Stradley Ronon, KIND Secure Immigration Win for Longtime Pro Bono Client

From left are Lara, Karen Michell and Jamilah.

Along with longtime pro bono partner Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Stradley Ronon recently obtained a pro bono victory in securing Lawful Permanent Resident status (Green Card) for a longtime client of the firm. 

Building upon the firm’s longstanding tradition of voluntary pro bono work, managing counsel Lara Burke met client Karen Michell a decade ago when she was only 10 years old while Lara was representing her brother. Karen Michell and her brother entered the United States as unaccompanied minors and were both survivors of abandonment, abuse and neglect.

At the time Lara represented Karen Michell’s brother, there was no legal avenue through which Karen Michell could obtain a visa. However, after a change in the law that allowed more children to pursue the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status process, Lara reached out to Karen Michell and worked tirelessly alongside paralegal Jamilah Muhammad to navigate complex immigration policy, which was particularly difficult since the case involved an unmarried client under the age of 21.

Through their hard work, Karen Michell obtained her Green Card and can live permanently in the United States. Now, Karen Michell intends to attend college to study cybersecurity.