Yohannes Yetbarek

Community liason / DOJ accredited representative

Yohannes Yetbarek started with AAN as a volunteer translator and interpreter for Tigrinyan (Eritrean), and Amharic (Ethiopian) speakers in October 2010. He joined the AAN staff as a Community Liaison and Legal Assistant in November 2015. He has been organizing and conducting immigration outreach programs for the African and Afro-Caribbean communities in San Francisco, East bay, South bay, and North Bay. In 2017, he became a DOJ Accredited Representative and began working on affirmative asylum, family-based petitions, consular processing, adjustment of status, and naturalization cases.

In 2000, Yohannes received his LL.B Degree (Bachelor of laws) from the University of Asmara, Eritrea in Domestic and International Law. After graduation, he worked for the Eritrean Ministry of Justice as a government attorney and legal trainer for six years. Following his time as a government attorney, Yohannes served as a judge in Eritrea.

In 2011, he volunteered with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area as an interpreter for Tigrinya-speaking individuals seeking asylum. Prior to joining AAN full time, Yohannes worked as a legal assistant in private practice.

Yohannes is originally from Eritrea and is fluent in Tigrinya and Amharic. He is an active member of the Eritrean community in the Bay Area.