Victim of Crime Act grant brings new staff, challenges to Maxwell Street

Our immigration law program at Maxwell Street Legal Clinic welcomes new staff to help immigrant victims of crime! A grant under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) is funding two new case handlers and one new legal assistant at Maxwell Street. The new team will help victims of crime, survivors of domestic violence, and abandoned or abused children apply for immigration relief.

One of the new case handlers, Michelle Haubner, is moving to this new role after six months as a legal assistant at Maxwell Street. In her work there, Michelle has “most enjoyed being able to make connections with people from many different cultures, communities and backgrounds.” She looks forward to working directly with clients to help them reach their immigration goals.

Allison Hight joined the team this summer after graduating law school at the University of Michigan. She decided to go to law school in order to help immigrants and refugees and says she spent her three years in school, “itching to do the kind of work MSLC does.” Allison is eager to begin “working with clients to make both their immigration status and their lives more secure.”

Maddy Clark will be working with Michelle and Allison as the VOCA Legal Assistant. Maddy brings strong Spanish skills from her experience translating for the International Human Rights film festival in Argentina and from working with immigrants at a nonprofit in England. She says, “I’m excited to be working with immigrant communities because I think that it's important to uphold the American tradition of welcoming people into our country.”

Congratulations, Michelle, on your new position! And welcome, Allison and Maddy!