Asylum Sessions

Presenters

Stephen Deal, ELCA Regional Representative for AMMPARO

Stephen Deal is a missionary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), based in Costa Rica. Since 2014, he has been deeply involved with ELCA’s AMMPARO strategy (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities), first by building a network of companion organizations in Mesoamerica; more recently, in the expansion of the AMMPARO network to South America where unprecedented numbers of Venezuelan and Haitian migrants are seeking refuge. A native of North Carolina, Stephen lived and worked in Washington, DC before relocating to Central America where he has lived since 1992. He holds an undergraduate degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University and a graduate degree from the University of Michigan.

Marielle Septien,Border Programs Manager, Border and Asylum Services, CWS

Marielle Septien is a first generation Mexican American from Texas. As a dual citizen, she grew up with the privilege of having the cross-border cultural understanding of Latin America, while having the safety and security of living in the United States. When narco-violence prevented her family from returning to Mexico, she realized she wanted to find solutions for people experiencing poverty and violence. She graduated with a master’s from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and received a certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies. While her master’s focused on international development, most of her work has focused on humanitarian emergencies. She worked with the Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Office at USCIS, where she reviewed cases of unaccompanied minors from Central America and researched regional country conditions. She also worked with HIAS as a Program Officer for Latin American and the Caribbean, where she managed PRM programs for Venezuelan refugees across the region. Before joining CWS, she was a Child Protection Officer with UNICEF, based in Tijuana, Mexico. Marielle has also conducted field research on informal markets in Quito, was a Fulbright teaching fellow in Madrid, and interned with the Political and Economic Affairs Division of the US Embassy in Montevideo.

Silvia Verónica Raquec Cum, Coordinadora del Eje de Migración, Asociación Pop No´j

Silvia Verónica Raquec Cum, joven Maya Kaqchikel, es defensora Maya frente a la Violencia de Género. Actualmente es la Coordinadora de Eje de Migración de la Asociación Pop No´j, desde junio de 2016. Con experiencia en Niñez Migrante Indígena y Mujeres y Niñas en la migración. Específicamente en el proceso de Retorno y Reintegración de Niñas, Niños y Adolescentes Migrantes deportados de México y Estados Unidos. Desde muy joven se ha involucrado en los movimientos sociales de Muejres Mayas.
Ha representado a la Asociación Pop No´j en diferente espacio a nivel, nacional, regional e Internacional, dando a conocer la situación de la Niñez Migrante Indígena de Guatemala y El proyecto de Retorno y Reintegración que la Asociación desarrolla en Guatemala.

Silvia Verónica Raquec Cum is a young Maya Kaqchikel, and a Maya defender against gender-based violence. Since June 2016 she has been the Coordinator of the Migration Axis of the Pop No’j Association. From a young age she has been involved with the social movements of Maya Women and has experience working with Indigenous Migrant Children and Women and Girls in migration, specifically in the processes of return and reintegration. She represents Pop No’j Association in various forums at the local, regional, national and international level to increase the awareness of the situation of Indigenous child migrants in Guatemala and with the Return and Reintegration project that the association carries out in Guatemala.

Carlos Rivera, Coordinador Nacional de la Oficina de Honduras, Federación Luterana Mundial/Servicio Mundial

Carlos Rivera has a degree in Sociology from the National Autonomous University of Honduras. He has participated from civil society in different multidisciplinary teams for the proposal and generation of social security policies, focused on youth and vulnerable groups. He has more than 30 years of experience in the field of development, both in the public and private sectors, covering different issues such as human rights, climate change and migration. For the past three and half years he has been working with the Lutheran World Federation / World Service as National Coordinator of the Office of Honduras.