in Political Science from Yale University (2012) and a JD with Honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law (2018). Erin is a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, and the Association for Immigration Lawyers of America. She is licensed to practice federal immigration law in all states. In her community, Erin is an elected school board member of Worthington Public Schools ISD 518, a city planning commissioner, and a board member of Worthington Dollars for Scholars and the Nobles County Law Library. She advises the CARE Program and is active in the Worthington Area Immigrant Advocates network. Erin has been featured on PBS, MPR News, National Public Radio, the Migration Policy Institute podcast, KSTP 5 Eyewitness News, and in the Minnesota Star Tribune. She regularly speaks on immigration law and community support for immigrants.

Jacob Bies is an Attorney at Kivu Immigration Law PLLC. Jacob was born and raised in Yankton, South Dakota and has lived, studied, and worked in South Dakota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and New York. As a volunteer and law student, Jacob has provided community navigation assistance to immigrants in South Dakota, assisted detained immigrants in Texas and Pennsylvania, provided rapid response support to Afghan evacuees, and led community engagement and education on immigration issues. Jacob advocated for immigrants at Penn State Law’s Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic and helped represent immigrant farm and labor workers as a Peggy Browning Fund Fellow. Jacob is fluent in English and Spanish.

Sissi Lopez Diaz Jensen is a Kivu Law Fellow at Kivu Immigration Law PLLC. Sissi is a Supervised Practitioner while she awaits admission to practice law. During her time in law school, Sissi participated in the University of Miami School of Law’s Immigration Clinic where she represented detained noncitizen clients in a variety of matters under the supervision of her clinic professors. During her last semester of law school, Sissi was selected as a point person for a federal case being litigated by the Clinic and partners in the Southern District of Florida. Here, Sissi organized the screening of noncitizens in criminal custody throughout Miami-Dade County for release eligibility and further contributed to ongoing legal strategy. Sissi was bestowed the 2024 Markus Award for her work and contributions. Sissi’s family immigrated from La Habana, Cuba to Copenhagen, Denmark in the 1990s after receiving asylum and family reunification-based relief. Her mother and family’s story has inspired much of Sissi’s continued passion for immigration advocacy. She is fluent in Spanish, Danish, and English. Education Florida Gulf Coast University – BA in Political Science, Minor in Global Studies University of Miami School of Law – JD