Biography
Angela Maria Kelley is a Senior Advisor at the American Immigration Lawyers Association and at NVG, a government relations firm in Washington, DC. Angela has three decades of deep experience in policy, communications, advocacy, coalition building and strategic planning in immigration and related issues areas. She was a political appointee in the Biden administration and served as DHS Secretary Mayorkas’ Senior Immigration Counselor where she provided substantive and strategic advice to the Secretary. Before that she oversaw the development of the Biden-Harris’ Transition Team’s immigration portfolio in preparation for the Biden Administration’s first day and beyond. Angela’s career has included prominent roles in organizations such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Center for American Progress, and CAP Action where she developed and drove strategies to achieve effective policy, ensure smart political thinking, build strategic alliances, and drive impactful communications. Angela served as the Senior Strategic Advisor for Immigration at the Open Society Foundation where she devised the Open Foundation’s 501(c)(4) grantmaking strategies. Angela also served as an Advisor to President Obama overseeing the initial implementation of immigration executive actions. As a legal services attorney early in her career, Angela represented immigrants in domestic relations and immigration matters. Angela has extensive experience in non-profit management, media appearances, and communications and legislative strategies. In May 2023 and May 2024 she was named one of “Washington DC’s 500 most Influential People” by Washingtonian Magazine. Angela is a founder of a charitable organization that supports an orphanage in her mother’s native country, Bolivia.