IMMIGRANT DEFENDERS LAW CENTER (5)

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ILIANA ALEXIs GomEZ Phone: (909) 286-5658 • E-Mail: lan,,i@immdef.org EDUCATION UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, California J.D. Candidate, May 2017 UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California B.A., Legal Studies, May 2014 Honors: Magna Cum Laude EXPERIENCE Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Los Angeles, CA August 2017-Present StaffAttorney, NQRP • Represented immigrants deemed mentally incompetent to represent themselves in immigration court, wherein such cases heavily involve criminal -immigration issues. • Had a denial overturned by the Board of Immigration Appeals under a clear error standard. • Granted asylum on three cases for mentally ill men from Mexico. • Granted asylum for a mentally ill woman from El Salvador. • Granted asylum for a bisexual man from El Salvador. • Granted termination after extensive briefing regarding the standard for granting relief in immigration court after post -conviction relief. The Bronx Defenders, Bronx, New York Legallntern, Immigration Practice Summer 2016 • Worked with removal defense and plea consult practices; work primarily focused on issues at the intersection of immigration law and criminal law. • Conducted legal research on array of issues, including criminal bars to immigration relief and the interplay between criminal convictions and both removal and inadmissibility. • Drafted briefs, including a brief arguing that a client was eligible for withholding of removal. • Participated in six -week trial advocacy course taught by office staff attorneys, learning about opening statements, direct and cross examination, and closing statements. UCLA School of Law Asylum Clinic, Los Angeles, California Spring 2016 Student; Pub& CounselPlacement • Worked one day a week at Public Counsel as part of semester -long clinical course • Worked with student partner and client to prepare asylum application to submit to USCIS. • Drafted client declaration; completed I-589 form, researched and compiled country conditions evidence. • Worked with client in removal proceedings, communicated directly with client and two witnesses to draft client and witness declarations. CARECEN Youth Deportation Clinic, Los Angeles, CA Volunteer Fall 2015 Conducted intake interviews of undocumented immigrant youth in Spanish to assist attorneys with assessment of eligibility for immigration relief.