Erin Schutte Wadzinski is an immigration attorney and owner of Kivu Immigration Law PLLC. A native of Worthington, Minnesota, Erin is proud to serve her home community and surrounding area. In 2019, she won the Initiators Fellowship to launch Kivu Immigration Law as a social enterprise to help revitalize rural communities and to provide immigrants access to legal resources.
Education
Yale University – BA in Political Science, 2012
University of Connecticut School of Law – JD with Honors, 2018
Professional Affiliations
Federal Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
Association for Immigration Lawyers of America
-Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter Member
-Iowa/Nebraska Chapter Member
ASISTA
Licensed to practice federal immigration law and Minnesota state law
Relevant Previous Work Experience
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Staff Attorney – Worthington, MN, 2018-2020
Yale University, Director of Yale Young Global Scholars – New Haven, CT, 2012-2018
Community Engagement
Elected School Board Member of Worthington Public Schools ISD 518
City of Worthington Planning Commissioner
Worthington Dollars for Scholars Board Member
Nobles County Law Library Board Member
Advisor to CARE Program
Member of Worthington Area Immigrant Advocates network
Member of Minnesota West Community & Technical College President’s Advisory Council
Erin in the Press
PBS Almanac North, April 12, 2024: https://youtu.be/sD7v-c9wopg?si=2tymUb9ynzLEjOzD&t=1140
MPR Minnesota Now, January 22, 2024: https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2024/01/22/worthington-school-board-votes-to-remove-lgbtq-puerto-rican-flags
Migration Policy Institute World of Migration Podcast, September 26, 2023: https://migrationpolicy.podbean.com/e/world-of-migration-the-power-of-refugee-sponsorship-a-sponsor-s-story/
MPR News Morning Edition, June 23, 2023: https://www.npr.org/2023/06/23/1183931386/the-first-refugees-privately-sponsored-by-americans-have-arrived-in-the-u-s
KSTP 5 Eyewitness News, June 14, 2023: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/state-officials-launch-investigation-into-windom-pork-plant-for-possible-wage-theft/
StarTribune, June 14, 2023: https://www.startribune.com/initiators-fellowship-supports-innovators-in-transforming-rural-economies-communities/600282645/
MPR Minnesota Now, October 17, 2022: https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2022/10/17/unaccompanied-minors-from-us-border-bring-hopes-challenges-to-worthington
The Globe, March 30, 2022: https://www.dglobe.com/news/local/two-years-after-opening-local-immigration-law-practice-continues-to-grow
Minnesota Journal of Law and Inequality, November 8, 2021: https://lawandinequality.org/2021/11/15/immigration-under-the-biden-administration-an-interview-with-attorney-erin-schutte-wadzinski/
With Equal Right: The Official Journal of Minnesota Women Lawyers, June 28, 2021: https://mwlawyers.org/page/WERSummer2021Feat3
IQ Magazine, Spring 2021: https://issuu.com/ifoundiqmag/docs/iq_spring_2021_issuu?e=1604868/86035253
The Globe, June 3, 2020: https://www.dglobe.com/business/kivu-immigration-law-opens-in-worthington
Recent Presentations
Master of Ceremonies for Forward Worthington’s Salute to Women Banquet, Worthington, MN, April 22, 2024
“Access to Post-Secondary Opportunities for Undocumented Students” – Worthington Learning Center, Worthington, MN, April 3, 2024
“Driver’s License For All Info Session” – City of Worthington Cross Cultural Advisory Committee, Worthington, MN, September 24, 2023
“Refugee Resettlement and Immigrants’ Legal Pathways to Permanent Residency in the United States” – Red Hats Society, Worthington, MN, September 22, 2023
“Immigration Law in southwest Minnesota” – Minnesota State Bar Association District 13 Annual Meeting, Pipestone, MN, June 5, 2023
“Legal Pathways for HyLife Employees on Temporary Work Visas” – American Lutheran Church, Windom, MN, May 13, 2023
“Navigating the Skilled Labor Shortage” – Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA), Blue Earth, MN, April 29, 2023
“CARE Training Program – Supporting community members in removal proceedings” – CARE, Worthington, MN, April 28, 2023
“Supporting Immigrants in Rural Communities” – Windom Ministerial Association, Windom, MN, April 19, 2023
“Rural Philanthropy: Closing Gaps, Opening Inclusive Opportunities” – Minnesota Council of Foundations annual conference, Minneapolis, MN, February 8, 2023
“Welcome Corps Information Session” – Kivu Law, Worthington, MN, February 2, 2023
“Supporting Immigrant Students” – Madelia Schools, Madelia, MN, January 10, 2023