Héctor Ruiz Email and Phone Number

Technical assistance for program implementation and management for the Immigration Court Helpdesk and Family Group Legal Orientation Programs, administered in collaboration with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Direct strategic program development and implementation, and oversee and supervise execution of programming for affirmative immigration services, removal defense representation for Unaccompanied Children, complex universal removal defense for adults and families, and critical wraparound social services and referrals for individuals seeking to obtain lawful immigration status. Liaise with local and national partners and other IRC offices to orchestrate pro se workshops and information sessions to meet high demand for services in excess of capacity. Collaborate with program managers and headquarters leadership to strategize around development, outreach, and fundraising efforts to expand immigration legal services programming and capacity. Ensure program data is collected consistently, managed appropriately, and reported timely.

Supervised attorney, DOJ accredited representative, and legal assistants in pre-entry, removal defense, and detention advocacy, providing legal strategy, guidance, and direct legal representation on a high case volume. Regularly spoke with media or gave public talks on asylum law issues in light of shifting political landscapes.

Successfully represented, and provided mentorship for pro bono counsel of, over 150 immigrants and asylum-seekers on all asylum matters before the DHS, the El Paso Immigration Courts, the BIA, and the Tenth Circuit.

Pro bono volunteer mentorship and legal support for detained asylum-seeking parents separated from their children during the executive “zero tolerance” policy at the US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas.

Represent LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants and asylum-seekers in removal proceedings before the New York City and Newark immigration courts in detained and non-detained settings, and in affirmative proceedings before USCIS.Supervise legal interns on substantive legal assignments related to immigration law, such as brief and memorandum writing and client-specific issue analyses.

Drafted Refugee Status Determinations; prepared country conditions research to support assessment interviews. Wrote analyses on countries’ asylum policies, nationality laws, and compliance with international obligations related to human rights instruments.

Drafted briefs for Asylum and SIJS cases, and assessed potential claims for relief in deportation defense clinic.

Drafted affidavits and briefs for child asylum-seekers and appeared before the San Francisco Immigration Court. Gave Know Your Rights presentations and prepared Asylum applications in detention center clinic.

Interviewed NGO, civil society, and government representatives on Guatemala’s legal framework for femicide and other violence against women to gather country conditions research for Asylum claims in the U.S.

Prepared successful Parole request, secured Stay of Removal, and prepared Asylum applications and affidavits, competency hearing motion, bond petition, and brief before the detained El Paso Immigration Court and the BIA.

Managed and filed about 150 U Visa, VAWA, AOS, and Consular Processing cases.Interfaced with law enforcement agencies and social service providers in advocating for benefits.