Luis Enrique Homes – Senior Immigration Advocate and Executive Director
Luis Homes founded St Joseph – LOPIS in 2022 to educate and help migrants coming from South America on pro bono basis. He is an educator and attorney from Venezuela (1984), master’s in law from Harvard University (1992), master’s in political science ( 1994). He has worked successfully in the immigration field since 2018. He has experience working with unaccompanied minor since his time as Case Manager in Southwest Key Program. He also has relevant experience, working with individuals and families from the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), detained population, and non-detailed population. As a former DOJ accredited representative from South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation (ABA-ProBAR) where he worked from 2019 to 2024, he provided Legal Orientation Program (‘Charlas”) at Harlingen Immigration Court on a weekly basis. He has represented clients from Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela at Harlingen Immigration Court successfully with case of Asylum, Withholding of Removal, U Visa and Vawa Visa. He is currently seeking his new Department of Justice accreditation for the organization and for his own.
Karla Torres Sueiro – Pro-Bono Manager and Legal Director
Karla Torres Sueiro is an immigration attorney and founding member of Torres Sueiro Immigration Law Firm LLC. Before opening her private practice in Knoxville, Tennessee, she worked at the Texas southern border with the ABA Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project, overseeing all operational aspects of pro bono legal services provided to adults in ICE detention, and the population affected by the enforcement of border restrictions.
As an immigration attorney, Karla has represented unaccompanied children, asylum seekers placed in the Migrant Protection Protocols (known as Remain in Mexico), and families navigating complex immigration matters before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the different U.S. immigration agencies. Karla is proficient in English and Spanish and experienced in working with survivors of trafficking and other crimes.
Before arriving at the Texas border, Karla coordinated the international exchange of knowledge on forms of collective land tenure and community democracy for a community land trust in Puerto Rico. Prior to Brexit, Karla assisted European Union (EU) citizens living in the United Kingdom in exercising citizenship and residence rights.
Karla presented at the 2022 Federal Bar Association Immigration Law Conference humanitarian panel “Asylum at the Border”, and participated in numerous Know Your Rights presentations and initiatives to develop and ensure popular education in immigration matters. Karla is part of the ABA Commission on Immigration 2023 Pro Bono Honor Roll.
Karla is admitted to the legal practice by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. She holds a B.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, a M.A. in Labor Relations from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, a Juris Doctor from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, School of Law, and an LL.M. in International Criminal Justice and Human Rights from Kent Law School.
Volunteers
Maria Elena Romero
Life and Situation Coaching.
Dr. Maria E. Romero is a Venezuelan Psychiatrist with many years of experience in the immigration process and dealing with the obstacles that it can present. She can provide you with holistic coaching to help you overcome the wide variety of challenges you may face, especially as an immigrant, and will propel you towards significant personal growth.
Since moving to the United States, Maria Elena has held different roles, including providing case management at a shelter for homeless Latino immigrant families who suffered domestic abuse. She has worked as a counselor for victims and survivors of domestic abuse at a nonprofit organization that provides services especially to the Latino immigrant population. Also, she volunteered as an interpreter in the delivery room for doulas and midwives in Chicago.
Currently Maria Elena shares her family life with her husband, two children, and cat, in Texas. She teaches yoga classes for the Latino community. She enjoys cooking, reading, gardening and spending time outdoors in nature.