The Breakthrough Award for Advancing Immigration Law Through Advocacy and Action
Presented to an attorney who has moved the needle — through policy advocacy, landmark cases, or courageous action that created real change in immigration law. This award recognizes those who don’t just practice the law, they push it forward.
Teresa Coles-Davila is one of the most consequential voices in American immigration law as a practitioner whose advocacy, speaking, and governmental work have helped shape not only how Texas approaches immigration policy, but how the broader national conversation evolves. When efforts emerged to erode the standard of qualified legal representation for immigrants, Teresa stood at the forefront of the resistance, leading a successful effort that sent a powerful message about what is at stake when vulnerable populations are denied access to true legal counsel. She speaks widely on immigration issues, brings a practitioner's expertise to policy debates that reverberate far beyond any single state line, and has built relationships with government officials that preserve critical attorney access during some of the most challenging moments in modern immigration history — making her an exceptionally deserving recipient of the Thought Leader of the Year award.
Nominated by Ana Maria Schwartz