Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana hosted a continuing legal education event Friday to learn more about the immigration experience.
Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt welcomed everyone to the event and said it was important to reflect on the importance of diversity in the legal community.
Attorney Alfredo Estrada with Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP gave a presentation on “The Immigrant Experience: Latinos in Indiana and Beyond.”
Estrada started by explaining who all is involved with the immigration process and what terms like “Entry Without Inspection” mean.
He showed a chart of how long it can take to get a family-sponsored visa — sometimes decades. Most people immigrating to the United States come from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines.
Estrada then went through one of his first immigration cases.
Three sisters, ages ranging from 8 to 12, came to the U.S. alone. They traveled all the way to Gary to find their mother.
They were referred to Estrada by someone the mom already knew. Estrada said that is common in this practice area.
“Usually get referred by someone they trust,” he said.
When the three girls entered the U.S. in 2017, they received a notice to appear and were facing deportation.
Estrada started with the Special Immigrant Juvenile Process and then worked on making their mother the guardian.
That process takes years, Estrada said.
Once the girls ended their deportation status, the next step was to get their green cards.
Estrada recalled the day in immigration court in Chicago with the girls and their mom crying, just scared of what may happen. He said he was half therapist that day.
“It’s not prejudiced but definitely traumatic,” Estrada said when talking about the experience they face in immigration court.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 global pandemic hit and not only backed up courts, but the sister’s mom died from COVID.
The girls, now six years later, were approved for their green card just last month.
“These kids are the lucky ones,” Estrada said.
During that six years, the girls went to school in Hammond, where they could learn in Spanish and English. Estrada said Lake County has a thriving Latino community that the girls get to grow up in.
He added that there aren’t enough attorneys in this practice area, but it’s not something an attorney can just dabble in.
He explained that it’s an area that an attorney has to devote their practice to because it’s always changing, especially with each presidential administration.
Estrada also explained that immigration cases like the one he gave an example as can cost at least $10,000.
He ended his presentation by mentioning two people he wanted to honor: Rodolfo Gonzales, a Mexican-American poet, and Valentino Martinez, Estrada’s mentor who helped him study for the LSAT.
“We should celebrate individuals like him during Hispanic Heritage Month,” Estrada said.
He said he hoped with his presentation to show how long the immigration process is and give it a human touch.
Attorney Dallin Lykins with the Indiana State Bar Association’s Latino Committee closed the ceremony by adding that it’s important to look around, ask questions and listen.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.