Katie F. Email & Phone Number

Falls Church, VA, US

Fairfax, Virginia, United States

• Provide direct legal representation to low-income immigrants in a variety of complex and/or novel matters before EOIR and USCIS including, but not limited to, SIJS, asylum, VAWA self-petitions, U and T visa.
• Train, mentor, and provide ongoing subject-area supervision to junior attorneys, paralegals, and other legal staff.
• Represent Ayuda and our clients at local and regional stakeholder and coalition meetings and participate in local and national advocacy initiatives concerning immigrants and victims of crime.
• Collaborate with Ayuda’s Social Services staff to ensure provision of holistic services.
• Assist with the preparation and submission of grant applications and reports.

Fairfax, Virginia, United States

• Provide direct legal representation to low-income immigrants in a variety of complex matters before EOIR and USCIS.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert on human trafficking and provide mentorship to junior staff.
• Represent Ayuda in the community through outreach events targeting potential clients, pro bono attorneys, partner organizations, government agencies, and/or by communicating with the media.
• Contribute to Ayuda’s pro bono program by mentoring at clinics and on pro bono pipeline cases.
• Support Ayuda development projects, including assisting with proposals for funding and grant reporting.
• Supervise interns and junior staff.

Fairfax, Virginia, United States

• Provide direct legal representation to low-income immigrants in a variety of matters before EOIR and USCIS.
• Advocate on behalf of clients who have been victims of crimes, including human trafficking, in interactions with law enforcement.
• Attend local and regional stakeholder, coalition, and advocacy meetings as a representative of Ayuda and on behalf of Ayuda’s client population.

Fairfax, VA

• Provide direct immigration legal services to immigrant survivors of labor and sex trafficking before USCIS and EOIR, including both affirmative and defensive representation.
• Accompany survivors to law enforcement interviews and advocate on their behalf.
• Conduct outreach and education activities, provide referrals, and leverage pro bono resources.

Cairo Governorate, Egypt

• Conducted refugee status determination (RSD) interviews in accordance with established norms and standards, with a special focus on exclusion and other complex cases, unaccompanied and separated child applicants, and.
• Conducted country of origin research relevant to individual claims. and prepared reasoned recommendations on whether asylum seekers should be recognized as refugees under UNHCR's mandate.
• Identified and ensured proper referral of vulnerable cases.

Cairo, Egypt

• Supervised team of Egyptian lawyers providing legal assistance and advice to individuals seeking refugee status with UNHCR Egypt, as well as those who have been rejected at first instance and on appeal.
• Supervised team of lawyers preparing resettlement referrals to UNHCR.
• Prepared and reviewed testimonies and legal arguments for RSD, appeal, reopening applications, as well as resettlement referrals to UNHCR.
• Prepared asylum seekers for and accompanied asylum seekers to their interviews at UNHCR. Liaised with UNHCR focal points on behalf of clients.
• Provided ongoing training to unit lawyers on interview techniques, refugee law developments, and other matters.
• Managed client database and units reporting.

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

• Advised and counseled individuals undergoing refugee status determination (RSD) process in Tanzania.
• Assisted clients during the resettlement process.
• Authored legal analysis and drafted text to positively influence refugee legislation and policy reform in Tanzania.
• Assisted refugee and asylum-seeker clients in other legal matters.

Newark, NJ

• Interviewed and screened applications for victim participation at the International Criminal Court.
• Conducted individual needs assessments for Darfurian refugee clients and referred them to appropriate service providers.
• Screened clients for asylum and other immigration assistance.
• Formulated and implemented development strategy.
• Drafted press statements and letters to United Nations officials on international justice and accountability.
• Recruited and supervised staff and interns.

Greater Philadelphia Area

• Represented clients in immigration cases and international human rights projects.
• Submitted report on immigrant rights for 2013 review of U.S. compliance with ICCPR.
• Authored case study on Buduburam Refugee Camp to inform how the international community manages prolonged refugee crises.
• Led workshops with medical students and grassroots leaders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on how to identify human rights violations.

Doctor Of Law (Jd), Interdisciplinary Certificate In Global Human Rights, Cum Laude

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Interdisciplinary Studies, High Honors