A Message from the 2023 DHBA President, Carla Green

DHBA Familia,

We are officially off to a new year and I am truly honored to be serving as President of the DHBA in 2023!

I want to start by saying that I know I have some big shoes to fill following Elsa Manzanares, our 2022 fearless, hard-working President. Elsa’s dedication to the DHBA has been an inspiration and I hope to carry on and grow the already wonderful momentum, initiatives, and support Elsa was able to garner for the DHBA this past year. I am thankful Elsa will continue to serve on our Board as Immediate-Past President and we look forward to working with her. I also want to acknowledge and give many thanks to some of our outgoing Board members that have given their service and (for some) several years of their time—many thanks to Jake Torres, Tyrone Valdivia, Fabiola Segovia, and Javier Perez. I want our members to know that the DHBA would not be the organization that it is without you. Without your support, your time, and yes, even your donations—the DHBA would not be able to accomplish the wonderful work that it does. We are grateful for each of you and encourage you to participate, become involved, and socialize with your familia. The DHBA is only growing, getting stronger—we’re excited that we’ve seen substantial increases in our membership numbers, we’ve raised record-setting donations for our incredible initiatives, including for the DHBA’s pipeline initiative, the Dallas Latina Leadership Program, and our Judicial Externship Program.

Throughout my years of service on the DHBA Board, I’ve had the honor of meeting and having long discussions with our DHBA members. In those discussions, I often hear about how the DHBA has impacted our members, many times in different ways. For some, the DHBA has been an organization that has introduced them to other attorneys with similar backgrounds that have resulted in long-lasting, inspiring friendships/mentorships. For others, the DHBA is an organization that has rallied behind causes and initiatives that inspired our members to participate and become more involved in our Dallas-Hispanic community.

For me, the DHBA has always felt like home, like family. My first introduction to the DHBA was in law school when I attended Texas A&M University of Law. I was a single mother, juggling raising an 8-year-old son, trying to get through my law school courses, and keeping up a comfortable household for the both of us. Scholarships were game-changers. The DHBA awarded me one of my first scholarships in law school—and to this day—I remember how excited I was to receive those funds. It was a relief. I needed and the DHBA responded. That’s familia. After graduating and moving to Dallas, the DHBA became an organization of support and comfort. I’ve met so many life-long friends/colleagues through this organization that I consider familia.

It is truly inspirational to hear (and experience) how the DHBA has impacted our members’ law practice and lives. We want to continue to do so. So, join us! Come celebrate with us! We are excited about this upcoming year and look forward to working with our members to reach our goals and continue our mission.

Carla Green 

2023 DHBA President

DHBA Statement On The January 27, 2017 Executive Order

Monday, January 30, 2017 11:54 AM | Matthew Phillips

PDF

As a result of the implementation of the January 27, 2017 Executive Order titled “Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States” (the “Executive Order”), an unknown number of individuals returning from or otherwise entering the United States from majority-Muslim nations have been detained at major U.S. airports, including the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The number and circumstances of individuals affected has been difficult to establish, as reports indicate that the Executive Order has been implemented in a manner that permits individuals to be detained without an opportunity to confer with legal counsel. It has been reported, however, that many of these individuals have green cards or otherwise lawful bases to enter or return to the United States. Refugees seeking asylum in the United States are likewise prevented from entering and risk being sent back to the dire circumstances from which they are seeking to escape.

The Dallas Hispanic Bar Association (DHBA) finds this Executive Order to cause serious legal and humanitarian concerns, not the least of which is the improper detainment, exclusion, and potential deportation—without due process—of individuals who are singled out on the basis of their national origin and faith. As members of a group that actively seeks to counter the effects of discrimination, stereotyping, and disenfranchisement, it is imperative that we unite against such acts when directed at anyone.

Accordingly, the DHBA opposes the Executive Order. In the midst of the drafting of this Statement, federal judges have entered orders staying the removal of individuals affected by the Executive Order and allowing some access to legal counsel, among other things, although the ultimate disposition of these matters is still left unresolved.

The DHBA is committed to promoting a legal system that upholds justice and is accessible to individuals affected by potentially discriminatory actions. The DHBA has joined the efforts of those in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex seeking to provide legal counsel to those affected by this Executive Order, and continues to work with elected officials and community organizations to recruit volunteer attorneys to provide basic civil legal counsel to the affected individuals. The DHBA will continue to pursue and participate in additional measures to ensure the legal rights of those affected are protected.


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