About Wendy Wayne
Wendy Wayne is an immigration policy expert with extensive experience providing strategic advice to immigration and criminal justice organizations. She has guided the design and development of programs that expand access to justice and equity for historically marginalized communities. Wendy is also recognized for her expertise in the interplay of the immigration and criminal justice systems.
Wendy has served in leadership roles on numerous state and national boards and committees, including:
- American Bar Association Commission on Immigration, member 2015 – present, chair 2018 – 2021
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, member 2010 – present
- Legal Representation Task Force, 2021 – 2022
- Federal Court Litigation Section Steering Committee, 2022 – 2023
- National ICE Liaison Committee, 2023 – present
- Steering Committee of the Public Defender Coalition for Immigrant Justice, founding member 2021 – present
- Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council Task Force on Secure Communities, appointed member 2011 – 2012
- Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission, appointed member 2015 – 2018
- Massachusetts Governor’s Advisory Council on Refugees and Immigrants, ex officio member 2007 – 2017
Wendy has received recognition for her work, including as the recipient of the Political Asylum and Immigration Representation Project’s Detention Attorney Award and the prestigious CPCS Carol A. Donovan Award for Exceptional Advocacy.
Wendy is the founder and former Director of the Immigration Impact Unit of the Massachusetts public defender agency, which oversees representation by over 3,000 court-appointed attorneys in criminal and civil proceedings through a mixed model of staff and private lawyers. Along with her staff, Wendy provided comprehensive training and advice to attorneys throughout Massachusetts and engaged in impact litigation on issues regarding immigration enforcement. She is a frequent speaker at national, state and local conferences. Prior to becoming an immigration expert, Wendy was a trial attorney in the public defenders’ office, representing individuals charged with serious felonies.