Vera Institute of Justice

Annie Chen directed Vera’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative, whose goal is to establish a federal right to representation for all immigrants facing deportation. Annie joined Vera in 2013, working nationally to advance universal representation for immigrants, including through building the Safety and Fairness for Everyone (SAFE) Network—a unique collaboration amongst local governments, immigration legal service providers, and advocates working together to build a movement for universal representation.

Previously, Annie was in private practice, where she dedicated herself to the pro bono representation of immigrants. She also worked at the Legal Aid Society’s Immigration Law Unit, where she represented immigrants in detention facing deportation. Before law school, Annie worked at the Brennan Center for Justice. She is a Coro Immigrant Civic Leadership Program alum.

Annie holds a BA from Columbia College and a JD from Fordham Law School. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.