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The Advocates

 
 

Luis Adolfo Bermudez

Development and communications manager

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I graduated from Ave Maria University (formerly known as Ave Maria College) - Latin American Campus, San Marcos, Nicaragua with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Since 2015, I have been certified by the U.S. Department of Justice to practice affirmative immigration law before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. As a DOJ accredited representative, I serve immigrants through the various, albeit limited pathways available for regularizing their status. I have seen first-hand the harsh realities undocumented people go through as they find their way to the United States and have gotten to know and witness the lives of human beings that for various circumstances have had to leave their homes behind. As an immigrant myself, I am drawn to work in the immigration field. I was born in Managua, Nicaragua, but when I was 5 years old, my parents made the difficult decision of leaving our home country. We lived in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. I learned from a very young age that the "immigrant" is seen and treated differently than the native-born citizen, whether by the general population or by the government, no matter where we happen to find ourselves in the world. For this reason, I believe that it is important that we advocate for the brave people who leave everything behind in the hopes of finding dignity, safety and a better future.

Casey Bryant

Executive Director

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I'm the Executive Director of Advocates for Immigrant Rights (AIR). I earned my Juris Doctorate from the City University of New York (CUNY). For me, being an advocate is a calling that compels me to take action against injustice. I grew up in small town Arkansas understanding that I was different from what was expected of me and have always been sensitive to other people who struggle to find their place in the world.

I believe we all have a responsibility to our communities to take care of each other and to give what we can for the betterment of the whole. The idea that we can never be free unless we are all free is something that has guided me throughout my career. I founded Advocates for Immigrant Rights in October 2018 to be an organization that values the dignity of all people disenfranchised by the immigration system in this country and I am so proud of the work we have and will continue to achieve to help make this place a little more free for everyone.​

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Stephanie Harris

Operations manager

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Cesar Iturrino

Staff attorney

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I earned my Juris Doctorate from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, GA. There I served as a student administrator at the Emory Immigrant Legal Assistance Clinic, learning the value of making quality legal representation accessible to the local immigrant community. I am drawn to working in the immigration field because of my own background as the son of a single mother who immigrated to the U.S. from Peru when I was four years old. The choice to move thousands of miles away from home and navigate through life in a foreign country requires a great deal of sacrifice. The weight of these sacrifices is always in my mind when advocating for clients.

Julia Jones

Client advocate

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I earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois College of Law, in Chicago, IL. Before law school, I was a social worker. In that capacity, I facilitated the adoption of a 17-year-old with special needs who had been in foster care for many years. When the child met their adoptive parents they said, “I thought this day would never come.” It was a special moment! I truly believe that immigrants make our country stronger. They contribute so much, both culturally and economically, and it’s a great injustice that our society and government can be so hostile toward them. I feel privileged to be in this role and to help immigrants who have decided to make Tennessee their home

Lindsy Mendoza-Ortiz

Client advocate

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I graduated from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ, with Latin honors, earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with an emphasis on Research, Cognitive, and Social Psychology and am currently pursuing my Master of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Go Vols! One of my proudest achievements was having my senior research project in which I explored the impact of pet ownership on levels of depression and anxiety among college students presented to university leadership, to advance more pet-friendly practices on campus. As the daughter of Mexican-Yaqui immigrants, I am deeply committed to social justice and amplifying the voices of underserved communities. My work is driven by a belief in equity and the power of advocacy to create meaningful change.

Christopher Miller

Staff attorney

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I earned my Juris Doctorate from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, GA. There I served as a student administrator at the Emory Immigrant Legal Assistance Clinic, learning the value of making quality legal representation accessible to the local immigrant community. I am drawn to working in the immigration field because of my own background as the son of a single mother who immigrated to the U.S. from Peru when I was four years old. The choice to move thousands of miles away from home and navigate through life in a foreign country requires a great deal of sacrifice. The weight of these sacrifices is always in my mind when advocating for clients.

Lily Montero

case manager

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I immigrated to the United States from Venezuela six years ago, bringing with me a bachelor’s degree in law and over two decades of experience in customer service. Since arriving, I’ve leveraged my education and background to empower and support the immigrant community. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with immigrant families, offering assistance through social services and guiding them as they navigate the challenges of integrating into a new society. As an immigrant myself, I’m deeply passionate about serving others. My work focuses on providing resources, guidance, and advocacy to those adapting to a new culture and environment, helping them achieve self-sufficiency and build a stable foundation. In my free time, I cherish spending quality moments with my family, finding joy in life’s simple pleasures—whether it’s sharing laughter, creating lasting memories, or unwinding at the beach.

Ximena Moreno

client relations coordinator

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Atefa Panahi

Case manager

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I graduated from Mongolian International University with a degree in International Business Management and later earned a degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership from Union University.

I am proud to be part of Advocates for Immigrant Rights. I enjoy immigration work because I love helping people navigate complex systems and being part of life-changing moments. It feels good to know that my work makes a real difference in people’s lives. As a case manager, I help individuals and families through immigration processes, making sure they feel supported and informed every step of the way.


Stephany Perez Espinoza

doj accredited representative

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My name is Stephany Perez Espinoza and I am a DOJ Accredited Representative at AIR. My family immigrated to the United States when I was seven years old. I began my education in the United States while living in Florida and later moved to Horn Lake, MS where I graduated from High School in 2015.

I discovered a passion for helping others while working at a private immigration law office. My goal is to be compassionate towards others and provide assistance to those who have a larger role in representing immigrants throughout their journeys.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and working on art projects.




Melissa Ramirez

client relations coordinator

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I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from Middle Tennessee State University, an education that has equipped me with deep insights into human behavior and the social dynamics that shape our lives. I’ve always felt a profound calling to serve others, finding fulfillment and purpose in giving back to my community. As the child of Mexican immigrants, I have a personal connection to the challenges faced by underserved populations, which drives my passion for advocating on behalf of those whose voices are often overlooked. I believe that empathy, compassion, and kindness form the foundation of the work I do.

Miguel Rocha

Staff Attorney

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I earned my Juris Doctorate from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in Memphis, TN. It took me many years to get through school and I am so proud to serve as an advocate for immigrants. Originally from Mexico, my family and I have experienced the immigration system firsthand, allowing me to relate to our clients and guide them with sensitivity and understanding. I am continually amazed at the stories of brave men and women who venture out of their home country either for a better life or escaping violence.


Plabanee Roy

senior staff attorney

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Anita Sadat

Administrative assistant

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April Steele - Board Chair

Kathryn maceri - Secretary

Charles Pazar

Paola Buckley

Maximiliano Gluzman

 Board of Directors

 Partnerships & Coalitions

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To meet the needs of immigrants in the Regional South, three non-profit immigration legal service providers formed a coalition called Welcome South (WS) - Advocates for Immigrant Rights, Community Legal Center (CLC) and the Mid-South Immigrant Advocates (MIA). It was designed to encourage agencies across the Deep South to communicate, coordinate and collaborate in a holistic approach to the representation of a person throughout their immigration life cycle. Welcome South is working to provide a network of support and continuity of representation, pulling together disparate resources to increase our capacity for legal service throughout the region.  Through the WS coalition, we are developing an online platform through Innovation Law Lab to facilitate cross-network referrals from social service agencies to our legal programs, between our programs, to pro bono counsel and to other legal programs across the country. This online portal will help solve the problems created by distance and service gaps. With this technology, the case travels with the client during their unpredictable movements among remote detention facilities, and also increases the efficiency--and thus capacity--of our organizations to serve clients.

We envision Welcome South integrating additional partnerships to grow a strong and healthy ecosystem of legal and social services for immigrants throughout our region with the core group of three organizations propelling legal strategy for economy of scale representation.

 
 
 
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Other Partners

Arkansas Immigrant Defense // Springdale, AR

CasaLuz // Memphis, TN

Catholic Charities of Arkansas // Little Rock, AR

Catholic Charities of East Tennessee // Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City, TN

Catholic Charities of West Tennessee  // Memphis, TN

El Zocalo // Little Rock, AR

Latino Memphis // Memphis, TN

Mariposas Collective // Memphis, TN

Southeast Immigrant Rights Network

Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition

Vecinarios901 // Memphis, TN

World Relief // Memphis, TN