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Laila Alvarez-Tavares (JD ’25) has traveled far from her birthplace in Mexico City to pursue her dreams in the United States. “My parents immigrated to the United States when I was nine months old, for a better life,” Alvarez-Tavares says.
Growing up in various communities across the U.S., Alvarez-Tavares keenly felt the challenges of the immigration system. “These issues have impacted my life in one way, shape, or form, and in those experiences, I found a lot of injustices in the system,” she says. “I wanted to advocate more for people in similar positions, and so I decided that was my calling.”
This realization led her to pursue a law degree. Alvarez-Tavares, now in her third year at Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law, is a DACA student. Because of this, she navigates a precarious legal status. “We’re in this kind of in-between,” she explains, “There’s no path to citizenship for students like me in this country.”
We’re in this kind of in-between. There’s no path to citizenship for students like me in this country.
— Laila Alvarez-Tavares (JD ’25)
Despite these challenges, Loyola has been a source of hope. “I was very pleased to know that Loyola was an open and welcoming place for students like me,” Alvarez-Tavares says. Both faculty and staff were prepared to help her succeed. “I felt like Loyola understood the financial obstacles and met those needs, and because of that I am forever grateful,” she adds.
Looking ahead to graduation, Alvarez-Tavares plans to specialize in immigration law. Her goal is to “truly impact the system that overlooks the care and the best interest of unaccompanied minors,” she says.
“To be able to serve communities like ours, there needs to be representation,” she says, adding that she hopes more institutions will follow Loyola’s lead. “But, until then, I appreciate that Loyola has opened this door and has stepped up to assist students like me.”
