Ava Benach

The path to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for immigrants seeking their own American Dream has never been easy, and it has become ever more politicized in the past few years. It’s become increasingly important for those new to this country to have someone like Ava Benach, immigration lawyer and founding partner of the D.C-based law firm Benach Collopy, help them navigate the American legal system. “The most rewarding part of my work,” Benach says, “is that I get to play a role in helping people realize themselves and their dreams.” In addition to representing clients for all matters of immigration law, including asylum, jurisdiction, due process, and removal proceedings, she has led challenges to state immigration laws in South Carolina and Alabama while serving on the Amicus Committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She also represents transgender asylum seekers and immigrants, the latter as part of a collaboration with Whitman Walker Health; in 2017, the organization awarded Benach the Fenner Award for Community Service for her work. But the best reward, really, is helping those who need it the most. “In helping immigrants to America achieve security and stability,” Benach says, “I am constantly amazed and inspired by the determination, bravery, and fortitude that immigrants bring to this country. Whether it’s a trans woman seeking freedom to be who she is or a mother and child seeking to escape violence or a family that hopes that the next generation will do better than the last, I am honored to be a part of their journey and to witness their growth.” —RK