Lorena Rivas’ reputation as a prominent immigration attorney continues to grow. The Fry & Elder partner and standout Oklahoma immigration attorney recently penned an article which was featured in the Oklahoma 2019 Super Lawyers® Magazine.
Rivas’ article titled “The Front Line” documented her experiences this past May volunteering at the Karnes County Residential Center – a detention facility which houses women who are asylum applicants and were recently detained at the boarder.
Through the University of Tulsa College of Law immigration student section, Rivas supervised a group of 10 law students who teamed up with RAICES (a non-profit organization which seeks to help immigrants) to help asylum applicants with their credible fear interviews and declaration drafts.
The decorated Oklahoma immigration attorney compared the experience of volunteering at the Texas detention facility and working with applicants still being detained to being on “the front line,” stating that the work days spanned 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.
Rivas had this to say about the eye-opening experience,
“I thought that, as an attorney, I’d be working 8 to 5, but this is non-stop work,” she said. “It’s very intense. It takes a heavy emotional toll. But what keeps me going are the wins – whether it’s gaining status for somebody, keeping somebody here, or getting them out of jail. What also keeps me going is the need.”
Accomplished Oklahoma Immigration Attorney Rivas in High Demand
Rivas’ featured article is the most recent installation to what has been an impressive work portfolio for Rivas this year and since joining Fry & Elder in 2015.
One month after volunteering at the Karnes County Residential Center, Rivas won the AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Dreams Contest and delivered a riveting speech at the organization’s National Convention in June.
The decorated Oklahoma immigration attorney has been named a Super Lawyers® Rising Star each of the past two years and was recognized as the 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner – an honor annually given to a lawyer who advocates for human rights or the empowerment of women.
Considered by many to be an immigration law authority figure, Rivas has traveled to Washington D.C. multiple times to meet with legislators to discuss immigration law reform and improved policies.
Rivas was additionally recognized in 2016 by the Tulsa Business & Legal News as being one of the city’s most accomplished professional women with their annual Women of Distinction Awards.
Earlier this year, Rivas attended the 2019 American Immigration Lawyers Association Midwinter Conference in Indian Wells, California where she co-presented with well-known immigration law practitioner Kate Jastrom on the controversial immigration law decision “Matter of A-B-.”
Following the duo’s presentation, Jastrom said she was very impressed with Rivas.
“It was a tremendous pleasure presenting at the AILA conference with Lorena,” Jastrom said. “She’s clearly extremely knowledgeable about asylum law, and she made an excellent contribution to our AILA practice advisory, showing attorneys the concrete steps they need to take to effectively represent their clients.”
Rivas began her article in the Oklahoma 2019 Super Lawyers® Magazine by providing background into an event growing up involving her family which helped pave the way for her to pursue a career in immigration law.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have been given a variety of platforms to share my personal experiences and what it means to me to advocate for my clients as an immigration attorney,” Rivas said. “I am very appreciative of the opportunity Super Lawyers® provided me and hope to bring about more awareness and change to our current immigration law policies.”
Rivas, along with her talented staff at Fry & Elder, offer a diverse portfolio of immigration law services tailored to meet the individual needs of each clients.
Rivas services include:
- Asylum
- Business Immigration
- Citizenship/Naturalization
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
- Deportation/Removal Defense
- Family Immigration
- Fiancé Visa
- Humanitarian Relief
- Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
- Waivers
To set up a personal consultation with Lorena Rivas, contact Fry & Elder today.