Alejandro Gonzalez is a 2L in the joint LLM/JD Program, born and raised in Mexico. He graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and has nearly nine years of experience as a criminal and government lawyer in his home country. Alejandro enrolled in the Immigration Clinic to gain hands-on experience helping immigrants navigate the legal system while making a real difference in their lives by advocating for justice during their most challenging moments. Alejandro has conducted client intake interviews in ICE custody. He is currently preparing a bond hearing for a client at Broward Transitional Center, as well as a case for a client seeking protection under the Convention Against Torture.
Alexandra Santamaria is a 3L student originally from Houston, Texas. She came into law school with extensive immigration experience working as a legal assistant at Justice for All Immigration in Houston from 2019-2022. During her 2L academic year, she gained invaluable experience learning from the most renown immigration lawyers in the country at Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt as an immigration legal intern. In the summer of 2024, she returned to Justice for All Immigrants as a legal intern. She is a member of the International Moot Court Program and will compete in the Moot Madrid Commercial Arbitration competition in April 2025. As part of her work with the Immigration Clinic, Alexandra represents a client in detained removal proceedings with an upcoming individual hearing.
Angelo Gomez is a 3L student from Miami, Florida. Angelo is the Student Fellow for the Immigration Clinic. Last year, he represented a woman detained client at Baker County Detention Center seeking asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. Over the summer, he interned at Americans for Immigrant Justice in the Detention Program, and successfully argued a bond case at Broward Transitional Center. During spring break of his 2L year, he volunteered at Al Otro Lado in Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, California, where he supported asylum-seekers with clinics in migrant shelters in Tijuana and conducted port of entry monitoring. During 1L, Angelo volunteered at ProBAR in Harlingen, Texas, preparing asylum applications for pro se applicants. He also volunteered at Catholic Charities Legal Services drafting motions for individual hearings. Angelo is currently the Student Director of the inaugural Miami Law Chapter of the International Refugee Assistance Project.
Anusha Joshi is a 2L student from Cleveland, Ohio. Over the summer, Anusha interned for Florida Legal Services assisting with immigration cases under the Victims of Crime Act. Anusha is on the executive board for the First-Generation Law Association and a member of the South/West Asian North African Law Student Association. With the Immigration Clinic, Anusha conducted intakes with people detained at Baker County Detention Center. She is currently preparing a bond hearing for a client detained at Baker Detention Center, and a case for a client seeking cancellation of removal, asylum, and relief under the Convention Against Torture.
Ashley Nuñez is a 3L from Fort Lauderdale, FL. She is a returning 3L Fellow with the Immigration Clinic. With the Clinic as a 2L, she worked on a challenging case involving asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under CAT for a client detained at the Baker County Detention Center. During 2L, Ashley volunteered with Al Otro Lado, assisting asylum-seekers with border monitoring at the ports-of-entry in Tijuana, Mexico. She also helped situate recently released migrants in San Diego, CA. In the summer of 2024, she was a Hope Fellow with the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem in New York, working in their Immigration Defense Team. There, she conducted Padilla consultations for criminal attorneys, drafted legal arguments for motions to reopen and Federal Tort Claims Act claims, and conducted the direct examination of an expert witness to secure administrative closure of a client’s case.
Beau Nicaud is a 2L from New Orleans, Louisiana. After receiving a degree in Spanish and Psychology from Louisiana State University in 2021, Beau volunteered at hostels in the Netherlands, Mexico, Argentina, and France before beginning law school in 2023. Following his 1L year, he worked at Cole, Scott, & Kissane, P.A. where he gained litigation experience. Beau is a member of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association and attended the Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair in Washington, D.C. over the summer. On campus, he is the social chair of Outlaw and is an elected member of the Honor Council. With the Immigration Clinic, Beau is preparing to argue a bond case for a vulnerable client detained in ICE custody at Broward Transitional Center and working on the removal defense case under the Convention Against Torture.
David Raez is a 2L born and raised in Miami, FL, after his parents emigrated from Peru. Growing up in Miami, David witnessed firsthand the challenges that many immigrants face, which led him to pursue an internship with an immigration attorney where he worked on various asylum cases, which even included members of the Venezuelan opposition. His experience inspired him to become a lawyer and pursue a career in international and immigration law. As an intern at the Immigration Clinic, David conducted intakes with people detained in ICE custody. He is currently working on a case for a client who is seeking asylum. David has a passion to advocate for those in need and hopes to leave a positive impact on his community through his work.
Hannah Smaglis is a 3L from Connecticut. During her 2L year, Hannah served as an extern at Catholic Charities Legal Services, where she was exposed to the intricacies of asylum and family-based immigration. This past summer, Hannah interned at the firm Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli & Pratt where she has continued to work through the fall semester. She is a member of the University of Miami Society of Bar and Gavel. As part of the Immigration Clinic, Hannah performed intakes for individuals at Baker County Detention Center, and is currently preparing a brief for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Joseph Korzeb is a 2L originally from New England. Joseph is a member of the International Moot Court Program. Last summer, he worked with the Miami-Dade Public Defender where he conducted intake interviews with recently arrested clients at the county jails. At the Immigration Clinic, Joseph is working on a detained asylum case scheduled for an individual hearing. Prior to law school, Joseph volunteered teaching English to a recently resettled refugee. Joseph speaks Spanish as a second language.
Julie Satake Saynganthone is a 2L student from Detroit, Michigan. Julie is actively involved in the executive boards of both the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and the Mental Health Collective. Over the summer, Julie enjoyed working at Hager & Schwartz, a criminal defense firm, where she conducted legal research and analysis to assist supervising attorneys with case strategy and legal options for their clients. With the Immigration Clinic, Julie is working on a detained bond case for a client at the Baker County Detention Center and a removal case for a client seeking cancellation of removal. Driven by a deep commitment to advocacy, especially for those in detention, Julie leverages her background as the daughter of immigrants to bring empathy and personal insight to her work, striving to make a positive impact on those facing challenging circumstances.
Lauren Rasco is a 2L born and raised in Miami, FL. In the summer of 2024, she worked at a plaintiff’s litigation firm working on personal injury, mass tort, and commercial litigation matters. Apart from the Immigration Clinic, she is a Junior Staff Editor for the UM Business Law Review and a member of the Mock Trial Team. As part of her work with the Immigration Clinic, Lauren represents a detained client in removal proceedings with an upcoming individual hearing.
Maria Alonso is a 2L student born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, raised in Orlando, Florida. During the summer, she worked at Azadi Law P.A., specializing in business immigration. In addition to being an intern at the Immigration Clinic, she is also the President of the Brazilian Law Association. Maria's work with the Clinic has included conducting intakes in Spanish and Portuguese at Baker Detention Center, working on two bond cases, and a removal defense case for a client seeking protection under the Convention Against Torture.
Maria Rios is a 2L originally from Puerto Rico. Maria graduated from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Science in Business and Enterprise Management and a minor in Political Science and International Affairs. Prior to law school, Maria worked as a Public Sector Consultant in New York City, working with state and local governments across the United States. Last summer, she started her career in immigration law as a Law Clerk at Beltran Brito LLP, where she gained experience in employment-based visas. With the Immigration Clinic, Maria is working on a detained removal defense case for a client seeking withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture and other forms of relief.
Nolan Thomas is a 2L student born and raised in Seattle, Washington. Over the summer, Nolan was a summer associate at Varnum, LLP where he assisted on projects in a variety of practice areas, with an emphasis on real estate development and Condominium/HOA law. On campus, Nolan is a member and Student Ambassador of the First-Generation Law Student Association. His work in the Immigration Clinic includes representation of a client before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and writing the opening brief in the fall semester.
Olivia Sabates is a 2L student from Kansas City. She is interested in immigration law due to her family’s immigration journey and the apparent need for legal resources for immigrants in the United States. This past summer, Olivia worked at the Missouri State Public Defender’s Trial Division where she assisted indigent clients in need of representation and gained valuable courtroom experience. Olivia is a 2L Senator for the Student Bar Association, a student ambassador, Secretary of the International Law Society, and member of the Trial Team and the Society of Bar and Gavel. As part of her work in the Immigration Clinic, she represents a detained client in removal proceedings on a fear-based claim based upon sexuality and gender. She looks forward to assisting her community and strengthening her advocacy skills.
Alejandro Villatoro is a 2L student in the joint JD/LLM Program at the University of Miami School of Law. Originally from Guatemala, he graduated in 2016 from Rafael Landívar University and subsequently distinguished himself as a legal advisor in public administration and as a litigation attorney specializing in credit titles. In 2019, Alejandro moved to Miami and earned a Master’s in General Psychology from Isabel International University in Spain. In 2021, he became a licensed case worker in Florida, assisting vulnerable populations, including seniors and children. In addition to his studies, he works at Endeavors facilitating immigrant reunification and providing essential post-release services. With the Immigration Clinic, Alejandro represents a detained asylum-seeker and leverages his Spanish fluency to ensure effective communication between the client and the legal team.
See former student interns
