NAVIGATING IMMIGRATION CASEWORK
POPVOX Foundation’s Casework Navigator program presents a specialized webinar series on immigration casework for Congressional staff. Featuring expert attorneys and staff from the American Immigration Law Association (AILA), these sessions will explore the changing landscape of immigration casework, share strategies for successful agency inquiries, and connect staff with valuable resources, including local AILA chapters. We will also be joined by guest co-host Meghan Vogel, a former Senior Immigration Caseworker from the office of Senator Sherrod Brown, for practical insights on how Congressional offices can triage and manage immigration casework.
ABOUT THIS TRAINING
AILA attorneys discuss processes and best practices for family reunification petitions, refugee/asylum cases, and humanitarian programs. This session covers common challenges in family-based immigration casework and effective strategies for agency communication.
SPEAKERS
Cristina Santiago was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Puerto Rico, School of Law in 2012. She also earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. Since 2018, Cristina has practiced immigration law exclusively. She has experience with complex family and humanitarian-based immigration, including criminal analysis, appeals and deportation defense. Cristina is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and currently services as a member of the USCIS High Impact Adjudications Assistance Committee.
Blanca Hernandez joined the American Immigration Lawyers Associate (AILA) in 2018 as Liaison Coordinator to assist with what was then, the Government Relations’ Individual Case Assistance component, which provided AILA members with case assistance review and administrative advocacy on problematic cases before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Over the years, Blanca’s role, as well as the case assistance component have transitioned into a High Impact component, which has enabled AILA to assist a wider cast of members by collecting practice trends to raise to the attention of USCIS. In doing so, AILA has been able to advocate for a wider resolution of practice trends and provide USCIS with recommendations to improve how the agency processes and adjudicates certain cases. This new component has allowed AILA to provide policy recommendations to the agency. During her tenure, Blanca has staffed various committees dealing with USCIS, CBP Office of Field Operations, and employment I-9 Verification matters. Blanca currently serves as the Supervisory Policy & Practice Associate
MODERATORS
Anne Meeker is Deputy Director of POPVOX Foundation, and a former House caseworker. She was a founding member of the POPVOX Foundation team as Director of Special Initiatives. She previously served as Director of Constituent Services for Congressman Seth Moulton, where she worked to use data and technology to deliver smarter casework services to residents of the MA06. Anne holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology from the University of Oxford (St. Hugh's College), and an MSc in History from the London School of Economics. She is also a proud Clevelander, and will take any opportunity to talk up the Rust Belt.
Meghan Vogel is a lifelong Ohioan and was proud to serve in the Office of US Senator Sherrod Brown, beginning in 2017 as a Constituent Advocate and then as the Lead Immigration Constituent Advocate until the end of the Senator's term in 2024. Over seven years, she helped countless Ohioans navigate complex immigration processes with compassion and knowledge. She is a 2017 graduate of Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Affairs at Indiana University, where she will graduate in December.