Over the years, ProBAR has been home to law student groups, short-term and long-term volunteers, pro bono attorneys, and social justice advocates from around the country. At ProBAR, we found community, inspiration and—for many of us—a calling. ProBAR alumni have gone on to become judges, law firm partners, asylum officers, social workers, professors, and leaders in various fields across the country. ProBAR alumni have argued cases in the 5th Circuit, created industry-leading podcasts, advised presidential administrations, and even started nonprofits. But no matter where our paths take us, ProBAR will always be home.

Almost 20 years ago, I joined ProBAR as a paralegal, traveling from detention center to detention center providing Know Your Rights and legal relief screenings across the Rio Grande Valley. I would lean on my experience as an educator to help me teach detained children about their legal rights, eventually becoming a senior paralegal, and then ProBAR’s first DOJ Accredited Representative. ProBAR made me the advocate I am today; it gave me grit and taught me to be adaptable, tenacious, and creative.  

After six years with ProBAR, I left the Rio Grande Valley to attend law school, already knowing what kind of attorney I wanted to be. Since then, I have had the opportunity to represent families from across the world in their fight for safety and manage teams of advocates under four presidential administrations. When ProBAR opened a field office in Houston, I was thrilled to lead it. Now, I have the immense privilege of becoming ProBAR’s new legal director, bringing things full circle. Perhaps most importantly, I feel like I am once again at home with ProBAR. 

As the new legal director, my priorities are simple: commitment to excellence, unity around our collective purpose, and caring for each other. These priorities align with ProBAR’s values of effectiveness, collaboration, and kindness. We are no longer the team of seven we were when I first joined ProBAR. Our team is now more than 250 strong! However, the heart of the project—the mission, the values, the clients—remains the same. I am so grateful to connect ProBAR’s past and present, grateful to be home, and grateful to be part of the leadership team helping forge ProBAR’s future.