Benita, formerly co-Director of IDP, now leads IDP’s federal policy work to change unjust laws that result in immigrants facing deportation as a second punishment for criminal system contacts and dismantle mass incarceration. She analyzes and drafts legislative and administrative proposals, educates legal advocates and community organizations on federal policy developments and develops partnerships to advance IDP’s impact and mission. In Benita’s two decades at IDP, she has trained scores of attorneys and advocates, supported public defender offices around the country in setting up immigration advisal programs, led IDP’s work with the Defending Immigrants Partnership, and spearheaded the initial development of IDP’s Padilla Support Center. In her early years at IDP, Benita also worked on our impact litigation and community education teams. As Co-Director of IDP, she helped lead IDP’s transition from a program of the New York State Defenders Association to an independent organization in 2009. Benita has written several pro se guides for immigrants fighting deportation and is an original co-author of the “Deportation 101” curriculum. She is a past Board member of Families for Freedom and past Steering Committee member of the Detention Watch Network. She is a graduate of New York University School of Law.
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