Kalpana Peddibhotla

I believe that immigrant rights are civil and human rights, a conviction that has shaped my 25-year career advocating for immigrants at all levels. After decades of working with individuals, families, and businesses to navigate the complexities of immigration law, I retired from private practice to serve as the founding Executive Director of the South Asian American Justice Collaborative (SAAJCO). Throughout my career, I have been a passionate advocate, committed to transparency and empowerment for my clients. My journey into immigration law was inspired by my work on a human trafficking case, and I have since represented individuals and organizations across all areas of immigration law, from family- and employment-based petitions to asylum, removal defense, VAWA, U visas, litigation, appeals and naturalization. In addition to practicing law, I have held leadership roles, including as a former co-chair of the Immigration Committee for the South Asian Bar Association of North America and as a board member and advocacy lead for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) – Santa Clara Valley Chapter. My work has extended beyond the courtroom through advocacy and pro bono efforts with organizations like the ACLU, the Tahirih Justice Center, and Catholic Charities. I have also been an invited speaker at legal conferences, taught continuing legal education courses for fellow attorneys, and shared my insights through features in NPR, the New York Times, Forbes, MSNBC, ABC, and more. As I embark on this new chapter with SAAJCO, I remain committed to advancing justice and equity for South Asian communities in the United States. Let’s connect to explore opportunities for collaboration and shared advocacy.