Phrases like, "Just come here the legal way” oversimplify the reality of the U.S. immigration system, where many immigrants face restrictive and complex legal barriers, and, for some, the devastating reality that no viable legal pathway exists at all.
STEPHANIE MONTERROSO
Stephanie Monterroso is a bilingual attorney who advocates for asylum seekers and survivors of violence through her work at the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network in Atlanta, Georgia, where she currently serves as an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow.
Stephanie is a Shoals native who grew up in Russellville, Alabama, and graduated from Russellville High School in 2017. As the daughter of two Guatemalan immigrants, Stephanie is a proud first-generation college and law school graduate whose personal experiences shaped and inspired her passion for immigration advocacy and access to justice. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Alabama before continuing her education at Cumberland School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor in May of 2025.
After passing the Alabama Bar Exam in July of 2025, Stephanie began practicing law with a focus on serving vulnerable immigrant communities. Through both her lived experiences and professional work, Stephanie brings a deep personal connection to her role as an attorney.