TAPS Case Manager
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

Julissa Ponce is a member of the Survivor Leader Advisory Council for the National Outreach Survey for Transportation, under the USDOT Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award.​

​Julissa hails from five generations of migrant workers. While growing up, Julissa’s mother ran a drug and alcohol abuse program and started an outreach organization for migrant workers in her spare time. Nuevos Horizontes supported undocumented and documented workers through the immigration process and made them aware of their rights. This is where Julissa started her career as an advocate. Julissa Ponce has extensive knowledge in cultural humility and trauma-informed advocacy.

​Prior to joining US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Julissa worked as a Comprehensive Bilingual Survivor Advocate for an Iowa-based nonprofit serving survivors of human trafficking. Julissa is also a certified sexual assault and domestic violence advocate. Julissa provided comprehensive case management for H2A and migrant workers, specifically for victims/survivors of all forms of labor trafficking. Julissa assisted clients in navigating complex systems including workforce development, legal aid, the department of education, the medical system and the criminal justice system. Julissa provided training for local enforcement agencies, in Iowa, on human trafficking with a focus on labor trafficking and did wide-spread community education on labor exploitation.

Julissa is a founding member and former lead of the Iowa Anti-Labor-Trafficking Association (ALTA). ALTA works to ensure all advocates receive comprehensive training on human trafficking and increase the profile of labor trafficking and exploitation in Iowa. Julissa is a member of the Migrant Seasonal Worker Taskforce and was part of the Iowa Work Force Development Migrant Outreach team in Iowa.

Julissa can be reached at jponce@uscrimail.org or 515-528-7525 ext. 2512.