Adlin Tuya: advocating for immigrant justice
by Alexandria Nicodemi, 2L
“My passions in life aren’t put on hold when I go into the office,” says spring 2013 Stetson University College of Law alumna Adlin Tuya. “Every day I am working toward something that is important to me. And when you are working in an environment that you are passionate about, productivity skyrockets.”
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Tuya says she has found that when balanced with her passions in life and personal goals, her career becomes a reflection of her true self. Tuya is an attorney for the Children’s Legal Program of Americans for Immigrant Justice in Miami, Florida. Her day is spent in and out of immigration court and meeting with children in shelters who have been in the United States for a short period of time. Many of these children are young and are facing abuse, neglect and gang violence. They are at risk of being deported, Tuya says, and for children so young in age, it’s difficult to explain to them why.
Her responsibilities are dynamic and involve a lot of communication on different levels of the justice system. Although she has been with Americans for Immigrant Justice for only a matter of months, she says she finds comfort in knowing that there is a benefit being derived from this experience. She says her ultimate goal is to grant eligible children legal representation and the opportunity to stay and obtain an education in the United States.
“I have received so many benefits from being a child of immigrant parents living in America that I want to present the same opportunities to others,” says Tuya.
Tuya’s family immigrated to America from Cuba in 1980. She was raised with hard-working parents in Miami, Florida, and given the opportunity to attend Dartmouth College which eventually led her to Stetson Law.
Tuya’s law school curriculum focused on public interest. She was inspired by the idea of working to protect children. While at Stetson Law, she worked as an intern for Gulf Coast Legal Services, took immigration advocacy, followed by a Bridge to Practice Fellowship with Guardian Ad Litem at the Sixth Judicial Circuit. The experience she gained with Guardian Ad Litem played an integral role in developing her interest in being a voice for the children.
Tuya advises students interested in this area of law to listen to that inner voice, the voice that aligns with their passions, and to explore that fully.
“It’s a great advantage to be a student in the United States,” says Tuya. She is passionate about giving such an advantage to future generations. “At the end of the day, these children just want the chance to learn.”
Post date: Sept. 19, 2014
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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