Attorney of the Week

Safe Passage, September 12, 2016


The Safe Passage Project is proud to feature Sofia Dee as this week’s Attorney of the Week in recognition of the recent victory in her client’s asylum case and Sofia’s continuous efforts towards achieving the Safe Passage mission of creating a safe and stable life for immigrant children.

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Over the past five years, Sofia has worked tirelessly to assist Miguel,* a 21-year-old male from Guatemala, with his claim for asylum. Since Sofia first took on the case in 2011, the government has presented an uphill battle at every stage of the process. Although it has been a challenging experience, the immigration judge finally granted relief this past Tuesday – making every hour and year devoted to the case worth it for Sofia. With this grant of asylum, Miguel’s future is bright: he will be able to find more stable work, re-enroll in school, and eventually pursue citizenship and bring his parents to the United States. Reflecting on this experience, Sofia stated, “Miguel is a great kid and deserves to be happy and safe. I am glad I could be a part of the team that made it possible.”

In addition to Miguel’s case, Sofia has worked extensively with Safe Passage over the years by conducting numerous client intakes at the surge dockets in immigration court as well as assisting another Safe Passage client with her asylum case. Sofia is drawn to this work because she enjoys giving back to the immigrant community and helping immigrants navigate the complex and confusing immigration system. Sofia, a New York Law School graduate, also has a strong relationship with the staff of the Safe Passage Project. Sofia stated, “Lenni Benson was my mentor in law school and is really the reason why I chose to enter this field.” Sofia, now an experienced immigration attorney herself, followed Ms. Benson’s example and has helped mentor Ms. Benson’s students. Sofia explained: “I think it is essential to help this next generation of young lawyers and expose them to as much real world experience as possible.”

Sofia is an Associate Attorney at the Law Offices of Harold Dee, where she specializes in immigration and visa law. After graduating from Fordham University, Sofia received her law degree from New York Law School in 2008. While in law school, Sofia gained experience in immigration law through interning at non-profit organizations, where she helped low-income individuals file VAWA and asylum applications. Sofia also has experience interning with business immigration firms and has assisted clients with various types of employment-based visas. As a Senior Litigation Associate at Yerman & Associates, Sofia represented over 500 clients before USCIS and the immigration courts, with a focus on asylum and Cancellation of Removal cases. Sofia’s legal background demonstrates both her expertise in this field and passion for assisting immigrants throughout the United States.

Safe Passage is so grateful for the incredible work and dedication that Sofia has provided our clients with over the years and we look forward to continuing to have Sofia as part of the Safe Passage family in the future.

 

* Name has been changed to protect the client’s privacy.