Maria J. Batres

At US-ILC, not only can I use my expertise to serve our clients, but to also support other team members regarding how we can best represent the immigrant community, especially during the most challenging times. There is a sense of community and shared purpose among us, which is to pursue the best outcomes on our clients’ behalf. I was initially drawn to US-ILC’s organized structure and commitment to ethically sound and creative methods for supporting clients.

Before becoming an attorney, I was a middle and high school educator for 12 years. After graduating from law school, I spent six years as a prosecutor in two of Georgia’s largest counties, focusing in part on victim advocacy, particularly for survivors of domestic violence. The majority of my career has been spent in immigration law, a field where I wanted to fulfill a need for knowledgeable, compassionate advocates who understand and care deeply about the community they serve.

I am now a case analysis attorney within the FOIA/Records Department at US-ILC. My position allows me to use the full range of my legal experience, since my work entails reviewing clients’ immigration background and, when relevant, their criminal history. I then use that information to research potential risks, identify available options, and develop strategies tailored to each client’s goals, whether those involve lawful status, citizenship, work authorization, or other immigration benefits.

Because my background consists of a mixture of immigration and criminal law, I can provide a unique perspective in identifying forms of relief that may be available to a client. my experience as a prosecutor enables me to analyze criminal charges and sentencing issues and determine how they may impact an immigration case. Just as importantly, my background in education has given me the capacity to explain complex findings and options in a way that clients can understand, which then gives them the information they need to make informed decisions.

Outside of my legal work, I am a first-born U.S. citizen in a family of Guatemalan immigrants. As a child, I witnessed my parents going through the citizenship process. I remain closely connected to my heritage and am fluent in Spanish and English. I enjoy traveling and experiencing various places and cultures, especially with family and friends. It broadens my perspective and facilitates my connection with people from different backgrounds. I also love spending time with my Westie, Justice. Having a dog to take along on outings has opened me up to a whole new community of friends.