Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel is a part-time immigration attorney
serving the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by providing:
 |
Representation for Pastors |
 |
Immigration Legal Consultations |
 |
Self-Help Resources |
 |
Legal Updates |
As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) strives to be faithful to the gospel call and to meet the needs of sojourners who are already a part of our denomination, we often face difficult situations that require legal expertise in immigration matters. We seek to respond to the real human needs of our immigrant members, pastors, and congregations in ways that are helpful and responsible.
The Immigration Legal Counsel position, located in Disciples Home Missions, is funded by several General Ministries, Racial/Ethnic Ministries, Regions, and your Week of Compassion offerings.
Staff
Natalie B. Teague, Esq.
After growing up on a certified organic dairy farm in Central North Carolina, Natalie studied piano in New York City until her career interests shifted to public service after 9/11. Natalie spent a summer backpacking throughout Guatemala to learn Spanish before eventually completing a degree in Latin American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at UNC, she was awarded a Burch Fellowship to collaborate with a worker-owned, women’s sewing cooperative near Managua, Nicaragua. Natalie also studied social change initiatives in Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico with the School for International Training. All in all, Natalie has traveled, studied, and volunteered extensively in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica and is fluent in Spanish.
Natalie worked as a bilingual health care worker and a community college literacy center coordinator before joining the Charter Class of Elon University School of Law to earn her J.D. with a concentration in Public Interest Law. Throughout law school, she worked as a research and teaching assistant on humanitarian law issues, interned at a refugee resettlement agency, and completed human rights coursework at the University for Peace in Costa Rica. Upon graduation, Natalie received the N.C. State Bar Pro Bono Award for Elon Law, logging over 675 hours of pro bono service while a law student.
As a mission driven attorney, Natalie’s career has revolved around advocating for immigrants and women. Natalie previously practiced immigration law in a faith-based nonprofit and as a solo practitioner in private practice. Due to her continued commitment to service as an immigration attorney, Natalie has been recognized as a Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Co-Honoree by the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She has also been awarded the Leary Davis Service and Leadership in the Community Award for Elon Law Alumni and the Latino/a Alumni Award from the Carolina Latino/a Initiative at UNC Chapel Hill. Additionally, she has worked on both sides of the criminal justice system in a federal public defender office and as a state prosecutor of cases involving domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking. Natalie has taught undergraduate courses – and will speak to anyone who will listen – about immigration policy, the dynamics of domestic violence, and trauma-informed advocacy. To balance work and life, Natalie finds solace and resilience in yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices, which she also teaches. Natalie lives in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina with her husband and two “spirited” rescue dogs that herd their two mischievous rescue kitties. Natalie is a licensed attorney in the State of North Carolina, and her practice is limited to immigration and naturalization law.
