OUR TEAM

A lawyer in a brown plaid blazer standing in an office with large windows showing a bright, sunny day and yellow autumn trees outside.

Executive Director

Minwon Cho

Mr. Cho, Executive Director of The American Institute of Immigration Law and Policy, brings over a decade of experience championing compassionate and fair immigration practices. He has guided multinational corporations, artists, and families through complex immigration processes, emphasizing personalized strategies to unite loved ones and foster vibrant communities. Under his leadership, the Institute advances impactful research, advocacy, and educational initiatives, addressing pressing immigration challenges while promoting equitable reforms. In addition to his role, Mr. Cho serves as Chair of the Congressional Advocacy Committee of American Immigration Lawyers Association, New Jersey Chapter, leading legislative engagement on visa reform, labor market needs, and humanitarian protections. Drawing on real-world client experiences and legal expertise, he fosters collaboration among practitioners, policymakers, and community organizations to shape fair and transparent immigration policies. Driven by the belief that every immigration story deserves respect and individualized care, Mr. Cho upholds the Institute’s mission to create policies that honor newcomers' aspirations, strengthen the nation’s cultural and economic fabric, and reflect America’s ideals of opportunity and justice.

Advisory Council

  • Susan Roy

    Susan Roy

    Susan Roy’s law practice focuses on immigration, criminal, and municipal court law, and in particular the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. She has been employed as a federal immigration attorney for nearly 14 years, working at both the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. During her years of service, Sue gained expertise in every aspect of immigration law, including citizenship, asylum, visas, and deportation, and developed a specialty in the areas of criminal consequences of immigration law and national security issues.

    She began her legal career through the Department of Justice Attorney General Honors Program, later serving as an Immigration Judge in Newark, NJ, and as an Assistant Chief Counsel and National Security Attorney for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    Currently, Ms. Roy owns a law firm specializing in complex immigration cases. A leader in the legal community, she is a Past Chair of the NJ Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has contributed to over 90 amici curiae briefs as a member of the Round Table of Former Immigration Judges. Recognized for her advocacy and expertise, Ms. Roy has received numerous awards, served as an adjunct professor at prestigious law schools, and continues to mentor attorneys while educating on critical immigration and litigation issues.

  • Enes Hajdarpasic

    Enes Hajdarpasic

    Enes Hajdarpasic has practiced complex litigation since 2011, bringing experience from both the private and public sectors. He has represented business clients in commercial disputes and previously served as a civil immigration Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) for the District of New Jersey, where he handled federal lawsuits on behalf of agencies such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Department of State. His experience included successfully litigating complex federal cases involving class actions, emergency injunctions, mandamus complaints, and habeas corpus petitions.

    Mr. Hajdarpasic also served as an Assistant Chief Counsel (ACC) with the Department of Homeland Security, where he litigated hundreds of removal proceedings in immigration court, including asylum claims, bond hearings, and various other requests for immigration relief.

    Earlier in his career, he served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Lourdes I. Santiago of the New Jersey Superior Court, Hudson County, before entering private practice representing clients in construction, employment, and commercial litigation, as well as lender disputes, landlord-tenant matters, and personal injury claims.

    Leveraging his extensive experience, Mr. Hajdarpasic now leads a law firm's litigation department, focusing on commercial and immigration litigation, with expertise in navigating complex legal challenges across various stages of the litigation process.

  • Carolina Curbelo

    Carolina Curbelo

    Carolina T. Curbelo, a graduate of Rutgers University and Vermont Law School, is the founder and principal attorney at Curbelo Law in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

    With over a decade of legal experience, she provides exceptional counsel in immigration and real estate law to clients in the New Jersey and New York metro areas, as well as internationally. Ms. Curbelo regularly represents the rights and interests of foreign nationals in immigration proceedings before the USCOS and various other U.S. Immigration Courts. She has experience representing a wide range of clients, including members of the LGBTQ community and unaccompanied children, as well as refugees seeking asylum from political persecution and violence. She routinely counsels employers and business owners on all aspects of immigration law.

    Recognized for her exceptional professionalism and dedication to client service, she has consistently earned top rankings and peer endorsements, including being named by Bergen Magazine as one of Bergen County’s leading immigration attorneys. She has served as a guest speaker for organizations such as Legal Services of New Jersey and the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, has provided immigration law training to New Jersey juvenile probation officers, and has led numerous community “charlas” for Hispanic affinity and faith-based groups.

  • Reana Garcia, Esq.

    Reana Garcia

    Reana Garcia, Esq. is the founder of Reana Garcia Law Group, established in October 2023 to provide skilled, client-centered representation in immigration and criminal defense matters. She brings extensive experience in both affirmative and defensive immigration law, representing clients before Immigration Court, USCIS, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and state and federal courts. Her practice includes bond proceedings, asylum, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, naturalization, and complex litigation matters.

    Prior to founding her firm, Ms. Garcia served as an Assistant Prosecutor in Union County, where she handled cases ranging from disorderly persons offenses to serious felony charges, honing her trial, motion, and appellate advocacy skills. She also clerked for the Honorable William A. Daniel in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Criminal Division.

    Ms. Garcia earned her J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law and began her immigration advocacy through clinical and pro bono work in New York City. She is proud to combine her litigation background and immigration expertise to advocate effectively for her clients and community.

  • Jason Camilo, Esq.

    Jason Camilo

    Jason Scott Camilo was raised with deep appreciation for American democracy and passionate empathy for the plight of the immigrant. He attended The Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a BA in Administration of Justice before obtaining his Juris Doctorate from Temple Law. During his time in law school, Jason interned with the Immigration Court in Philadelphia and participated in the Immigration Law Clinic through the Nationalities Services Center in Philadelphia.

    Since joining the bar and entering private practice in 2004, Mr. Camilo has represented thousands of clients from dozens of countries. Jason fights to keep families together, not separate them.  He has advocated for clients in well over thirty states, and is fluent in English and Spanish. Jason represents people before the Immigration Court, USCIS, DHS, ICE, the United States Department of Justice, United States Department of Labor, the Federal Courts, the Superior and Municipal Courts of New Jersey, and other related entities. 

    An integral part of Jason's practice is pro bono work. He passionately believes that every immigrant deserves an attorney to help them traverse the intricacies of the legal system. Mr. Camilo works extensively representing immigrants with several non-profits such as KIND, LSNJ, Princeton Solidaridad, AILA MAP, and the ACLU. He has received several awards for pro bono service, including the NJSBA Pro Bono Award and ACLU Lights of Liberty Award. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and former Chair of the New Jersey Chapter. Jason has served on the Boards of several organizations nationally and here in New Jersey. In his free time, Jason enjoys traveling, gardening, and spending time with his family. 

  • Cesar Martin Estela, Esq.

    Cesar Estela

    Cesar Martin Estela is a distinguished immigration attorney with a career defined by diligent advocacy and a profound commitment to the immigrant community. Born in Lima, Peru and moved to Celaya, Mexico as a child, Mr. Estela brings a deeply personal perspective to his practice, allowing him to navigate the complexities of the legal system with unique empathy and cultural insight.

    Having successfully managed hundreds of immigration matters, Mr. Estela is recognized for providing creative, honest, and high-caliber legal solutions. He is a cum laude graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law and serves as a prominent leader in the legal community. His leadership includes serving as the Immediate Past President of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and as a former National Ambassador for the American Immigration Council.

    Mr. Estela’s practice is rooted in a unique ethical framework that blends the "Golden Rule" with the three foundational Inca laws: Ama Sua (do not steal), Ama Llulla (do not lie), and Ama Quella (do not be lazy). These principles ensure that every client receives personalized attention, honest counsel, and tireless representation.