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 Staff 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.

Debora Cunha is a Legal Assistant at our Ypsilanti Office, focused on the Unaccompanied Minors Program . As an immigrant herself, Debora arrived as a minor in the United States from Brazil and is happy to assist unaccompanied minors through her own experiences. She is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish and is pursuing a major in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolutions. Her hobbies include kickboxing and scuba diving.

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.

Gladys is a legal assistant for the Unaccompanied Minors Team in Ypsilanti. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with an Honors degree in History. She specializes in early 20th-Century American history with a focus on the Constitution, the impact of nationalism, and social justice. She also enjoys art and music. Gladys was born in South Haven, MI to immigrant parents and has since developed a strong sense of justice and protectiveness toward the immigrant community. Her goal is to become an attorney and continue to assist the community through public policy, litigation, and overall human compassion. Gladys is fluent in Spanish.

Hannah Lehker (she/her) works in the Kalamazoo office as MIRC's Program Administrator, and is a queer, fat, White femme. Hannah started at MIRC as an intern working with migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, before becoming a Legal Assistant for the Unaccompanied Children's Program. These varied roles provided Hannah with insight into many aspects of work at MIRC, preparing her for her current position as a program-wide administrator. Hannah graduated from Kalamazoo College in 2017, with a degree in Spanish and Anthropology/Sociology. She spent six months studying in Valparaíso, Chile, and speaks Spanish. Outside of work hours you are most likely to find Hannah at the beach.

Inés joined MIRC in 2021 as a Program Coordinator within the Unaccompanied Children Team in Ypsilanti. Inés grew up in Spain, then studied and worked in France and England, and eventually moved to the United States. She holds a degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the Complutense University of Madrid and a specialization in International Relations from Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs. Inés has been involved in human rights work since 2013. In her previous job, Inés supported grassroots organizations working on forced displacement and migration issues in Cambridge, MA. Since her arrival in Michigan in 2018, Inés has been involved in immigrants’ rights advocacy through local organizations, and in 2020, she graduated with a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy. Inés serves on the advisory board of the Michigan Poverty Law Program (MPLP) as the immigrant rights representative. Inés is committed to bringing positive change through policy advocacy and research at the intersection of human rights, migration, and development. Inés is fluent in Spanish and French.