Ms. Adams is a Director in the Immigration Group. In her Immigration Practice, she assists clients in the acquisition of family and employment based visas to enter the United States and in the resolution of general immigration issues. She has undertaken pro bono cases in conjunction with Indiana University School of law-Indianapolis and volunteers her services for not-for-profit organizations, such as the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, the Mexican Consulate, and the Immigrant Welcome Center. Ms. Adams has served on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Education Center and La Plaza, and currently serves as Vice Chair for the Mexican Scholarship Fund Board of Directors and is Board President of the Immigrant Welcome Center Board of Directors. She was appointed to the Indianapolis Mayor's Commission on Latino Affairs under former Mayor Peterson. She is co-founder and serves on the planning committee for "META: Mapping Education Towards Achievement", Hispanic Post-secondary Awareness Seminar at IUPUI. She previously served on the Education Sub-Committee for the Indiana Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs (ICHLA) and currently serves as a member of the Race and Cultural Relations Leadership Network (RCRLN) of Indianapolis. In October 2005, Ms. Adams was appointed by the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations to represent the Consulate of Mexico in Indianapolis.
Prior to joining the Firm in 2002, she served as an Education Consultant for the Indiana Department of Education, Division of Language Minority and Migrant Programs, where she assisted and trained teachers of English language learners for nearly four years. She has also worked for the Carmel City Court as a clerk. Ms. Adams has lived in both Spain and Mexico where she studied Spanish and taught English.
Publications and Presentations
- "Relief for Immigrant Dreamers Soon to Be a Reality," Indiana Lawyer July 4, 2012.
- "SEA 590: An Arizona-Style Invitation for Litigation," Indiana Lawyer March 16, 2011.
- "Advising DACA Students about Affording College," National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
- "Understanding Indiana’s Not So New Immigration Law," Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation (IALF) newsletter, January 2013.
- "Social Security No-Match Letters: A Thing of the Past?" Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation (IALF) newsletter, November 2012.
- "Compliance with Form I-9 Requirements: What Every Employer Needs to Know," Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation (IALF) newsletter, September 2012.
- "Higher Education for Undocumented Students: The Case for Open Admission and In-State Tuition Rates for Students Without Lawful Immigration Status", 15 Ind. Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 257 (2005).
- Featured Interview: Indianapolis Monthly magazine, November 2006 edition dedicated to topic of immigration.
Presenter:
- "The Intersection of Agriculture and Immigration: Building Unusual Alliances," Becker Forum January 2013
- Emcee for Midwest Summit Forging Consensus on Immigrants and America, National Immigration Forum 2012
- "Deferred Action for Certain Immigrant Youth," Various 2012-2013
- "F-1 Reinstatements: When There Just Might Be a Way," NAFSA Region VI Conference November 2012
- " Dreamers Update," NAFSA Region VI Conference November 2012
- "Understanding Indiana's New Immigration Laws," Various 2011-2012
- "Employing Full Time Immigrant Labor in Agriculture," Indiana Farm Bureau 2011-2012
- "Recent Trends in Immigration Law; A Brief Overview," Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF) CLE December 2012
- "Beyond Borders: Indiana's Immigration Law and Municipal Impact," Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) 2011
- "Legal Issues Faced by Immigrant Students," Indiana University TACIT Summer Retreat June 2009
- "Indiana Town Hall Series on Immigration," Indiana Historical Society, March 20, 2008
- ACT State Organization Conference "Challenging Education to Meet the Changing Face of Indiana" March 2009
- "Immigration 101" for Latino Youth Collective students March 22009
- "Access to Postsecondary Education for Undocumented Students," Indiana Pathways to College Network (IPCN) annual conference 2005 and 2006
- Alcance Summit at Marian College; Indiana Latino Institute education fairs; Indiana Association for College Admissions Counselors (IACAC) annual conference; "Immigration Law for Businesses and Employers" Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF) seminar June 26, 2009
- "Immigration Legislation in the Indiana Statehouse: Intrusion into Federal Law?" Indianapolis Bar Association Continuing Legal Education December 2008
- "Reformas de Inmigracion," Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church June 2007
- Immigrant Welcome Center workshops; MSD Washington Township Adult Education Immigration Panel Discussion September 2008
- Race and Cultural Relations Leadership Network of Indianapolis guest speaker August 2008 and 2010
- "Immigration 101" Purdue Cooperative Extension in Frankfort, Indiana, January 2008
- "Immigration in Indiana: Real Life Diversity," Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI), November 2006
- "Immigration 102: Immigration Options for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Trafficking," Latino Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence annual conference 2005 and 2009
- "Adjustment and Naturalization," Immigration panel, October 2009
- NAFSA: Association of International Educators Midwest Conference 2010
- Infant Mental Health Conference August 2009
- Indiana Department of Education workshops; Various immigration presentations and "Know Your Rights" for the Mexican Consulate of Indianapolis; "Unity and Diversity-Immigration in the 21st Century" at Anderson University April 2008
- La Plaza Mother Daughter/Father Son workshop February 2009 Immigration speaker for "META: Mapping Education Towards Achievement" Hispanic Postsecondary Awareness Seminar at IUPUI and "Project Stepping Stone" for National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA); Frequent speaker at churches, businesses, and non-profit organizations on the topic of immigration law; Guest speaker on "Univision" television on topic of immigration; Testified before the Indiana General Assembly on proposed immigration legislation; Guest speaker on Radio Latina and other radio shows on topic of immigration.
