Vanesa Martinez-Chacon
2022 Justice Fellows
Amica Center
American University Washington College of Law
As a Salvadoran American, Vanesa Martinez-Chacon grew up extremely aware of immigration issues in the United States and the injustices ingrained in the immigration system. At the College of William and Mary, Vanesa advocated for DACAmented students in response to the Trump administration’s attempt to rescind DACA. Before attending law school, she worked as a Spanish speaking legal assistant. During her 3L year, she served as a student attorney in the Immigrant Justice Clinic. Vanesa will be working with Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition in their Detained Children’s Program representing children in detention or recently released from detention.