My name is Ellie Kust, and I am a senior at Loyola pursuing a B.A. in Global and International Studies and a B.A./M.A. in Spanish. I am an intern at Catholic Charities in the Immigration and Naturalization Department through Loyola's Social Justice Internship Program.
In my internship, I work directly with clients on family immigration matters. Catholic Charities provides legal consultation to individuals seeking family reunification, extensions of stay, permanent residency cards, work permits, naturalization, and other legal processes. One of the most interesting things about my role is navigating the learning curve of the U.S. immigration system. It is a complicated and often frustrating process to reach citizenship, and I feel privileged to be able to assist people directly on the path to their goals. I also work with the Immigrant Survivors Project, which offers assistance to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other abuses in the process to petition for their lawful status and safety. My work with Catholic Charities is eye opening and rewarding, and I am grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow in my career field.
I have had the immense privilege of working with eight other talented and passionate Loyola students. Throughout the 2017-18 year, my internship cohort and I have reflected upon our individual and group experiences, discussed social justice topics, and flourished in the program. Each and every single one of these people contribute their knowledge and strengths to the group, and I have learned so much from them.
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