Elena CaJacob

Elena joins Vanderwall after over a decade in immigration law and immigrant rights advocacy in Oregon. As associate attorney with Oregon Immigration Group, Elena represented individuals and families in deportation defense,family-based visas, and humanitarian immigration cases. In 2020 while attending Lewis & Clark Law School, Elena joined fellow volunteers at Al Otro Lado in Tijuana, Mexico to provide pro bono asylum preparation to migrants seeking protection in the face of restrictive border policies.

Before law school, Elena worked as a paralegal with Immigration Counseling Service for five years, where she helped secure funding for representation of LGBTQ+ survivors. She also served as a Coalition Manager with Causa Oregon, supporting successful campaigns for free representation for individuals facing deportation, protecting immigrants’ access to social services, and Drivers’ License For All.

Elena is originally from Central Oregon and has lived in Cajamarca, Peru. Outside of work, Elena likes spending time in her garden, enjoying live music, and exploring the Northwest’s outdoors.

Languages: English and Spanish