L. Batya Schwartz Ehrens

I was born in New Jersey, and raised near Los Angeles. My parents were born in the U.S., but my grandparents came from immigrant families from Russia, Turkey and Hungary. I attended both Conservative Jewish schools & public schools, and maintained a connection with the Jewish community throughout my life. I went to college at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and attended law school and business school at American University in Washington, DC. I have always had an interest in international people, cultures, and politics. In college I majored in International Relations. In law school, I focused on International Human Rights Law. I have lived in many cities around the world including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Kyoto, Tokyo, Washington DC, Helsinki, Jerusalem and now, New York. I decided to focus my career on immigration law because it blended my international background with my desire to help people. I founded my own immigration law firm, Schwartz Ehrens Immigration Law which assists foreign nationals seeking green cards and visas to live and work in the U.S. My clients include couples, families, and professionals in all fields, investors, and companies. I am also involved with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), a refugee resettlement organization, and represent children in removal proceedings who arrived in the U.S. as unaccompanied minors. I care deeply about my work, my clients, and about the underlying value of welcoming the stranger. With a natural affinity for international foods, people, and cultures, I immediately felt at home when I moved to New York but was also seeking out a connection to the Jewish community. I started attending JICNY Shabbat dinners, classes, speed networking, and cooking demos. I felt at home at JICNY since it draws such a diverse crowd from around the world. Several years ago, I joined the JICNY networking group. Through the networking group, in addition to the invaluable support I have received for my business, I have also developed meaningful friendships. I am happy to be part of the JICNY which strengthens the Jewish community in New York by providing a support network for Jews from around the world, while celebrating the diversity among our community.