We volunteers at Global Family Legal Services (GFLS) are on a human rights mission to help people gain access to justice. We feel there is no greater need than to help the millions of people who are displaced from their homes around the globe. The care we give goes beyond the legal assistance we provide. Protecting our clients rights and wellbeing is at the heart of our practice.

We devote our services to bringing about a more compassionate and cooperative world where everyone can live and work without fear.

Serving your legal needs is what Global Family Legal Services staff does best. Our dedicated pro bono team of like-minded attorneys has formed a network to provide the resources supporting affordable legal representation, counseling, and education. This is possible only because our volunteer staff can rely on funding from grants and donations.

Please consider donating  to our work today. Your help will expand our network of pro bono attorneys, mentors, and volunteers to serve more asylum clients and many others who desperately need legal assistance.

Contact our team at Global Family Legal Services today.


Our legal services bring families together.

We look forward to serving you as our team grows and expands our network of attorneys and volunteers to offer legal representation in many areas of Arizona, other states, and internationally. We hope you will join our team and lend your talents to our mission.

ABOUT OUR TEAM

WE BRING YOU 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

CELINAS RUTH

Attorney at Law

Celinas Ruth has legal expertise in immigrant and nonimmigrant areas of U.S. Immigration and Consular Processing law including waivers, U visas, VAWA, religious worker visas, and naturalization. Celinas has served clients from 40 countries and has spoken on legal rights and comprehensive immigration reform on radio, television and at many community meetings. Her past civil practice areas included contracts, nonprofit law, and copyright law. Celinas practices law in Arizona and California and graduated from UCLA School of law. Celinas has been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) for the past twenty-seven years. During these years, Celinas has also been a Human Rights Missionary and Minister studying and teaching religious classes.

CATAHALAS ARCUSCHIN DE OLIVEIRA

Legal Assistant

Catahalas Arcuschin de Oliveira was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She has a BA in Education and Anthropology from Colby College, Maine. She also has experience as an IT consultant. She is a Human Rights Minister and Missionary. She speaks Portuguese, Spanish, English and French, and has experience in teaching and leadership education in the U.S. and in several Latin American countries. She has been with the GFLS team for 6 years and assists our team as a legal assistant, IT consultant, and translator.

 

ELINSA DENISE TURNER

Legal Assistant

Elinsa Denise Turner serves the GFLS team as an administrative assistant. She has Spanish comprehension skills from living in Venezuela for four years. She also has lived in Japan for three years. Her myriad of life skills include: medical assistance for twenty years and legal assistance for 17 years. She has worked in selling fine art and has 18 years’ experience in office administration. Elinsa loves people and shows this in her missionary and ministry work where she also serves part-time as a teacher’s aid with a private grade school in Rio Rico, Arizona.

Our Interns


Global Family Legal Services has hosted four student interns who volunteered and at the same time fulfilled their graduation requirements at the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy. Some hands on experiences and study in immigration law provided an opportunity for the students to see the urgent need for immigrants’ receiving legal help and a glimpse of the challenges along the way.

Spencer Kerwin

Spring 2023

Spencer Kerwin has developed engineering and computer skills, which he uses to compliment his keen interest in criminal justice. He foresees pursuing hands on law enforcement and meaningful work serving others. Spencer graduates in May 2023 and is native to Tucson.

Mason Highsmith

Spring 2023

Mason Highsmith plans to pursue a law career as his studies have focused on Law, Criminal Justice, African Studies, and Criminology. He has been active with campus organizations and has volunteered extensively including with our current Governor, Katie Hobbs’ campaign. He will graduate with honors in May 2023.  Mason is originally from Georgia.

Dana Garcia

Spring 2023

Dana Garcia is gaining skills to become a lawyer. She is a college junior. She has demonstrated her excellent work ethic by pursing her studies while gaining professional job experience. She emigrated from the Philippines in 2018 and her family lives in Texas.

Riley Dawley

Spring 2023

Riley Dawley has worked full time this semester while pursuing the internship to graduate in May 2023. His adventurous spirit temporarily led him from Criminal Justice and Emergency Medicine studies to months in S. Africa with an anti-poaching team. His career goal now is in firefighting as a way to help people and his community. Riley grew up in Tucson.

WE BELIEVE IN PEOPLE AND THEY BELIEVE IN US

MaritaSeen ValYan's Story

Immigrated from Canada

"Thank you and much gratitude to Celinas Ruth and Global Family Legal Services (GFLS) for the outstanding service and assistance provided to me for my immigration visa to the United States from Canada. I was so happyto be able to join my family. Ms. Ruth flew to meet me in Montreal, Quebec, Canada during my religious worker interview at the US Consulate. Her time was given to me, and her care was exceptional as the true advocate she is for all. I always felt supported, given much peace, strength of mind, and confidence from GFLS in all of my process. I do not think I could have or would have done this without her perseverance. I always knew she was handling the hard part, and I was following her guidance through the whole process. Her deep caring strength is outstanding and obviously reflects the real motive of service to each client at Global Family Legal Services."

Dalina Gracia-Amaya's Story

Immigrated from Mexico

"I will be forever grateful to Global Family Legal Services (GFLS) for the great assistance they provided when my son and I initiated the process for our immigration to the United States from Mexico. The attorney, Celinas Ruth came to Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico to personally meet us. She then accompanied my son and me to the United States Consulate in Nogales, Arizona to help us with the legal process. Celinas walked us through the naturalization process until we became citizens of the United States. I will be forever grateful to Celinas and her staff for their continued support. Without it I would never have had the peace of mind and confidence to move forward with what I needed to do to complete my immigration process. I’m so thankful to have found a new and better life in the United States."

Spectra Schippers's Story

Immigrated from Australia

"Traveling from Australia to Arizona in 1994 to visit family and friends a few times, I met attorney Celinas Ruth. She assisted me in acquiring a Green Card and immigrating to the United States. During my process of applying for US citizenship, she extended such kindness and compassion — going above and beyond what I ever could have expected. I find her to be a very competent and caring attorney who serves people 24/7 in a very touching way. I recommend her to anybody who is looking for justice."

Aladi Goodman's Story

Immigrated from New Zealand

"I am originally from New Zealand and my contact with Global Family Legal Services (GFLS) began in 1995 when going through the process of getting a Green Card while working on an H-1 Visa as a nurse in Texas. My process was delayed almost one year due to a misfiling within the hospital administration. Celinas Ruth of GFLS gave me much support and advice, helping me persevere during the challenging times ahead, especially when my foreign nurse friends all left the country when faced with the same delay I was experiencing. Later, in 2009, GFLS assisted me with becoming a US citizen and then gave me much legal support and advice throughout the long and painful custody battle over my son. Without their support, I doubt I would be able to even see my son today. Today I serve as a full time hospice nurse. I am truly grateful for the GFLS team's service and commitment to serving those in need, such as myself, who would not be able to afford quality legal services otherwise."

O'Breean Lawrence's Story

Immigrated from New Zealand

"I was blessed by Global Family Legal Services (GFLS), and managing attorney, Celinas Ruth in the legal services provided to my husband and me in our immigration case. I had expected it to be easy and straightforward. We had a child and proved everything required, but we still went through many hoops to prove our marriage. If it was not for the professional and steadfast representation of Celinas and the GFLS team, I do not know how we would have negotiated our way through the challenging immigration system or, quite honestly, to have kept a sense of sanity through it all. Later I volunteered with GFLS for a year. I witnessed the extensive time, sincere care, and strong commitment to justice at the heart of this organization. Family is the most important thing there is. Celinas understands this at a core level. She treats her clients as a part of her family. Such integrity and care is rare in this day and age. I give GFLS my highest recommendation."

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