As changes continue to unfold with the DACA program and many immigrant youth have been left out of the program, it is important that immigrant youth are being screened and informed of all immigration options. Immigration law provides a path for individuals to obtain lawful permanent residence through employment-based (EB) “preference immigrant” categories, but it is often an unfamiliar area for many practicing immigration law. This webinar will focus on screening for EB options, the process for applying for an EB visa, and obtaining a green card. Presenters will also give information on resources available for those who are interested in learning more about the process and partnering with agencies already working in this area of law.
Veronica Garcia, Staff Attorney - ILRC
Veronica joined the ILRC in December 2017 as a San Joaquin Valley Law Fellow. Prior to joining ILRC, Veronica completed an Equal Justice Works Fellowship at Centro Legal de La Raza as an DACA/DAPA Emerson Fellow. Veronica is a graduate of Howard University School of Law. During Law school, Veronica interned at various immigrant right organizations, including Kids in Need of Defense and New York Legal Aid. Additionally, Veronica was recognized by the Hispanic Bar Association of Washington D.C. (HBA-DC) for her commitment to the advancement of the Hispanic community by being awarded the inaugural HBA-DC Foundation Scholarship.
As an immigrant who grew up in Oakland California, Veronica strives to use her legal education and experience working directly with immigrant communities.
Krsna is based in San Francisco, California, and focuses on immigration enforcement issues, including state and local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration agencies in unlawfully deporting immigrants, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals advocacy, and surveillance issues relating to noncitizens.
Krsna joins the ILRC with a wealth of personal and professional immigration experience. Having immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was only four months old, Krsna grew up undocumented. Prior to law school, Krsna worked closely with the ILRC to establish a legal services program at Immigrants Rising. As their Legal Services Manager, Krsna provided legal support to undocumented youth throughout the country
Directly feeling the effects of our unjust immigration system, Krsna quickly became interested in attending law school to understand the legal system from a different lens.
While in law school, Krsna worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Washington D.C. and the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California where he supported litigation regarding free speech and racial discrimination issues. He also participated in the Asylum and Convention Against Torture Appellate Clinic, where he helped represent clients before the Board of Immigration Appeals. Krsna also volunteered with the European Council on Refugees and was an editorial member for the Cornell Legal Information Institute U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin.
Krsna earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Davis, and his law degree from Cornell Law School where he received the 2017 Freeman Award for Civil-Human Rights for his commitment to civil rights and public service.
Dan Berger, Partner - Curran, Berger & Kludt
Dan Berger is a partner at the immigration law firm of Curran, Berger & Kludt in Northampton, MA, an Immigration Fellow/Visiting Scholar at Cornell Law School, and an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. He is on the Legal Advisory Board of the Presidents’ Alliance on Immigration & Higher Education, on the Legal Advisory Council of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, and a member of the USCIS Liaison Committee and the Afghanistan Task Force for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
He is a frequent writer and speaker on immigration, including after the 2020 election for the Brookings Institute on recommendations for the Biden/Harris Administration and also on strategies to support international entrepreneurs. He co-edited updated editions of Immigration Options for Academics and Researchers and the International Adoption Sourcebook released in 2021. He also wrote an Issue Brief for the American Council on Education (ACE) after the 2016 election, and was a co-author on a “Note” on immigration in 2017 for the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). Dan has been quoted in various media including the Atlantic Magazine, USA Today, Al Jazeera and the Huffington Post, and is an advisor for the American Immigration Council on their informational website on STEM immigration initiatives.
AILA recently awarded Dan the “President’s Commendation” for “exemplary service to the President and AILA,” including being on the USCIS Headquarters Liaison Committee, writing practice advisories, serving on the AILA Afghanistan Taskforce, and being on the editorial board of the AILA Law Journal.
Dan has a particular focus on DACA and undocumented students, evaluating options for longer term status, including in monthly sessions for students at thedream.us and the International Language Institute Free English Program. He is also an immigration law adviser a grant on the use of DNA technology in immigration, and co-authored a peer reviewed article in Science on the use of DNA technology to address family separation at the border.
Dan developed his interest in immigration at Harvard University, where he studied immigration history and taught English to adult refugees. He graduated from Cornell Law School and practiced immigration law for over 20 years. His current resume can be found here.
