Staff Spotlight: Ellie Woody, DOJ Accredited Representative at CLIA
What inspired you to pursue a career in legal immigration assistance?
I witnessed the intense hostility towards immigrants in the U.S. despite the fact that this country would not exist without immigration and despite the fact that the U.S. is responsible for many of the situations abroad that cause people to flee their home countries. Immigrants deserve dignity and grace just like any other person. I hope that with my career, I can provide some relief to a group of people who are taken advantage of and mistreated.
What challenges do immigrants and refugees commonly face when seeking legal assistance, and how do you help them overcome these obstacles?
The biggest challenge is cost. Private immigration attorneys charge thousands for their services, and our clients can't afford it. Many clients are stuck in limbo — they can't get help to apply for status because they don't have reliable employment to pay for it; they can't get reliable employment because they can't afford to pay for legal assistance to obtain status. It's a vicious cycle. I am glad that CLIA can offer free and reduced-cost services to clients to end this cycle and promote fair access to legal status.
What do you find most rewarding about your work at CLIA?
I work primarily with survivors of violence. When someone's autonomy has been taken away by an abuser, they may feel they have no control over their own life or the ability to make their own choices. I find it rewarding to empower survivors to be able to make their own informed decisions about the immigration process.
What advice would you give to immigrants and refugees who are navigating the legal system for the first time?
The immigration system is exhausting and meant to be exclusionary, so you have to be your own best advocate. Keep your documents organized and keep a record of all interactions with USCIS. When working with attorneys and legal representatives, don't shy away from asking questions and making sure you understand your case completely. You are the only person with the right to make legal decisions for yourself.
How do you and your team at CLIA collaborate to ensure the best outcomes for your clients?
We are constantly asking each other questions and drawing upon others' expertise. Every application is checked over by a second pair of eyes. We are consistently meeting deadlines and doing all we can to make sure that USCIS meets its deadlines as well. Additionally, many survivor-based immigration processes require the survivor to retell their story over and over, which can be very traumatizing. CLIA's legal services work jointly with our mental health services to provide stability and support while going through the stressful, retraumatizing process of applying for immigration relief.
What are your hopes and aspirations for the future of immigration policies and support systems in our country?
There has been no comprehensive change to immigration law in nearly 30 years. Our immigration system is extremely outdated and strained. I also believe that discrimination against certain nationalities is inherent to our immigration system. I hope that immigration laws can be updated to reflect immigration patterns in the 21st century. I hope that new policies are put in place that are less discriminatory and provide more accessible pathways to legal status to people of all national origins.
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