Eileen Blessinger

Owner | Attorney at Law

Eileen P. Blessinger has been practicing immigration law for over a decade. As the founder of Blessinger Legal, PLLC, Ms. Blessinger has litigated thousands of cases before United States Immigration Courts, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Asylum Offices, Federal Courts, and the State Department. In addition, she has provided commentary regarding important immigration topics in national and international media, bringing the legal perspective on current immigration policy. She is held as an expert in immigration matters by her colleagues and has appeared numerous times as an expert witness on immigration law in federal courts.

Ms. Blessinger has been recognized for her work as an immigration attorney by Washingtonian Magazine, Super Lawyers Magazine, and Virginia Business. These accolades are given by both peer and public nomination. As a dual citizen of Ireland, Ms. Blessinger participates in the Irish Network of the District of Columbia and the Ireland Fund. She has been recognized by The Irish Echo as a top 40 under 40 Irish American and by the Federal Bar Association (“FBA”) Immigration Law Division as Younger Lawyer of the Year in 2017. Ms. Blessinger is active in a number of professional organizations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”) and the FBA. She sits on the board of directors for the ACACIA, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of immigrants throughout the United States and currently serves as the Secretary for the DC Chapter of AILA.

Ms. Blessinger is beloved by her clients and frequently collaborates with criminal defense counsel regarding immigration consequences of criminal conduct. Ms. Blessinger is a member in good standing of the Virginia, District of Columbia, New York, and New Jersey Bar Associations and is also admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Eastern District of Virginia.

Ana Isabel Ortiz Perez

Director of Operations

Ana Isabel brings over 14 years of experience in operations management, financial oversight, and team leadership. She holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Management from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala and has developed a strong foundation in process optimization, performance tracking, and organizational development.

At Blessinger Legal, Ana Isabel leads the firm’s operational strategy, focusing on optimizing internal processes, enhancing team performance, and implementing scalable solutions to support all our clients. With a hands-on approach and a passion for continuous improvement, Ana Isabel is committed to fostering collaboration across departments and ensuring that teams are equipped with the tools and support they need to succeed. Her leadership is marked by transparency, responsiveness, and a deep commitment to building sustainable systems that empower both employees and the firm as a whole.

Armando Duke

Paralegal

Armando Duke has been a valued member of Blessinger Legal since April 2023, where he currently serves as a Paralegal. Originally from Honduras, Armando is a dedicated law student in his home country and brings that same passion and commitment to his work with the firm.

He plays a key role in supporting the firm’s efforts across a wide range of immigration cases, including defensive, affirmative, and detainee matters. His comprehensive understanding of legal procedures and his commitment to justice make him an essential part of the team.

Armando is known for his hardworking nature, enthusiasm, and deep sense of responsibility. His positive attitude and unwavering dedication to clients’ needs have earned him the respect of his colleagues and clients alike. Passionate about immigration law and driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact, Armando exemplifies the values and mission of Blessinger Legal in every case he touches.

Carolina Ballesteros

Office Manager

Carolina Ballesteros is a bilingual professional (Spanish/English) with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Colombia. Currently she’s pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration at WUST and she brings over 3 years of experience in human resources and project management. With a strong background in non-profit work, she’s passionate about working with cross functional teams to drive organizational purposes and support vulnerable populations. She joined to Blessinger Legal in February, 2025.

Clarisa Suarez

Affidavit Supervisor

With over a decade of experience in clinical treatment and people management, I bring a compassionate and insightful approach to my work as a psychologist. At 31 years old, I have developed a strong foundation in understanding human behavior and fostering mental well-being.

In addition to my clinical background, I have spent the past two years concentrating in the immigration field, where I have worked closely with diverse clients to help them share their stories in a respectful manner. My focus is on conveying their struggles authentically, ensuring that my peers also understand the importance of treating each client with compassion and respect. This commitment allows us to procure the best services for those we support.

Joseph Moravec

Attorney at Law

Joseph Moravec has been with Blessinger Legal since August 2022 and has been practicing law for five years. He specializes in immigration law with a focus on removal defense, asylum, and appeals. He is a specialist in challenging immigration detention through federal habeas corpus petitions.

He is admitted to the New Jersey and Maryland bars and is admitted to practice before the Second and Fourth Circuit Courts of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Northern Districts of New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. He has also been admitted pro hac vice to practice before the U.S. District Court of North Dakota.

Jess Dawgert

Partner, Federal Litigation

Jess Dawgert joined Blessinger Legal as Partner for Federal Litigation Practice in June 2025. She brings two decades of experience in immigration law and policy, including as an Associate Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice and Senior Litigation Counsel for DOJ’s Office of Immigration Litigation. In these roles, she oversaw immigration policy, drafted new regulations, and litigated and supervised thousands of cases in twelve circuit courts of appeals and numerous district courts. This included petitions for review, nationality claims, habeas and mandamus actions in district court, and programmatic challenges to immigration policies and regulations. She has also taught courses for attorneys and law students on many issues involving asylum, removability, and criminal issues. Prior to joining DOJ, Jess was a Staff Attorney at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She has a particular interest in complex statutory and constitutional issues and questions of removability and visa eligibility.

Jess is a member of the New York and District of Columbia bars, and is admitted to practice in numerous federal courts. Jess earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Miami and a Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.

Katharine Clark

Senior Attorney

Katharine Clark is an experienced litigator and adjudicator with over 18 years of nonprofit and government service. Katharine was honored to serve as an Appellate Immigration Judge on the Board of Immigration Appeals from 2023 to 2025, adjudicating over 2,400 appeals and motions. Katharine also led training sessions for Immigration Judges and Board staff on citizenship law, criminal immigration issues, and administrative case processing regulations.

Before becoming an Appellate Immigration Judge, Katharine gained over a decade of federal litigation experience at the Department of Justice. She handled petitions for review in the circuit courts of appeals, certiorari petitions before the Supreme Court, and nationality, habeas, and mandamus actions in federal district courts. She also worked drafting and responding to comments on federal immigration regulations.

From 2019-2021, Katharine served as Managing Attorney for Immigration at the Silver Spring, Maryland office of Ayuda. At Ayuda, Katharine represented clients in removal proceedings and Maryland circuit court custody hearings. She also filed humanitarian and family-based visa petitions, as well as naturalization and adjustment of status applications, for clients before USCIS.

In addition to her litigation and adjudication experience, Katharine Clark served as immigration counsel for Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and as a Judicial Law Clerk and Attorney Advisor at the Boston Immigration Court. Katharine is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Brown University, and she is admitted to practice law in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Katherine Alay

Law Clerk

Katherine Alay has been at Blessinger Legal PLLC since September 2021, initially as an Affidavit Team Supervisor and now as a Law Clerk. Since 2016, Ms. Alay has been working in the immigration field. She is passionate about helping people, which is why she is currently in law school at the University of Puerto Rico, School of Law. She is expected to graduate soon and begin her journey as an immigration attorney.

Kathleen M. Reilly

Attorney at Law

Kathleen M. Reilly served as an Appellate Immigration Judge at the Board of Immigration Appeals until March 2025. Before rejoining the Board, Kathleen served as an Immigration Judge in Hyattsville, MD, since its opening in February 2022 and presided over cases in the Arlington Immigration Court from January to February 2022. At the Hyattsville Immigration Court, Kathleen presided over a combined juvenile and adult docket, adjudicating over 2000 applications and motions in that role. A highlight that of tenure was working to establish the specialized juvenile docket with the other Hyattsville judges entrusted with this work. Prior to being sworn in as an Immigration Judge, from 2002 to 2021, Kathleen served as an Attorney Advisor with the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in that role, drafted for publication over a dozen precedential decisions. She also led trainings on credibility determinations, appellate writing, bond appeals, responding to motions to suppress, and handling cases involving waivers of inadmissibility. Prior to joining the Executive Office for Immigration Review in 2002, Kathleen served as an Assistant General Counsel with a component within the Department of Defense, in Falls Church, Virginia, as a Legal Editor and Writer with West Group LLC in the District of Columbia, and as a litigation associate with Spriggs & Hollingsworth in the District of Columbia. Kathleen has also worked with law students at her alma mater. She has expertise and experience in immigration law, complex civil litigation, administrative law and litigation, and legal writing and editing. Kathleen earned a Bachelor of Science from Bucknell University and a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. Kathleen is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the Pennsylvania Bar and is presently an applicant for admission to the Maryland Bar

Kevin Hirst

Attorney at Law

Kevin Hirst came to Blessinger Legal from the Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation in June 2025. Over the course of seven years with DOJ, Kevin handled a wide variety of immigration cases in federal district and circuit courts across the country. These included nationwide class actions, civil rights claims, mandamus lawsuits, habeas corpus petitions, programmatic challenges to immigration policies and regulations, and naturalization claims. Kevin also provided training to other DOJ attorneys on habeas corpus and discovery issues. Kevin earned a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University and his Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis. He is a member of the Maryland bar and is admitted to practice in the First, Fourth, Fifth, and D.C. Circuit Courts.

Luana Silva

Document Compilation Supervisor

Luana Silva is a licensed attorney in her home country Brazil with seven years of legal expertise. With meticulous attention to detail, she oversees processes in our document compilation team, ensuring strict adherence to company policies and maintaining the highest standards of accuracy. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Luana’s extensive living experience in multiple countries has honed her ability to collaborate effectively within diverse global cultures. Luana joined Blessinger Legal in September 2023 and has been an integral part of the team to help our clients achieve their dream of obtaining lawful status in the United States.

Maria J. Ruiz

Attorney at Law

Maria Ruiz is a licensed attorney in Colombia and New York with a Master of Law in Human Rights from American University Washington College of Law. Maria has a deep passion for Human Rights and Immigration law. She interned at the Organization of American States in the Secretariat and Coordination of Admissibility of Cases and Petitions of the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights. While at the Consulate of Colombia in Washington, D.C., Maria provided assistance in consular and registry services. She also assisted Colombian citizens imprisoned in the United States and supported the formulation and execution of community-strengthening projects related to migration policies and social intervention.

Maria has contributed to legal publications in Colombian and Mexican law reviews in matters related to the implementation of the Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelan Migrants and the Evolution of Migration Policy in Colombia. Maria has been with Blessinger Legal since February 2023 and has helped numerous clients achieve their dream of obtaining lawful status in the United States.

Noelle Sharp

Managing Attorney, Removal Practice

Noelle Sharp joined Blessinger Legal PLLC as a Supervising Attorney in May 2025. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in La Raza Studies from San Francisco State University and earned her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in 2005.

From 2021 to 2025, Ms. Sharp served as a Supervising Immigration Judge at the Houston S. Gessner Immigration Court. Prior to her judicial appointment, she practiced as an immigration attorney in California, Washington, and Oregon. From 2008 to 2010, she was a faculty member at The Evergreen State College, where she taught courses in Immigration and Human Rights.

Between 2006 and 2008, Ms. Sharp served as Director of Refugee Resettlement Services at Catholic Charities. She began her legal career in 2005 as a law clerk with Florida Rural Legal Services.

Ms. Sharp is a member of the Washington State Bar.

Pardis D. Quatrano

Attorney at Law

Pardis D. Quatrano is an experienced immigration attorney who is well versed in both family- based and employment-based immigration law. She is admitted to the State Bar of Michigan. Mrs. Quatrano has been practicing immigration law for six years and has a proven track record of successful cases. She is a zealous advocate who is incredibly thorough, creative, and effective. Mrs. Quatrano works tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcomes for all her clients.

Mrs. Quatrano is a Farsi speaker, and a talented and extraordinarily competent, persuasive legal writer. The strength of her legal writing significantly contributes to favorable outcomes, as well as the overturn of denials. Mrs. Quatrano has represented clients in removal proceedings, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Board of Appeals, and Federal District Courts. Mrs. Quatrano joined Blessinger Legal in May 2024.