Luis M.

Delegate
Written By Media Relations

Luis is the Refugee Congress Delegate for New York City. He is originally from Guatemala and arrived in the U.S. in 2020 during the pandemic, having been resettled in New York City.

Luis has extensive experience in law:  he obtained a law degree and postgraduate degree in Criminal Law from a university in Guatemala, and a Master's degree in Employment, Labor Relations and Social Dialogue from the University of Castilla la Mancha, Spain. He is currently working on his thesis to obtain his PhD in International Constitutional Law from the University of San Carlos. He has completed trainings on case management and community health, and has a certificate in Corruption Investigation with the FBI.

Luis was an anti-corruption prosecutor in Guatemala, for which he had the opportunity to be in charge of several high impact cases, having worked together with a special commission of the United Nations. However, due to the complexity of the cases and the conditions of insecurity, he was forced to leave Guatemala, emigrating as a refugee to the United States.

Since resettling in New York, Luis has had the opportunity to work in a non-profit organization as a Case Manager, providing support to vulnerable groups of people, providing various types of services of benefit to each person according to the analysis of each case. He is currently working as a Cooperative Developer, which provides support to vulnerable groups to obtain new opportunities and ensures equitable access to resources.

In his free time Luis enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, watching TV and listening to music.

More from Luis

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National Leaders Call for Immediate Restart of Refugee Resettlement Program
National Leaders Call for Immediate Restart of Refugee Resettlement Program

“USRAP opens doors that would have otherwise remained closed, and I’ve dedicated my life to making sure that those doors stay open for others as well,” said Aisha Koroma, Refugee Congress Delegate for Washington, D.C., Assistant Director of Social Integration at HIAS, and a resettled refugee from Sierra Leone. “But I’m just one story. There’s so many Aisha’s out there, including those still in transit, children and families waiting for safety, for stability, and for a chance to rebuild. USRAP is more than a program. It represents lives, dreams, resilience, hope. It is a gateway for future changemakers, doctors, engineers, artists, trades people. People who are ready and eager to become assets to America’s workforce and to contribute meaningfully to its economy and communities.”

The Trump administration continues targeting immigrant communities by revoking protected statuses for Afghans, Cameroonians, and CBP One entrants
The Trump administration continues targeting immigrant communities by revoking protected statuses for Afghans, Cameroonians, and CBP One entrants

“Taking away legal status from hundreds of thousands of people is more than just a policy change; it’s a humanitarian crisis that affects real lives and the hope that brought people here… Behind every revoked status is a story, a family, and a dream. No one should be sent back to danger.”

Two years of conflict in Sudan is a somber reminder of global displacement
Two years of conflict in Sudan is a somber reminder of global displacement

Refugee Congress recognizes the weight of this somber anniversary. We stand with our Sudanese members and neighbors here in the United States, and we call for rapid action by our elected leaders to support the people who are in Sudan and to increase accountability for those who are perpetuating the violence, displacement, and killing of men, women and children.

For media inquiries with Refugee Congress Delegates, please contact sheridan.block@refugeecongress.org

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