Who we are

Mission
Big Sky Immigration Legal Services & Advocacy works to expand access to high-quality immigration legal services across Montana while empowering immigrant communities through education and advocacy. The program provides direct legal services to foreign nationals, ensuring access to trusted representation for individuals navigating complex immigration systems. In addition to casework, the organization conducts statewide outreach—traveling to communities to present Know Your Rights sessions, hosting legal clinics, and mentoring attorneys interested in immigration law. Our mission is to meet the urgent and unmet need for immigration representation in Montana, foster resilience within immigrant communities, and build a stronger network of advocates statewide.

Andrea L. Sweeney, Founder and Legal Director

Andrea L. Sweeney (formerly Andrea L. Smith) is the Founder and Legal Director of Big Sky Immigration Legal Services & Advocacy. She specializes in U.S. Immigration Law, focusing on all immigration matters including filings before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), and related litigation.

Andrea grew up in Helena, Montana, and attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, where she majored in Communication with an emphasis in Rhetorical Theory.

Andrea went on to earn her law degree at the New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts. During law school, she concentrated her studies on Immigration Law. Her practice has been exclusively in immigration law.