Nicole Mejía (she, her) - Co-Director & Attorney Hablo Español
Nicole T.S. Mejía (Cortes) is a Co-Director and attorney at the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action (MICA) Project. She founded the organization with a law school classmate, Jessica Mayo. Nicole is fluent in Spanish and works with clients on a wide variety of immigration law matters including deportation defense, asylum, and other humanitarian relief. She heads the MICA Project’s outreach efforts to the Latino community in the form of educational presentations and workshops.
Nicole graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2012 with a Masters of Social Work and her J.D. She has experience working with community partners, coalition building, community outreach, and program coordination and evaluation. She is experienced at addressing the non-legal needs of her clients in the context of immigration law. Nicole is passionate about challenging and dismantling systems of oppression and working alongside her clients in their journeys towards justice.
n[email protected]
Nicole graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2012 with a Masters of Social Work and her J.D. She has experience working with community partners, coalition building, community outreach, and program coordination and evaluation. She is experienced at addressing the non-legal needs of her clients in the context of immigration law. Nicole is passionate about challenging and dismantling systems of oppression and working alongside her clients in their journeys towards justice.
n[email protected]
Jessica Mayo (she, her) - Co-Director & Attorney
Jessica Mayo co-founded the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action (MICA) Project with a law school classmate, Nicole Cortés. Jessica works with clients from across the globe, including Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Jessica graduated first in her class from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in May 2012 with her J.D. She is licensed to practice law in Missouri. A combination of privileges led to Jessica’s graduation from WashU Law, and she now seeks to utilize her law degree to advance justice for those who lack the privileges that led to her success.
j[email protected]
Ivonne Frechette (she, her) - D.O.J. Accredited Representative Hablo Español
Ivonne was born in El Paso, TX right across the border from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and grew up living in both cities. She graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso and obtained her degree in Political Science with a minor in General Business. As a first generation American seeing the struggles of her own family immigrating to the United States it has provided Ivonne with a passion for helping and advocating for immigrant communities. Ivonne worked as an Accredited Representative in El Paso, TX in matters such as DACA, naturalization, family petitions, and VAWA. Ivonne is very excited to join the MICA Project and help make a difference in client’s lives and hopes to improve the lives of those she serves.
[email protected]
[email protected]
Remi Gavlick (she, her) - Staff Attorney
Remi is an attorney with the MICA Project. After studying fashion merchandising and Spanish at Missouri State University and working in retail, she realized that working in immigration law would allow her to advocate for immigrants and help them navigate a confusing immigration system. She graduated from University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 2020 and is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois. She hopes to improve her communication skills in Spanish to better relate to her clients and help them feel safe and welcome in our community.
[email protected]
Patrick Helling (he, him) - Staff Attorney Hablo Español
Patrick Helling is an attorney with the MICA Project’s Children’s Immigration Advocacy Program. He started this career path in 2010 when he joined the Peace Corps as a Youth Development Volunteer in Honduras. Patrick has experience in both immigration and juvenile law. He spent several years in Arizona at the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project representing detained and released unaccompanied minors facing deportation. Patrick also worked at the Missouri Children’s Division where he advocated to help children in foster care find a safe home. Patrick is thrilled to have the opportunity to be working at the MICA Project. He hopes that he can use his experience and this opportunity to help make a more just and equitable world.
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Mariana Leon (she, her) - Administration Coordinator Hablo Español
Mariana attended Saint Louis University from 2014 to 2020 and earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice with a minor in Social Work and concentration in Treatment and Rehabilitation. As a product of immigrants and an immigrant herself, Mariana is passionate about helping others and advocating for the immigrant community. With her background in criminal justice and the court system, Mariana is excited to bring her skills to the MICA Project and is also a partially accredited representative part time.
[email protected]
Stephen Lightle (he, him) - D.O.J. Accredited Representative Hablo Español
Stephen Lightle is fluent in Spanish after teaching and learning the language in the United States, Mexico, and Spain. He attended Central Missouri State University and Saint Louis University for his B.A. and M.A., respectively, and also received a Master's from the University of Alcalá de Henares in Spain. He has volunteered with the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project to assist asylum-seeking women and children being detained near the U.S. border. He has also taught Spanish at SLU and has experience working with the immigrant community in a legal context. In September of 2019, Stephen became an Accredited Representative, allowing him to represent MICA Project clients in matters such as naturalization, DACA, and family petitions. He also carries out Spanish interpretation and translation for MICA's clients, oversees donations to the organization, and assists clients in the composition of their affidavits.
[email protected]
Roberto Munive (he, him) - D.O.J. Accredited Representative Hablo Español
Roberto was born in Tlaxcala, Mexico and moved to St. Louis, Missouri when he was around 6 years old. He graduated from Saint Louis University and earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science. As an immigrant himself, Roberto understands the struggles and difficulties that many immigrants face when coming to the United States. It has provided him with a passion to help and support immigrant communities.
Roberto joins the MICA project to work towards making a positive change in other's lives.
[email protected]
Brianna Perez (she, her) - Bilingual Legal Assistant Hablo Español
Brianna graduated from Southwestern Illinois College and obtained her degree in Paralegal Studies.
As a daughter of immigrants, she moved to Zacatecas, Mexico when she was 9, and lived there for almost 10 years. Growing up in a small town and away from her family in the US, Brianna understands the needs and struggles of families who are separated from their loved ones.
Brianna is deeply passionate about helping and advocating for individuals, specifically immigrants seeking justice, equity and peace. Throughout school, she developed her social skills, while working in public places like her own college, hometown library and a couple of private law firms in St. Louis. Immigrants and Immigration law have always been subjects which interested Brianna and she is delighted to be working at MICA Project today.
briannaperez@mica-project.org
As a daughter of immigrants, she moved to Zacatecas, Mexico when she was 9, and lived there for almost 10 years. Growing up in a small town and away from her family in the US, Brianna understands the needs and struggles of families who are separated from their loved ones.
Brianna is deeply passionate about helping and advocating for individuals, specifically immigrants seeking justice, equity and peace. Throughout school, she developed her social skills, while working in public places like her own college, hometown library and a couple of private law firms in St. Louis. Immigrants and Immigration law have always been subjects which interested Brianna and she is delighted to be working at MICA Project today.
briannaperez@mica-project.org
Carlos Ruiz Martinez (he, him) - Director of Client Support Services Hablo Español
Carlos Ruiz Martinez is Director of Client Support Services at the MICA Project. He was born in Mexico, and grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. Carlos has previous professional experiences as a High School teacher in Denver, Colorado, as well as in immigrant services in St. Louis. He holds a Master of Arts in American Studies from Saint Louis University and is currently completing a PhD in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Iowa. Through his work at the MICA Project, Carlos hopes to do his part to ensure that St. Louis is a welcoming community for new immigrants.
carlosruizmartinez@mica-project.org
Abdul Saboor Amin (he, him) - Legal Assistant Coordinator زه په پښتو خبرې کوم
Abdul Saboor Amin is working as Legal Assistant Coordinator with Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project (MICA Project). He can speak many languages and is well versed in many dialects. He is also an active volunteer for his Afghan Cultural Community in Saint Louis, USA.
Amin became a part of MICA Project in 2022. Many years ago, he owned a Mobile and Computer Accessories business in Afghanistan. Then he started his job career with Ministry of Interior Affairs in 2011 at Kabul, Afghanistan.
Amin came to Saint Louis with his family as an Immigrant in 2015. He is a respected, kind, compassionate, hospitable, and loving person and has rendered tireless service day and night for his community, especially for the new Afghan arrivals from Sep 2021 up to now. Therefore, he has hundreds of friends around the states and the number of his friends is increasing day by day. Amin is excited to join the MICA project as a Legal Assistant Coordinator and is willing to work for the best quality and improvement of life of immigrant and migrant communities.
When Amin was child, he was always wishing to see a happy, independent, prosperous, and peaceful Afghanistan but sadly, he has not yet seen that dream come to pass.
abdulsabooramin@mica-project.org
Amin became a part of MICA Project in 2022. Many years ago, he owned a Mobile and Computer Accessories business in Afghanistan. Then he started his job career with Ministry of Interior Affairs in 2011 at Kabul, Afghanistan.
Amin came to Saint Louis with his family as an Immigrant in 2015. He is a respected, kind, compassionate, hospitable, and loving person and has rendered tireless service day and night for his community, especially for the new Afghan arrivals from Sep 2021 up to now. Therefore, he has hundreds of friends around the states and the number of his friends is increasing day by day. Amin is excited to join the MICA project as a Legal Assistant Coordinator and is willing to work for the best quality and improvement of life of immigrant and migrant communities.
When Amin was child, he was always wishing to see a happy, independent, prosperous, and peaceful Afghanistan but sadly, he has not yet seen that dream come to pass.
abdulsabooramin@mica-project.org
Carol Vizzier (she, her) - Director of Operations
With a background in law school and non-profit administration, as well as pro bono coordination in both non-profit and law firm settings, Carol hopes to apply these skills to the day-to-day operations at MICA and to expanding opportunities for MICA volunteers, particularly pro bono attorneys. She holds a B.A. in English from Haverford College and a J.D. from Cornell Law School with a certificate in Public Law. She has been a fan of the MICA project since its inception and is delighted to join the organization.
[email protected]
With a background in law school and non-profit administration, as well as pro bono coordination in both non-profit and law firm settings, Carol hopes to apply these skills to the day-to-day operations at MICA and to expanding opportunities for MICA volunteers, particularly pro bono attorneys. She holds a B.A. in English from Haverford College and a J.D. from Cornell Law School with a certificate in Public Law. She has been a fan of the MICA project since its inception and is delighted to join the organization.
[email protected]