Kisanet Kahsay Gebresilase

Kisanet is a Paralegal and a Certified Human Rights Consultant. She provides well-rounded support to attorneys and clients in the immigration process and advocates for the protection of human rights globally. She proficiently executes the legal strategies and action plans laid out by the attorneys, boldly shares her insights on the procedures and implementation, and persistently strives for the successful completion of cases.

Her work includes, assisting with the preparation and filing of various applications with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration Courts, Board of the Immigration Appeals (BIA), and lawsuits with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, drafting motions, conducting legal research, compiling articles on country conditions, preparing contracts, communicating with clients to prepare affidavits and gather supporting statements, tracking case progress and providing updates, coordinating and preparing for client interviews and court appearances, filing evidence with Immigration courts based on scheduling orders and directions from counsels, and ensuring all legal requirements are met.

Kisanet has extensive experience with electronic submission portals, including the EOIR Courts and Appeals System (ECAS), Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). She has a keen interest in staying up to date on advancing technology and using it efficiently to navigate the complex immigration process. She also takes the initiative in helping to enhance the firm's online presence and assists with updating the firm’s website.

She is also fluent in Tigrinya and Amharic and facilitates effective communication between attorneys and clients in both languages, ensuring accuracy and cultural sensitivity. She provides interpretation services in both Tigrinya and Amharic for citizenship and adjustment-of-status interviews, consultations, trial preparation, and other appointments as needed. She coordinates referrals of clients to psychologists, OBGYNs, dermatologists, and other health professionals to get proper evaluations that support their immigration cases and get the treatment and counseling they need, as there are several of them who experienced torture, have been impacted by war and its aftermath, forced into endless national service, subjected to harmful traditional practices, and affected by natural and manmade disasters in their home countries.

Kisanet strongly believes that immigrants are key players in the global economy, and the immigration process is not only about and for individuals with past persecution and fear of future persecution, but also for those who migrated for different reasons, including investors and entrepreneurs, innovators and business owners, international students, researchers, scientists, highly skilled workers, and other foreign-born professionals. Bearing that in mind, she approaches each case with the unique preparation and execution suitable to the type of application, the specific needs of clients, and the support attorneys seek.

In addition to her work in the immigration field, Kisanet has experience working with companies to ensure their compliance with environmental laws and regulations enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). She has also participated in research studies and initiatives focused on the circular economy, renewable energy, sustainability, addressing the unique challenges of distressed communities, and international development.

Kisanet graduated magna cum laude from Michigan State University with a major in Environmental Studies and Sustainability and a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). She is also a Certified Human Rights Consultant with the U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, Washington, D.C.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Kisanet enjoys listening to music, writing and reading poetry, watching movies and theaters, attending concerts and other live performances, spending time with her family and friends, and being out in nature.