Rekha Sharma-Crawford

Rekha Sharma-Crawford is a nationally renowned immigration attorney and litigator, known for her fearless advocacy and groundbreaking work in immigration law. Licensed in Kansas, Missouri, and Texas, she regularly represents clients in complex and high-profile cases before federal courts, immigration agencies, and appellate courts across the nation.

Rekha earned her Juris Doctor from Michigan State University’s College of Law in Detroit and has taught immigration law as an adjunct professor at both the University of Kansas School of Law and Washburn University. She is also a published author and a frequent speaker at national American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) conferences.

Rekha has led major litigation efforts, including landmark cases like Jamal v. Sessions, Kansas v. Garcia, and Godinez v. DHS. Her work has shaped critical areas of immigration law, including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and due process protections. She served on AILA’s Board of Governors and in 2024 became the first South Asian American elected to its Executive Committee as Treasurer.

A strong advocate for immigrants and legal reform, Rekha co-founded The Clinic at Sharma-Crawford, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable legal defense in removal proceedings. She also launched the Immigration Removal Defense Trial College to train attorneys in courtroom advocacy for immigrant clients.

Rekha’s honors include the AILA Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award (2021), the Johnson County Advocate Attorney Award (2021), and the Kansas Bar’s Courageous Attorney Award (2018). She also received the Missouri Bar’s Pro Bono Publico Award in 2017, recognizing her lasting contributions to immigrant justice.

Beyond law, Rekha Sharma-Crawford is the author of two bilingual children’s books—Aaliyah the Brave and Finding Freedom—created to support children affected by immigration enforcement and human trafficking. She continues to fight for dignity, equity, and due process for every immigrant she represents.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Sharma-Crawford Attorneys at Law
• Member, The Missouri Bar
• Member, Kansas Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Texas
• Member, International Bar Association
• Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
• Treasurer & Former Secretary, AILA Executive Committee
• Former Elected Director, AILA Board of Governors
• Former Board Member, National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild

Licensed State

• Missouri
• Kansas
• Texas

Education

• Michigan State University College of Law
  Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Awards & Badges