Ep 178: Can You Be Undocumented and a Lawyer?
Ever wondered how someone can become an undocumented lawyer in the U.S.? For this episode we are joined by Jazmín Irazoqui-Morales, Founder and Chief Executive Officer The UndocuLawyer Firm. Jasmine shares her personal journey from Mexico to becoming a lawyer despite being undocumented, highlighting the challenges and misconceptions around immigration status and legal professions. She also talks about support systems and resources available for undocumented students and professionals and overall advice for others in similar situations.
Meet Jazmín Irazoqui-Morales
Jazmín is a movement lawyer and community organizer dedicated to dismantling systems of oppression by working with BIPOC to demand and achieve a life of dignity. As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The UndocuLawyer Firm, Jazmín collaborates with community organizations and organizing groups to ensure that minorities communities live a life with dignity. Since embarking on her journey in law, Jazmín has sought to combine her legal knowledge and skills with community organizing principles for systems change work, which she has done in her previous professional roles with the New Mexico Dream Team, the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, Bold Futures NM and the City of Albuquerque, as well as her volunteer roles as a board member of Emerge New Mexico, the University of New Mexico’s (UNM’s) Master of Public Policy Program, and Encuentro. In recent years, she has been named an Albuquerque Business First’s Top 40-Under-40 Honoree, received Enlace Comunitario’s Brindis a la Mujer Award in the Category of Policy and Law, the New Mexico Women’s Bar Association Rising Star Award, and had the honor of being a Co-Master of Ceremony for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 2019 Inauguration. Jazmin is a graduate of the UNM Anderson School of Management and the UNM School of Law.
Episode Highlights
Jazmín shares the unique challenges and obstacles she faced, such as accessing higher education and obtaining professional licensing while being undocumented.
She highlights the crucial role of community support, mentorship, and resources in helping her overcome these barriers.
Jazmín takes us through her law school experiences and provides a glimpse into her professional life within the legal field.
She delves into the legal landscape for undocumented individuals and the impact of immigration policies.
She offers motivational advice and encouragement for others in similar situations, emphasizing resilience, determination, and advocacy.
Tweetable Quotes