Sherry Fuertes

US-ILC dedicates multiple resources and creates specialized positions to meet client needs and improve services. The firm’s core values closely align with my own, which was a major factor in my decision to join the firm. Now, I provide unique support to clients going through difficult immigration processes. Although I was born in the United States, I was raised in Mexico and returned as a teenager. As such, I also experienced firsthand the challenges of facing reintegration and cultural differences between countries. I now apply that sensitivity and insight to my work.

I have 15 years of experience in the immigration field. During the first ten years of my career, I handled VAWA, U, and T visa cases, I-601 waivers, Cancellation of Removal, immigration court matters, and family-based petitions. For the first four years, I mainly concentrated on removal cases before transitioning to I-130 petitions, Adjustment of Status applications, I-601 waivers, DACA requests, SIJS petitions, and immigrant visa cases related to removal proceedings.

Experiencing the trauma often associated with these relief categories sometimes made it tempting to become cynical. However, I learned to balance empathy with objectivity to handle these difficult situations professionally. Over the past five years, I have specialized in employment-based immigration, gaining expertise across many visa categories. While I enjoy this work, I relish the challenges that humanitarian relief and family petitions pose for me.

I serve as duty paralegal in the Client Affairs department, where we support the paralegals by managing pending cases and communicating with clients in both Spanish and English until their cases are adjudicated. My responsibilities include taking ownership of each case after filing, maintaining client relationships by providing them with regular updates, and collaborating with the case coordinator and paralegals to address any issues that may arise – such as delays beyond normal processing times. We ensure clients understand that we monitor their cases periodically and they can reach out to us with questions.

Creativity is a guiding principle in my life and work. Professionally, it means finding innovative solutions for client issues; and personally, it means participating in crafting activities such as painting, clay work, and scrapbooking. Painting, especially with oil and acrylic, has become a meaningful outlet for me. I also value staying active and connecting with nature, especially through hiking, which provides me with both a physical challenge and a sense of accomplishment as I get older. I particularly enjoy weekend hikes in North Carolina’s mountain ranges, and I look forward to climbing local mountains on a weekly basis. One day I plan to tackle more challenging peaks.