Elise Griesmyer
At our July meeting, Elise Griesmyer will speak about her work helping immigrant crime victims, primarily women who have been subjected to human trafficking and sexual assault. Elise is the Senior Supervising Attorney for the Crime Victims Assistance Program at Catholic Charities’ St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance (“Cabrini Center”). In her work for the Cabrini Center, Elise helps immigrant victims of crimes to apply for immigration benefits, including humanitarian relief such as visas and remedies under the Violence Against Women Act.
Elise also works with law enforcement agencies and other organizations to provide immigrants education and training about their rights. She makes “know your rights” presentations at crisis shelters and community organizations. Elise is a frequent lecturer at the University of Houston Law Center, the South Texas College of Law, and victims’ rights coalition meetings and conferences. Before working for the Cabrini Center, Elise worked for a Houston law firm, Paz & Associates, representing clients in criminal, civil, and immigration proceedings. Elise obtained her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.