Celebrating Sue’s 25 Years at ILAP
For 25 years, our Executive Director Sue Roche has helped shape ILAP into what it is today: a place of courage, compassion, and deep commitment to justice. Her leadership hasn’t just guided the organization through shifting policies and growing demands — it has nurtured a culture rooted in dignity and care, both for the people we serve and for those doing the work.
To mark this milestone, we invited a few meaningful voices from ILAP’s history to reflect on Sue’s leadership and its impact on immigrant justice in Maine.
These reflections speak to what so many of us recognize in Sue’s approach: a rare combination of integrity, strategic clarity, and deep responsibility. She has guided ILAP’s growth with intention, responding to emerging needs while staying grounded in our mission and the lived realities of the communities we serve.
Thank you, Sue, for 25 years of vision, responsibility, and service to ILAP and Maine’s immigrant communities!
Sue Roche
“I had conducted a nationwide search for someone with immigration law experience, but I took a chance on Sue — fresh out of law school — and clearly, it was well worth it. From the start, she showed compassion, intelligence, and drive. She was a relentless advocate for her clients and a trusted sounding board for me as ILAP grew in its early years.
Today, ILAP is so fortunate to have Sue at its helm, especially in this moment of rising cruelty and dehumanization in immigration policy. She is ILAP’s anchor — holding both institutional memory and bold vision. Under her leadership, the organization has more than doubled in size since I stepped away, expanding its impact, systemic advocacy, and access to legal assistance for low-income Mainers across the state.
I never imagined Sue would still be with ILAP 25 years on, but I’m so glad she is — and so proud of her work. Congratulations on this incredible milestone, Sue.”
- Beth Stickney, ILAP Founder
“What a timely moment to celebrate Sue Roche’s anniversary at ILAP. The growth of MIRC can be indirectly attributed to Sue’s unwavering commitment to immigrant rights, especially considering our organization was founded by ILAP 25 years ago.”
- Mufalo Chitam, Executive Director, Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition
“We are all so fortunate to have Sue at the helm of ILAP. Over 25 years, she has led by example — always guided by justice, empathy, and a deep respect for the dignity of every person we serve. Today, we celebrate her commitment to our mission, her steady and compassionate leadership, and the enduring impact she continues to make every single day.”
- Melissa, Co-Legal Director, ILAP
