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, LMSW leads community engagement and communications strategies for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, working to advance narrative and policy change in partnership with immigrant communities across Michigan. Christine regularly speaks to community groups, elected officials, and advocates about issues related to immigration, inclusion, and equity. She is a member of the Michigan Advocacy Program’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and also serves as Co-Chair for the Detroit City Council’s Immigration Task Force. Previously Christine served as Director for the Welcoming Michigan project and contributed to several publications on the topic of social cohesion. In 2013 she was one of ten national leaders honored by The White House as a Champion of Change for her efforts to promote immigrant inclusion. Christine 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 a strong advocate for social justice, loves birding and dark chocolate, and is happy to call Detroit home.

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.

Diana is a Supervising Attorney with MIRC's Farmworker & Immigrant Worker Rights practice. She is a graduate of Fordham University (B.A. '04, J.D. '12). Diana's entire legal career has been dedicated to protecting and expanding the rights of immigrant workers. Diana first worked at a plaintiffs' side employment firm in New York handling class and collection actions across the country and in a variety of industries. She then worked at the Urban Justice Center's Community Development Project (now TakeRoot Justice) supporting New York City worker centers by representing their members with employment disputes and policy advocacy goals. Diana moved to Michigan in late 2016, and prior to joining MIRC, worked for Farmworker Legal Services of Michigan litigating on behalf of migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the state of Michigan. In August 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Diana to the newly created Food Security Council.

Elinor Jordan is a Supervising Attorney in the Unaccompanied Children program, where she focuses on systemic advocacy within Emergency Intake Sites. Immediately before joining MIRC, Elly founded the Survivor Law Clinic at the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, where she engaged in novel legal representation to enforce crime victim rights for survivors. She also served on the Michigan Supreme Court's Justice for All Commission in order to further access to legal services across the state. Earlier in her legal career, Elly taught and litigated cases on behalf of unaccompanied immigrant children as a Supervising Attorney with Michigan State University’s Immigration Law Clinic. While at Michigan State University College of Law ('11), Elly was the editor-in-chief of the Michigan State Law Review. Upon graduation, she served as a clerk for the Honorable David W. McKeague of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and later as an associate with firm Warner Norcross & Judd. Elly has published in multiple law reviews and journals on topics related to access-to-justice, immigration, and intimate partner violence. Before becoming a lawyer, Elly worked in El Salvador and Washington, DC on human rights and gender equity issues.

Erika is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. She volunteered for Michigan United providing support to the undocumented community regarding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Citizenship. Also volunteered during the COVID pandemic to spread reliable information, in English and Spanish, about the virus and vaccines available, as well as providing information about programs and supports available for unlawful families in need. She is passionate about helping and supporting immigrant people, especially children, through Michigan Immigrant Right Center. She has a Law Degree in Mexico and is fluent in Spanish.

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.