Staff

Amanda Schwartz is a Staff Attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, where she is a part of MIRC’s unaccompanied children’s team. She is originally from the Metro Detroit area. Amanda received her B.A. from the University of Michigan, where she studied International Security, Norms and Cooperation, as well as double majoring in Spanish. Amanda went on to Boston University School of Law for her J.D. During law school, Amanda was in the Individual Rights Clinic, where she represented clients in a variety of family law and immigration law matters.

Ana Raquel Devereaux has been an attorney with Michigan Immigrant Rights Center since December of 2014. She began her work with MIRC representing unaccompanied children seeking asylum, SIJS, and T- visas. Ana Raquel has also represented victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Ana Raquel now supervises MIRC's unaccompanied children's team, which includes attorneys and non-attorneys accros MIRC's three offices representing children in federal foster care and released to sponsors. Ana Raquel is a fluent Spanish speaker and she attended Calvin College for her undergraduate degree in International Relations with a minor in Latin American Studies and received her J.D. from Wayne State University.

Anna joined the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center as a staff attorney in 2013 and currently serves on MIRC's farmworker and immigrant worker litigation team and advocacy team. She began her time at MIRC focused on impact litigation and policy advocacy for a broad range of immigrant rights issues, including federal litigation to ensure immigrant access to public benefits and programs. She has also representing clients in seeking U-visas, naturalization, asylum, and in removal proceedings after workplace raids. Anna graduated from the University of Michigan Law School and the University of California, Berkeley. She grew up in California where she worked at Head Start and for the USDA Agrability program, prior to law school. She is fluent in Spanish.

Belinda Orozco is a Supervising Attorney with Michigan Immigrant Rights Center’s Grand Rapids office and is part of a team of attorneys that represent unaccompanied children. Belinda received her B.A. from the University of Texas-Pan Am and received her J.D. from Western Michigan Cooley Law School. During law school, she interned at the Access to Justice Clinic and volunteered at Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON). Shortly after graduating from law school, Belinda worked at Immigration Legal Services (ILS) of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids. Before moving to Michigan in 2013, Belinda was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and was a Spanish bilingual teacher.

Brett Lee Hector is a Data Coordinator at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC). Previously, he has served the immigrant and refugee community as a Department of Justice Accredited Representative (partial) and as an AmeriCorps VISTA. He is eager to utilize his past experience to support all the legal advocates at MIRC and highlight MIRC’s service to the community. Brett Lee has a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from Indiana University and is attending the part time JD program at the University of Toledo, College of Law. He enjoys reading James Baldwin, watching Star Trek, and hearing new stories. Brett Lee believes that diversity makes our community more creative, conscientious, and valuable.

Christine Sauvé joined MIRC in 2011 and is based in Detroit. As Welcoming Michigan Director, Christine leads MIRC’s statewide immigrant inclusion initiative. Through dialogue, shared meals, education, and training, Christine works to foster mutual respect and understanding among community members. Christine also supports and collaborates with Michigan's Welcoming Cities & Counties, helping local leaders implement more immigrant-friendly policies and practices. Christine is a multicultural community organizer dedicated to creating social change. In 2013 she was one of ten national leaders honored by The White House as a Champion of Change for her efforts to advance immigrant inclusion. Christine previously served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mauritania and Senegal, and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. She is a graduate of the New Detroit Multicultural Leadership program, Detroit Equity Action Lab, Welcoming Communities Transatlantic Exchange, and Detroit Revitalization Fellows. Christine received her MSW and undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. She is happy to call Detroit home and contribute to the creation of more welcoming communities across Michigan.

Dalia Torres Leon is a Legal Assistant for the UC Team at Michigan Immigrant Rights Center at the Grand Rapids, MI office location. She was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in a small town near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Born into a Mexican immigrant family, Dalia has a deep understanding of the immigration process and the emotional challenges it entails. At an early age, Dalia helped her parents navigate the immigration process, an experience that led her to become strongly passionate for the universal rights of immigrants. Her family’s history with immigration also motivates Dalia to advocate and assist members in her community undergoing similar situations to her own. Dalia graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2020, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies with a minor in Human Rights. During her undergraduate career, Dalia obtained work experience in internships in the area of legal services. Because of this, she comes to her new position with expanded professional development and knowledge surrounding the cultural backgrounds of diverse populations. Dalia is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Deddi joined the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center in January 2022. She is a bilingual legal assistant working specifically with farm and agricultural workers. Deddi was born in Puerto Rico and is a native Spanish speaker. She resided in Boston before moving to Michigan in 2005. Deddi worked many years as a medical assistant providing interpreting services for the Latinx community at various Michigan community organizations and mental health foundations. She transitioned to legal assistant during the pandemic working alongside a private practice immigration attorney. Deddi enjoys working with the public and helping her immigrant worker rights team. She is dedicated to advocating for immigrant rights, and racial equity.

Edith is an office assistant and legal assistant for Grand Rapids. Being born from Mexican parents and coming from a family of Immigrants, makes her someone who has a deep personal understanding of the immigration process. Her experience has helped her become a passionate professional constantly striving to continue to learn more about immigration law.  She has volunteered for a nonprofit organization in Grand Rapids that focuses on immigrant rights. Edith is dedicated to advocating for immigrant rights, and racial equity. Edith is fluent in English and Spanish and has been working in the immigration field since 2016. In her free time, Edith likes to spend time with her family, read, and be outdoors.

Emily Smith is a staff attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center’s Kalamazoo Office. She is part of a team of attorneys that represent unaccompanied children. Emily received her B.A. in Global and International Studies from Western Michigan University and received her Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Emily received her J.D. from Wayne State University Law School. During law school, she worked at the Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic and the Free Legal Aid Clinic. Her work is guided by the principles of social equity and social justice, and she strives to shed light on the collision of these principles with the traditional notions of charity that guide the nonprofit sector.

Eva Alvarez is the Public Policy Coordinator for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and formerly a Department of Justice Accredited Representative representing clients before the Department of Homeland Security and Executive Office for Immigration Review. She focuses on advancing key local, state, and federal policy issues impacting immigrants, farmworkers, and immigrant workers. She holds her Master's Degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University (WMU) with a concentration in nonprofit management and leadership. She serves on the Kalamazoo County ID Advisory Board and has served as the Director of Advocacy and Legislative Affairs for the Graduate Student Association at WMU. She is the co-founder of Empowering Latina Leaders and Advocates for Success (ELLAS) - the first professional network in Southwest Michigan In 2018, she was awarded the Vision Award by the Hispanic Latino Commission of Michigan. She has an interest in social and economic justice, especially in the area of worker and immigrant rights. Eva is fluent in Spanish.