Melina M. Leodas-Whelan
Melina Leodas-Whelan, Esq., (she/her/ella) is an attorney in the Children's Program at RMIAN. Melina joined RMIAN in October 2023 after twelve years of working in the immigration legal field as a paralegal, a DOJ Accredited Representative, and now, as an attorney. Melina's experience is predominantly in humanitarian immigration relief on behalf of survivors of human trafficking and other crimes, and agricultural workers. Before law school, Melina worked for six years in what is now the Survivor Services Unit of Colorado Legal Services (CLS), providing legal services with a focus on immigration to survivors of human trafficking. In this role, she served on the Steering Committee of the Colorado Network to End Human Trafficking, and on the Data and Research Task Force of the gubernatorial Colorado Human Trafficking Council. In her current role at RMIAN, Melina supports the “Docket Team,” providing legal orientation and pro se support at the Denver immigration court, and represents young people and families who are in removal proceedings. Melina holds a JD from the University of Colorado, an MA in Latin American Studies from Tulane University, and a BA in Latin American Studies and Spanish from the University of New Mexico.
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