Meet Ana Lucía Araya Ávila: A New Immigration Law Fellow at Adelante Mujeres
Ana Lucía Araya Ávila, Immigration Law Fellow at Adelante Mujeres
According to Ana Lucía Araya Ávila, immigration law is about ensuring immigrant women and families feel heard, respected, and supported as they navigate uncertainty.
As a new immigration law fellow at Adelante Mujeres, Ana Lucía brings her personal experience as an immigrant, her commitment to social justice, and her belief in the power of community to her work.
Born in San José, Costa Rica, Ana Lucía moved to the United States with her family in 2014, when she was 17. Although she recognizes that her immigration experience was easier than many others, she remembers the uncertainty of not knowing when she would be able to return to Costa Rica to see friends and family.
That experience helped shape her desire to advocate for others.
“I've always wanted to defend the person that needs defense,” she shared.
While attending Portland State University, Ana Lucía participated in the Explore the Law undergraduate program, where she worked with an attorney at the Victims Rights Law Center in Portland, translating declarations for U visa applications. This experience strengthened her interest in supporting women and families facing overlapping challenges related to gender, race, and immigration status.
Why Adelante Mujeres?
Ana Lucía pursued a fellowship that would provide mentorship as she began her career in immigration law, particularly in humanitarian cases. She also wanted to work in a nonprofit setting where high-quality legal representation could be accessible to people facing significant barriers.
Adelante Mujeres stood out for its holistic approach to supporting women and families. Ana Lucía understands that immigration concerns often exist alongside other challenges, including housing instability and food insecurity. Being part of an organization with multiple programs allows her to connect clients with additional support in a setting they can trust.
She also feels a personal connection to the community. After moving to the United States, she lived in the Beaverton area and attended high school there. Now, she has the opportunity to give back to the community that welcomed her.
Advocacy Rooted in Compassion and Community
After attending Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Ana Lucía returned to the Portland area eager to learn from her colleagues and better understand the evolving needs of immigrant families.
Her goal extends beyond developing her legal knowledge. As she explained, “I want to ensure the clients feel heard and respected. I want people to feel like someone has their back.”
During law school, she served as president of the Latino Law Student Association at Gonzaga University. That experience reinforced the importance of finding connection and supporting one another, especially in spaces where people may feel isolated or underrepresented.
Ana Lucía recognizes that these are difficult times for immigrant families. As she begins her fellowship at Adelante Mujeres, she is motivated by her belief that leaning on one another, sharing support, and celebrating victories both big and small, are essential to sustaining hope.
Please join us in welcoming Ana Lucía to Adelante Mujeres.