It is rewarding to help migrants obtain lawful immigration status as a major step in the realization of their American dream. It is equally rewarding to facilitate the migration of talented workers to help American businesses gain global competitiveness. As a law firm, our role is to understand clients’ immigration needs, present comprehensive immigration solutions and manage migrant expectations with compassion and professionalism.
Mary Carmen R. Madrid-Crost holds a Master of Laws degree from The George Washington University’s National Law Center in Washington, D.C., and two degrees from the University of the Philippines: Bachelor of Laws (equivalent of a Juris Doctor) and Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Mary Carmen R. Madrid-Crost is admitted to the New York Bar and licensed to practice in the field of immigration law in all the 50 states.
Inspired by her own personal experience as an immigrant who started with a working visa, Ms. Madrid-Crost decided to concentrate her practice in immigration law
Membership in Professional Organizations
Ms. Madrid-Crost is a member of various professional organizations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association, The National Immigration Project, New York State Bar Association, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Illinois State Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association. Ms. Madrid-Crost is a founding member and former president of the Filipino American Bar Association in Chicago.
Highlights of Professional Involvement and Community Outreach Experiences
The leadership roles that Ms. Madrid-Crost has taken during her student days honed her to take significant responsibilities in professional and community organizations. In addition, her willingness to give back through volunteer activities, her professional focus and community service have earned her a reputable name, contributing to her successful immigration practice in Chicago and New York.
Among her varied international and community experiences are the following:
Ms. Madrid-Crost led a group of Filipino student delegates in Japan to participate in The Friendship Program of the 21st Century, a goodwill program for future leaders in Southeast Asia.
Ms. Madrid-Crost attended the Human Rights Program of the Institut International Des Droit De L’Homme in Strasbourg, France. Thereafter, she was selected to work as an intern at the Human Rights Department of the Council of Europe, also in Strasbourg.
Ms. Madrid-Crost is often invited as a speaker and writes regularly on various U.S. immigration topics. She spoke on business immigration and consular processing at the 2006 Midwest Regional Conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She was also a speaker on business immigration and entry/exit issues at the International Conference on Employment and Immigration Law held in Valle Nevado, Chile by the Center for International Legal Studies. Ms. Madrid-Crost has conducted seminars on family and employment-based immigration for community and interest groups such as the Filipino American Women’s Network, Filipino American Human Services, Inc. in New York, the Philippine Nursing Association, Inc. (Chicago Chapter) and student groups.
Spirit of Volunteerism
Ms. Madrid-Crost started her immigration law career as a volunteer for the Midwest Immigrant Rights Center to represent asylum seekers who sought refuge in the United States. She also represented victims of battery and mental cruelty who sought the green card through self petition.
Ms. Madrid-Crost is a volunteer attorney in naturalization workshops sponsored by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) in collaboration with the New Americans Initiative of the National Immigrant Justice Center.
As a way of giving back to the community that supported her successful immigration practice, Ms. Madrid-Crost formed the Migrant Care Center of The Madrid Foundation, a not-for-profit entity that organizes seminars to provide practical information especially to new immigrants who are adjusting to life in the United States.
