Staff
Staff
With significant expertise and amazing persistence, Immigration Law & Justice Michigan’s legal staff members help our clients understand and pursue their available options. With wholehearted commitment, other staff members skillfully advocate on our clients’ behalf, share their stories, inform the community, raise needed funds and maintain a strong organization.
Click on staff photo to read bio.
Becky Beauchamp
Heather Haigh
Marcelo N. Betti
Alline Beutler
Mary Louise Boelcke
Tori Booker
Sofia Cuidon
Lorena De Frias
Shawn Gillum
Leticia Heusties
Carolina Llamosas Iaconelli
Kourtney R. James
Kaitlin Chaffin Munoz
Jenny Rosario
Casey Soto
Floyd Smith III
Carmen Wise
Becky Beauchamp
Executive Director
As Executive Director since September 2020, Becky has focused on building a strong, financially sustainable organization to expand free immigration legal services for brave, resilient people from across the globe. Becky has an extensive background in higher education administration, nonprofit management, fund development and government. She has a Bachelor of Science in political science and journalism and Master of Arts in public administration from Northern Michigan University.
I’m incredibly proud to lead our highly skilled and deeply caring staff members who directly serve or work on behalf of ILJ Michigan’s clients. And my heart is deeply touched everyday by the individual donors, faith communities and grant funders who make our legal services and advocacy possible. Their generosity extends the promise of America to immigrants who enliven and enrich our communities with their talents, optimism and commitment to building a better world. Heather Haigh
Assistant Executive Director
Marcelo N. Betti
Legal Co-Director
Marcelo has been practicing Immigration Law with a family and humanitarian focus since 2014. He is a graduate of Vermont Law School, Grand Valley State University, and Northwestern Michigan College. Marcelo has been working at our Traverse City office since 2015. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish.
As an immigrant myself, I find it fulfilling to help clients navigate a complex bureaucracy so that they can best contribute to our communities. I also firmly believe that immigrants are at the essence of what makes the United States special. Alline Beutler
Community Relations Manager
After watching her sister-in-law from China and brother unsuccessfully navigate the immigration system in the U.S. without the help of an immigration attorney after they were married, Alline became passionate about immigrant justice. She worked with others at Central United Methodist Church and the Traverse City community to found the northern Michigan office of ILJ Michigan. With bachelor’s degrees and graduate work in Child Development and Teaching from Michigan State University, Alline made a career shift in 2018 to join the staff of ILJ Michigan.
I believe everyone in our community benefits when people who are in vulnerable situations have the life-changing opportunity for security and can fully participate in our society. I have seen the benefit ILJ Michigan brings to communities and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this organization. Mary Louise Boelcke
Attorney
Mary Lou graduated from St. Mary’s College with a degree in government as well as a degree in Italian from the University of Notre Dame. After graduating from Oregon School of Law, she began a career as a trial lawyer, specializing in civil rights. She brings more than 30 years’ legal experience to ILJ Michigan.
I work for ILJ Michigan to continue my work for people’s individual rights and to live out my commitment to social justice. Tori Booker
Advocacy and Outreach Manager
Tori received her MSW and MPH from the University of Michigan. She has many years of experience working in non-profit management, community-based public health and youth and family services. A public health internship in southern Chile during graduate school confirmed her commitment to working with Latina/o communities and to advancing social justice, and she has looked for those opportunities throughout her career. In her free time, she loves to have fun with her family, read and be outdoors.
As the daughter of an immigrant from Chile, it’s important to me that our country be welcoming and a haven for people seeking happy and safe lives. At ILJ Michigan, I can work towards that goal alongside caring and dedicated colleagues and a faithful community of supporters and advocates. Sofia Cuidon
Department of Justice Accredited Representative
While growing up abroad in Croatia and Germany, Sofia gained valuable experience with refugees and asylum seekers and is passionate about LGBTQIA+ asylum litigation. Sofia focuses her spare time on learning Spanish, playing with her dog and investing in her local community.
I am excited to be a part of ILJ Michigan because of the incredible mission to welcome, serve and empower immigrants so they can thrive in their communities. Lorena De Frias
Legal Assistant
Lorena has a background in philosophy and legal studies. After receiving a master’s in legal studies from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Lorena joined the staff at ILJ Michigan to work with immigrants as they maneuver the complicated and oftentimes hostile institution of U.S. Immigration.
I work for ILJ Michigan because I believe in advocating for the rights of all individuals, regardless of where they come from or where they’re going. Shawn Gillum
Attorney
Shawn practiced law in the Denver-metro area for 10 years before moving to West Michigan. He began his legal career as a prosecutor before going into private practice and presented a landmark case before the Colorado Supreme Court. Shawn earned his bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
I’m eager and proud to serve our Kalamazoo immigrant communities. My hope is to continue the legacy of providing top-notch legal representation to our clients and to broaden the number of people we serve in Kalamazoo. Leticia Heusties
Immigration Justice Advocate
Carolina Llamosas Iaconelli
Legal Assistant
Kourtney R. James
Senior Attorney
Kaitlin Chaffin Munoz
Project Manager
Jenny Rosario
Legal Co-Director
While volunteering at ILJ Michigan with her husband and children, Jenny fell in love with the mission of the organization. She joined the team in 2020 and serves as Legal Co-Director. Jenny’s experience has included various areas of immigration law, but her primary focus has been humanitarian work representing and advocating for unaccompanied minors and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Jenny is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
The legal process of immigration can be expensive, overwhelming and complicated. At ILJ Michigan, I have the opportunity to advocate for our most vulnerable populations while affirming their inherent worth, dignity and value. Casey Soto
Legal Assistant
Originally from southwest Michigan, Casey started working with ILJ Michigan in fall 2022, shortly after graduating from Harvard College with degrees in history & literature and history of science. Already fluent in Spanish, Casey is working to learn Portuguese.
I work for ILJ Michigan because I am passionate about serving the community in which I grew up. I’m proud to be a part of an organization that provides a safe space for marginalized people to seek immigration services. Floyd Smith III
Communications Manager
Carmen Wise
Central Intake Coordinator & Legal Assistant
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Immigration Law & Justice Michigan is an affiliated organization with the Immigration Law & Justice Network (ILJN). The ILJ network provides support services, at no cost, to 19 affiliated organizations across the country that deliver immigration legal services for low-income immigrants.
Immigration Law & Justice Michigan is a 5o1 ( c ) (3) nonprofit organization.
Our tax identification number is 82-2680614. Contributions may be tax-deductible.
We are members of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Catholic Immigration Network (CLINIC) and National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG).
©2023 Immigration Law & Justice Michigan. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.
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Different name. Different look. Same mission.
While we’re proud of our 19 years of service in Michigan as Justice for Our Neighbors, we’re excited to have a new name that clearly identifies the work we do and the people we serve.