Location San Antonio, Texas, United States Regions Southern US Gender Male
LinkedIn View on LinkedIn X (Twitter) View on X
Jonathan Denis Ryan is an Irish-American attorney and human rights advocate. He has led the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) since 2008, currently serving as the CEO and president.
After receiving a BA in comparative literature from Columbia College in New York City and a law degree from the University of
Texas at Austin, Ryan worked at American Gateways as an immigration attorney. In 2008, he joined RAICES as one of only four employees. Under Ryan’s leadership, the organization has grown to over 200 employees.
RAICES provides free legal services for unaccompanied children, families, and adults both in and out of detention; community legal services; refugee resettlement and post-release support; and advocacy on behalf of its clients and the communities it serves.
In June 2018, RAICES was the recipient of the largest-grossing crowdfund in Facebook history. Over $20 million was donated to help over 2,500 children separated from their parents due to the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy. Later that year, Ryan received the Child 10 Award in Malmö, Sweden, which recognizes 10 individuals from around the world who fight to protect and end the exploitation of children and the violation of their human rights.
For more information about Jonathan Ryan and RAICES, visit http://www.raicestexas.org or follow them on Twitter: @jonathandryan and @RAICESTEXAS.
