Soria '11 Obtains Permanent Resident Status for Immigration Clinic Client

Esmeralda Soria '11, working under the supervision of UC Davis School of Law Immigration Clinic Director Amagda Pérez, succeeded in gaining lawful permanent resident status for two clinic clients, making it possible for the couple to visit relatives in Mexico they had not seen in nearly 20 years.

The clients had an approved visa petition since September 1995 and had been waiting for 15 years for their visas to become available.  The week that their visas became available, UC Davis Immigration Clinic students Esmeralda Soria and Emilio Camacho '11 assisted the couple with applying for adjustment of status.  Thanks to Soria's outstanding work, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service granted the female client lawful permanent resident status after a 10-minute hearing on February 24, 2010 and sent her a letter stating "it is with great pleasure that we welcome you to permanent resident status in the United States."  In December, Soria had represented the client's husband in his adjustment of status proceedings, allowing him to obtain his green card, and the couple are now excited about the prospect of visiting relatives, said Pérez.

"I hope everyone in the Law School community will join me in congratulating Esmeralda for her exceptional advocacy and professionalism in helping this couple obtain lawful permanent resident status," said Pérez, who also thanked Camacho for his work in putting together the initial adjustment of status application.