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According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the number of United States naturalizations rose to 814,000 in 2021 (30% higher than 2020’s 628,000 naturalizations). The naturalization process confers United States citizenship and grants foreign-born individuals almost all the same benefits, rights, and responsibilities that the United States Constitution gives to U.S. citizens at birth (including the right to vote). Here at the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc., we provide free legal assistance to individuals seeking U.S. citizenship. We aren’t able to do this important life-changing work without the support of our Pro Bono attorneys.
One attorney we’d like to highlight in particular is Lisa Khan of Immigration Law Offices of Lisa Krueger Khan, P.A. During college, Lisa pursued a double major in Political Science and Business Administration, with her coursework sparking an interest in International Affairs and Government. After taking part in an on-campus political organization, Lisa realized the world of politics didn’t quite land in her ballpark of passions, but she knew she wanted to do something law-related as it pertains to international affairs. She made plans to attend law school, but took a two-year break and was awarded a Rotary Foundation scholarship for International Understanding that allowed her to spend a year in New Zealand and travel in the South Pacific.
Lisa graduated from The University of Michigan Law School and also earned a master’s degree in World Politics. Lisa went on to work for a prominent Houston, Texas attorney named, Judith Cooper, whose legal practice area was immigration law. Judith took Lisa under her wing, and helped Lisa discover her passion for immigration law. Lisa recalls her time with Judith Cooper’s firm saying, “I still think about Judith all the time. She truly had such a powerful impact on me as a young lawyer and I still hold on to a lot of the teachings and wisdom she instilled in me.”
While in Texas, Lisa met her husband, a naturalized citizen who was originally from Pakistan. After the couple married, they moved to Florida in 2001. Lisa joined the Orange County Bar Association to network, help build her practice, and meet attorneys in the Central Florida area. Through the Orange County Bar Association, she learned about the Legal Aid Society and began volunteering her time as a pro bono attorney to help vulnerable residents seeking immigration assistance.
Most recently, Lisa took on the case of long-time Orange County resident, Peter Sewell. Peter Sewell is originally from Mandeville, Jamaica and had a difficult upbringing. At a very young age, he lost both of his parents and had to rely on the support of friends and family of his town. Despite being an orphaned child and having no formal education, Peter pushed past life’s obstacles and knew he’d be able to create a better life for himself in the United States. He came to the U.S. in 1987 and over the course of 30+ years, he maintained good standing as a green card holder, and even operates his own local construction company, Sewell’s Stucco & Plastering, and owns his home. Fully aware of the goals he accomplished, there was one thing Peter wanted even more -- to be an official citizen of the United States. He reached out to the Legal Aid Society explaining his hopes of becoming a citizen. Lisa accepted his case and assured him that she’d advocate for him every step of the way.
Advocate, she did. Lisa found exemptions for Peter allowing him to verbally take the naturalization civics test (as opposed to taking the written and reading version) due to his age and length of time spent here in the United States. When asked what motivates her to volunteer her time and work so hard for all of her clients, Lisa says without a doubt, “My strong faith in God and knowing that He’s in control. Everything happens for a purpose and reason.”
After a year-long journey of paperwork, studying, and several meetings, Lisa’s client, Peter Sewell, officially became a naturalized citizen. Immediately after the ceremony, he completed his application for a United States Passport, and did the one thing he’s always wanted to do: register to vote. Peter has always been intrigued by politics and is very passionate about the country’s leadership and legislation. For the first time in thirty years, Peter will be able to partake in one of the most critical occasions of the American experience which is having his voice heard through the right to vote. Peter says “America is the Ultimate Land of Opportunity, and I really appreciate the Legal Aid Society and Lisa Khan. I never thought I’d get here, but here I am.” Lisa’s work has forever changed the life of this Orange County resident and we are beyond grateful for her heart to serve the community, especially those seeking immigration assistance.
If you are an attorney in Orange County and would like to help change lives for the better, please consider contributing your pro bono services to the Legal Aid Society. We are in dire need of more attorneys taking on immigration cases and the support provided by our pro bono attorneys helps our organization and this amazing country beyond what numbers can quantify. If you know someone seeking immigration assistance (Green Cards, Naturalizations, VAWA, etc.), please have them give us a call today at 407.841.8310.
You may also click here to make a donation to the Legal Aid Society which helps us keep our doors open for residents like Peter Sewell and many others. We’re grateful to have the trust of our Orange County communities and look forward to your continued support of our organization. Thank You.
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