Vera Institute of Justice

Shaina Aber was deputy director for the Center on Immigration and Justice. Based in Vera’s Los Angeles office, she oversaw a portfolio of national immigration initiatives dedicated to providing legal defense and representation to people in immigration proceedings. Previously, Shaina worked in Vera’s Unaccompanied Children Program, a nationwide initiative to promote access to legal advocacy and representation for children facing removal proceedings alone, and also with SAFE localities providing legal representation to immigrants.

Prior to joining Vera in 2016, Shaina served as the policy director at the National Advocacy Office of the Jesuits of the United States and Canada. There, she led advocacy efforts for Jesuit leadership in coordination with grassroots affiliates, with a focus on immigrant justice, forced migration, border policy, and human rights issues in Central America’s Northern Triangle. Shaina holds a JD and a certificate in refugee and humanitarian emergencies from Georgetown University Law Center and a BA in Latin American Studies from Macalester College.