EDUCATORS FOR FAIR CONSIDERATION (E4FC)

Maryfer

Maryfer was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and emigrated to the United States in 2000. She is in her second year at San Jose State University and is majoring in Health Science. She hopes to one day be able to provide information and excellent health care to the undocumented community.

The origin of her interest for health came when her father had a heart attack and did not have health insurance. Her family had a tough time and she would not want anybody else going through the same situation. She chose to take part in E4FC because everyone at E4FC has the same goal to help out the undocumented community. E4FC offers countless of different aid to the community that is rarely seen and is a complete blessing for who ever comes across this organization.

Her biggest dream is to travel. She believes it is a long shot but she knows with a little hope, she could one day travel. She would travel first to the ancient ruins. She misses her country of origin but America has become her home. In her spare time she likes to go hiking, go to concerts, and eat phó.

Ramon

Ramon was born in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico in 1990 and came to Oakland, California in 1998 with his mother and three-year old sister to reunite with his father. He graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in March 2016 with Chicana/o Studies and Sociology degrees after transferring from Laney College in Oakland. He aspires to go to law school to become an immigration attorney and work in the undocumented community. One day he hopes to open a non-profit organization dedicated to provide affordable legal services and legal education in the Bay Area. He joined the E4FC family as a Legal Advocate because he believes in community empowerment through education, and legal education is one of the most valuable resources that is lacking in the undocumented community.

In his free time, he likes being active and being outdoors. Hiking, running, and high intensity training are some of the activities he enjoys. Additionally, spending time with family is very important to him.

Sandra

Sandra was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and immigrated to the United States at 10 years old. She attended school in Gilroy, California for about two years and then later moved to San Jose, California where she continued her education. She attended De Anza Community College before transferring to U.C Santa Cruz where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Her interest for immigration law started during her community college years. Therefore, during her time at U.C Santa Cruz, she decided to volunteer at the International Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) to expand her knowledge on immigration law. Soon after, she applied to the E4FC Legal Advocate fellowship because she saw it as an opportunity to continue to follow her interest and it would also allow her to help undocumented communities more proactively.

Yongbin

Yongbin is a third year student pursuing an Economics major and Education minor at UC Berkeley. He was born in Seoul, South Korea and moved to California when he was three, moving around from Oakland to Dublin to Elk Grove and presently, to Berkeley. Living in the United States with just his parents and no other family in the same country has been a journey with its highlights and challenges. Yongbin is extremely close to his parents, and they have sacrificed so much of their own to open up doors and paths of opportunity. As a result, Yongbin has been a passionate student leader within undocumented, public service, university spirit, and orientation communities on the UC Berkeley campus. He joined E4FC as a Legal Advocate to better understand the complex U.S. immigration system and delve deeper into immigration law and history.

With that knowledge and experience, Yongbin hopes to pursue a career, possibly in law, to work in low income, undocumented, and people of color communities. Beyond that, he wants to build spaces and paths for folks to empower themselves and bring out the potential leadership and capabilities that Yongbin sees in each and every individual. 

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LEGAL ADVOCATES 2015-2016

Alex

Alex is a third year Bioengineering major at UC Berkeley. He was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and moved to Sacramento, California in 2010. Being away from his family and only seeing them once a year is one way in which the current immigration system affects him. In addition, because Alex’s mother does not have a U.S. visa, Alex has not been able to see his mother since he left his hometown. Alex joined E4FC as a Legal Advocate to better understand the complex U.S. immigration system, immigration history, and the ways in which the system continues to affect undocumented citizens. At the same time, Alex hopes to use this new knowledge and his personal experience to help, guide, and inspire other undocumented immigrants across the U.S. Once he graduates from UC Berkeley, Alex plans to apply to law school to serve his community. Alex believes that the joint effort of undocumented community and its allies will raise awareness to bring the necessary changes to make the U.S. immigration system more fair and humane.

Denize

Denize was born in Michoacán, Mexico and immigrated to the United States at age two. Denize grew up in the Hayward area and was not fully aware of the implications of her undocumented status until she attended Ohlone College. There she realized that her opportunities were limited because of her status. This realization sparked her interest in advocacy concerning immigrant rights issues. In 2012 Denize served as an Outreach Ambassador for E4FC where she learned how to use her voice and share her immigration story to inspire and motivate others to stop living in fear. Denize works as the Youth Educator for La Familia Counseling Service, a mental health agency in Hayward where she empowers students to become leaders and agents of change for their community. Denize is a recipient of the  Koshland Civic Unity Award, and serves as a fellow with Koshland Program at the San Francisco Foundation. In spring of 2015, Denize became the first member of her family to obtain a college degree when she graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Sociology. The experience of having family members detained and face challenges navigating the immigration system inspires Denize to become a licensed immigration attorney so that she may help others.

Dilan

Dilan was born in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S at 2 months old. Growing up in Richmond, California, Dilan faced many hardships: from being put on a school to prison pipeline to navigating through an unstable home environment. Dilan developed resiliency, passion, creativity, determination, and a strong work ethic that have helped him overcome his obstacles. Dilan’s passion for the law came from learning that his rights were violated while going through the school to prison pipeline. He grew conscious about how laws and policies affected his life as an undocumented immigrant. Dilan’s experiences taught him that education is power and understanding law will enable him to advocate for others and himself. Dilan has already interned at the Community Legal Information Center as a paralegal. Dilan plans to pursue law school after graduating from California State University, Chico spring of 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science: Legal Studies.

Engels

At the age of fourteen Engels crossed the Arizona desert in order to reunite with his maternal family. Since his arrival into the U.S., Engels participated in several organizations working to materialize cultural, political, and economic justice. For the past 10 years Engels has been an active member of Comite Guelaguetza de Santa Maria, an organization that celebrates and promulgates the culture of Oaxaca among Oaxaqueños in California. Engels graduated from San Jose State University with a B.A. on Global Studies with a regional emphasis in Latin America. Engles is active with Students Advocates for Higher Education, SAHE, and now Educators for Fair Consideration. Because neoliberal policies criminalize immigrants, he aspires to work for an international organization to advocate for human rights around the world. Engels likes to spend time in nature and loves to explore and prepare new dishes. His favorite author is Juan Rulfo and his favorite band is Jaguares. He believes in the concept that another world is possible.

Karla M.

Karla was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco and came to the U.S. at the age of three. In 2006 Karla moved to U.C. Davis to complete her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations. As a student, Karla had the privilege of doing research under the Anthropology Department on media representation of Arabs and Muslims. She also completed an internship in education and science funding policy through the U.C. Washington Program. These academic experiences helped her define her passion for policy and advocacy. Karla also joined Clinica Tepati as an undergraduate volunteer and Referrals Committee member. Presently, Karla lives in Napa, CA and works at a non-profit in grants administration, volunteers as a math tutor and mentor for a youth education retention program, and is a community organizer with the Napa Valley Dream Team. Karla previously served as an E4FC Outreach Ambassador (2012-13), Policy Advocate (2014-15), and is now excited to be a part of the Legal Services team.

Larissa

Larissa was born in Brazil and immigrated to the United States when she was fourteen years old. She received her B.A. in Political Science from UC Berkeley in 2014; she has also volunteered and interned at organizations that advocate for immigrants' rights. Larissa worked for a private immigration law office where she assisted with DACA and U-Visa applications. Larissa is a former E4FC Legal Advocate Intern and is now a Board of Immigration Appeals Accredited Representative with E4FC. In addition to E4FC, Larissa also works as an Administrative Assistant at Caudle Immigration where she continues to serve the immigrant community. Larissa plans on attending law school in the future.

Marisol

Marisol was born in Bolivia and then raised in Los Angeles, CA by Bolivian immigrant parents. She is the youngest of three children and is the first in her family to attend 4-year University. Marisol is currently at University of California, Berkeley pursuing a career in law. Marisol is passionate about immigrant rights and her goal is to become an immigration attorney. She has been a Legal Assistant in a private firm and a member of Latino-Pre Law Society at Berkeley. She is ready to make an impact in someone’s life by providing legal services as a Legal Advocate intern with E4FC.

Nayeli

Nayeli was born in Mexico City and immigrated with her family to California at the age of two. Although her lack of status initially discouraged her from pursuing higher education, she later enrolled at San Jose City College where she found the encouragement she needed in an AB540 student support group. Nayeli then graduated from San Jose State University (SJSU), where she received her B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Community Change. At SJSU Nayeli was an active student where she held the chair position for Student Advocates for Higher Education, an organization whose mission is to promote higher education among immigrant students. She currently works as a legal assistant for an immigration law firm in the South Bay and is one of E4FC’s BIA Accredited Representatives. As a firm believer in the importance of being civically engaged, Nayeli dedicates her free time to volunteering with other South Bay organizations that advocate for immigrant rights and provide direct services to immigrants. Nayeli’s passion for social justice and humyn rights has driven her to pursue law school in the future.

LEGAL ADVOCATES 2014-2015 

Carla L.

Carla Lopez is a self-identified Undocumented Queer Womyn of Color. She was born in Tabasco, Mexico and was brought to the United States at the age of two due to economic necessity. Because she moved around so much when she was younger, she calls many Northern California cities her home. Carla attended the University of California, Davis where she was heavily involved in activism and holistic support services aimed towards helping marginalized communities, most specifically undocumented and LGBTQ individuals. She graduated in 2011 with a B.A. in both Psychology and Chicana/o Studies. She is currently a program assistant at the National Center for Lesbian Rights where she works closely with the Immigration Project to assist LGBTQ immigrants file for asylum, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), U nonimmigrant status (U visa) and adjustment of status. Carla’s work and experiences have taken her down a path of social justice. Her future plan is to pursue a dual degree program in Law and Social Work. Her end goal is to become an immigration attorney in order to continue to assist and support the LGBTQ immigrant community through public service. 

Cindy

Cindy immigrated to the U.S. with her parents at the young age of three months old from Mexico. She grew up in Marin County where she attended College of Marin before transferring to San Francisco State University where she received her B.A. in Philosophy with an emphasis in law. She currently interns at the San Francisco District Attorney’s office and works as a legal/marketing assistant at a criminal defense firm in San Francisco. Cindy also serves her community by mentoring several first generation college students in Marin County through a non-profit called 10,000 Degrees. Cindy’s dedication to social change has empowered her to take the next steps and apply to law school. She is very excited to join the legal services team where she will intertwine and further her passion for criminal and immigration law. In her spare time, Cindy enjoys hiking and practicing yoga.

Harry

Harry was born in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to Southern California when he was fourteen years old. Although he had difficulties learning English and assimilating into a new culture, Harry managed to gain admission to UC Berkeley, where he will be receiving a B.A. in Sociology in Spring 2015. Last year, Harry interned at the Korean Resource Center (KRC) in Los Angeles as an Immigration Legal Project intern. During his six-month internship at KRC, their legal services team had the opportunity to help more than 5,000 community members file their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) applications. Harry aspires to contribute further to the immigrant community and to the greater movement by pursuing his passion to provide legal services as a public interest attorney. He hopes to fight for justice and equality for all hard-working immigrants. Harry ultimately wants to bring the skills he will be gain at Educators for Fair Consideration and law school back to the Korean-American community, so that not a single immigrant in the immigrant community is systematically excluded from obtaining immigration benefits.

Larissa

Larissa was born in Brazil, and immigrated to the United States when she was fourteen years old. As she moved on to community college after graduating high school, Larissa pursued Political Science as a major while being an active member in student organizations on campus, such as student government and the Puente Program. She then transferred to UC Berkeley where she received a B.A. in Political Science in Spring 2014. She was very active at Berkeley, and especially interested in participating in activities that dealt with immigration issues. Larissa was an intern for the Undocumented Student Program on campus and through that program, collaborated with other University of California campuses that wanted to expand their undocumented student services. She volunteered at the East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) and helped in their monthly DACA clinics, which provided free legal services to low-income clients who were eligible to apply for DACA. She also volunteered to be a mentor for undocumented students at Berkeley High School and provided information about college resources aimed at improving their access to higher education. Now that she has graduated, her plans include pursuing immigration law in the future, due to her passion for protecting immigrants’ rights.  

Nayeli

Nayeli was born in Mexico City and immigrated with her family to California at the age of two. Due to lack of information in high school, she was initially discouraged from wholeheartedly pursuing higher education. A couple of years later, she enrolled at San Jose City College and soon found the encouragement she needed in an AB540 student support group that helped her excel and transfer to a four-year university. Nayeli is now a graduate of San Jose State University, where she received her B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Community Change. During her stay at SJSU, she held the chair position for Student Advocates for Higher Education (SAHE), an organization at SJSU whose mission is to promote higher education among immigrant students regardless of legal status and whom she credits for helping her grow as a community organizer. As a firm believer in the importance of being civically engaged, she dedicates her free time in organizing with many other South Bay organizations that advocate for immigrant rights and volunteering for organizations that aid eligible youth apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Nayeli’s passion for social justice and human rights has driven her to pursue Law school in the future. 

Sarah

Sarah was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. In pursuit of better opportunities and a brighter future, her family moved to the United States when she was 13. Raised by her parents to believe that education and hard work were the keys to unlocking those opportunities, she attended Stanford University and majored in International Relations, aspiring to eventually become a public policy activist. While in college, she volunteered at the Superior Court of San Mateo as an advocate for family law litigants, and she currently works as an immigration paralegal at a law firm in San Francisco. She plans to go back to school for a law degree towards a career in the public sector, and hopes to continue working as an advocate for her community.

Tommy

Tommy aspires to overcome his obstacles to uplift his communities. He arrived in the U.S. with his mother when he was eight and became undocumented when his tourist visa expired. At nineteen, his new stepfather kicked him out of the house for being queer, and his LGBTQ chosen family helped him during this tumultuous time. Tommy cleaned houses and did other under-the-table work to survive. His undocumented identity caught up to him in 2007 when ICE arrived at his doorsteps and placed him into deportation proceedings, which led to his current Withholding of Removal status a year later. To give back to his communities, Tommy has volunteered in non-profits, mentored LGBTQ youth, facilitated a peer support group, and helped change UC Berkeley policies. He has also interned at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant where he assisted asylum seekers. In addition, Tommy is a storyteller; his short documentary Home/land(s) has been screened at the San Francisco and Seattle Transgender Film Festivals. Tommy will be graduating from UC Berkeley this December with a Bachelors of Arts in American Studies with a focus on the intersectionality of trans* and undocumented communities. For fun, Tommy enjoys hanging out with his beautiful girlfriend and stinky puppy. 

Yoshi

Yoshi emigrated from Mexico to the United States when she was 15 years old. In spite of the difficulties she faced as a newly arrived immigrant, she graduated from high school and then enrolled full-time at Skyline College. She then transferred to UC Berkeley where she received a B.A. in Sociology. While at Berkeley, she became a leader at Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action (BOCA) and an ambassador of the Chicana Latina Foundation Broadband Project. In her last year, she discovered her passion for helping immigrants like herself to navigate the challenging immigration system and volunteered at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant (EBSC), where she aided in sanctuary -support, protection, and advocacy -to low-income and indigent refugees and immigrants. The financial independence Yoshi gained the very first day she set foot in the United States while working full-time to fund her education, and excelling academically has made her a strong, conscious and determined woman to make a constructive impact in the lives of other immigrants. Yoshi plans to pursue immigration law. 

Diana

Diana grew up in San Diego and emigrated from Puebla, Mexico when she was only nine months. In the future, she wants to go to law school to become an immigration attorney. Diana was part of E4FC’s Outreach Team this past year and gained a lot of skills and experience. She considers herself mature, specifically because of her experience as an undocumented person. Diana feels very honored and privileged to be receiving an education from San Francisco State University, where she is pursuing a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Her heart is deeply invested in immigration work but Diana also loves attending poetry readings, because she knows how powerful words can be a tool to change the heart. 

LEGAL ADVOCATES 2013-2014 

Angelica Mal.

Angelica was born in Michoacan, Mexico and came to the U.S. when she was 12 years old. After graduating high school, the lack of access to financial aid prevented Angelica from going to a 4-year university, but it did not stop her from reaching her educational goals. Angelica transferred from Foothill College, as an honor scholar, to the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), where she majored in Sociology. She has volunteered at the International Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA), the Santa Cruz County Immigration Project (SCCIP), was the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program (CUIP) intern for Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), and is now the DACA Outreach Team member for the Bay Area DACA Collaborative. Angelica’s work has empowered her to create change and continue her education towards law school.

Angelica Man.

Angelica is currently a junior at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Legal Studies with a minor in Human Rights. She hopes to attend law school one day to practice immigration law. Angelica arrived to the U.S. six years ago from Colombia. Coming to this country was not easy, as she could not speak English. Many times, she found herself in a world of loneliness, unclear about her path. Angelica felt different and lost trying to understand both the culture and the language of the United States. After graduating from Mountain View High School, she went on to Foothill College where she spent three years fulfilling her pre-requisite requirements. While studying at Foothill, she held jobs as a waitress and hostess to help finance her education. Now, thanks to funding from scholarships and financing from UC Berkeley, she can focus on her studies and be an active member of her community and on social issues that matter to her. Angelica’s hobbies include reading non-fiction books and practicing yoga.

Gabrielle

Gabrielle was born in New York and raised in Missouri. Her parents are of Puerto Rican, Native American and Barbadian decent. Gabrielle always knew she wanted to attend law school and realized her passion for immigration law when she became deeply involved in the refugee community in Chicago, IL. She formed strong bonds with many resettled families from Burma, Cuba, Iran and Bhutan and noticed the lack of support they received from their resettlement agency due to funding cuts and many unrealistic expectations placed upon them. Gabrielle is a first generation college graduate, an only child and the product of growing up in a single parent home where she had to contribute financially to her household at an early age. In 2011 she received her Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude in International Studies from Loyola University Chicago. Gabrielle will be attending law school in the fall of 2014. She wants to use her JD to assist hardworking people who have come to the US with good intentions obtain the safe life they've pictured for themselves and their family. Gabrielle is new to the Bay Area, having moved here in August of 2012. She currently works at Enterprise for High Schools; helping SF high school students develop job readiness skills.

Karla G.

Karla’s roots are in Jalisco, México but sprouted in the Napa Valley where she was raised since the age of three. As the oldest child of four, she is the first in her family to graduate high school. Upon graduating, Karla enrolled at Napa Valley College (NVC), where she cultivated her passion for education, community and social justice. In 2010, she co-founded the Napa Valley Dream Team, where she led the development and coordination of the first and second “DREAMErs Conferences” at NVC. She was named the Napa Valley College Outstanding Student of the Year in 2011 for her involvement within her community and academic accomplishments. Last year she transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, where she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies. Karla aspires to become a non-profit sector immigration and civil rights attorney/advocate.

Sarah

Sarah was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. In pursuit of better opportunities and a brighter future, her family moved to the United States when she was 13. Raised by her parents to believe that education and hard work were the keys to unlocking those opportunities, she attended Stanford University and majored in International Relations, aspiring to eventually become a public policy activist. While in college, she volunteered at the Superior Court of San Mateo as an advocate for family law litigants, and she currently works as an immigration paralegal at a law firm in San Francisco. She plans to go back to school for a law degree towards a career in the public sector, and hopes to continue working as an advocate for her community.

Sarait

Sarait immigrated to East Palo Alto, California with two younger siblings at the age of 10 to reunite with her parents. Upon arriving to this country, she dedicated herself to school. With great academic support, in the fall of 2007, Sarait attended CSU, Chico becoming the first in her family to attend a university. While in school, she became actively involved in several organizations. She was also involved in organizing among undocumented students. As an intern at the Chico Peace and Justice Center, Sarait collaborated with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Asian Law Caucus to introduce the Trust Act to city officials. Her tenacity and confidence have led her to achieve numerous awards. In May of 2012, she graduated with a B.A in Social Work.  She has volunteered at Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN) in various processing events for Deferred Action and Citizenship applications. Her passion to help goes above and beyond measure as she pursues the legal path.

Yoshi

Yoshi emigrated from Mexico to the United States when she was 15 years old. In spite of the difficulties she faced as a newly arrived immigrant, she graduated from high school and then enrolled full-time at Skyline College. She then transferred to UC Berkeley where she received a B.A. in Sociology. While at Berkeley, she became a leader at Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action (BOCA) and an ambassador of the Chicana Latina Foundation Broadband Project. In her last year, she discovered her passion for helping immigrants like herself to navigate the challenging immigration system and volunteered at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant (EBSC), where she aided in sanctuary -support, protection, and advocacy -to low-income and indigent refugees and immigrants. The financial independence Yoshi gained the very first day she set foot in the United States while working full-time to fund her education, and excelling academically has made her a strong, conscious and determined woman to make a constructive impact in the lives of other immigrants. Yoshi plans to pursue immigration law.

LEGAL ADVOCATES 2011-2012 

Blanca

Blanca was born in Toluca, Mexico. She was brought to the U.S. at the age of 6 and raised in the East Bay.  Upon graduating from high school, she thought college was inaccessible to undocumented students and saw her future as non-existent. A few months later, Blanca found out about AB540, a new state law that allowed undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.  Blanca attended Contra Costa and Diablo Valley Community colleges, receiving an A.A in Liberal Arts. She later transferred to UC Davis and received a B.A. in Chicana/o Studies in 2008.  While at Davis,she co-founded Scholars Promoting Education, Awareness and Knowledge (SPEAK), an undocumented student support group. After graduating from Davis, Blanca returned to her hometown of Richmond, CA where she continues to raise awareness about undocumented student rights and the federal DREAM Act.

Gabriela

Gabriela emigrated from El Salvador to the United States when she was 15 years old. In spite of the difficulties she faced as a newly arrived immigrant, Gabriela managed to gain acceptance at UC Berkeley, where she is currently double majoring in Ethnic Studies and Chicana/Chicano Studies. Her passion for social justice led Gabriela to take on leadership positions in the immigrant community, including at Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education (RISE), an undocumented/AB540 support group at UC Berkeley. Gabriela plans to pursue a PhD in Ethnic Studies and a Law degree in the future. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing and reading.

Jake

Jake was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States at the age of 8. He is currently pursuing a joint degree in Bioengineering and Material Science Engineering at UC Berkeley. Jake believes that these majors will eventually pave a path for him to gain legal status and open up an array of opportunities in the United States. Jake has long struggled with his identity as an undocumented individual. Numerous failed attempts at passage of the DREAM Act have only worsened this. His passion to pursue law comes from his personal hardships and understanding of how ignorance of the law can tear families apart and cause much pain. He is very excited to join a community of students who understand his struggle.

Laura

Laura is originally from Mexico and currently resides in Napa. She is an alumna of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Class of 2009. She majored in Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) with a minor in Legal Studies. She co-founded Students Informing Now (S.I.N., pronounced sēn), the first AB540 undocumented student support group at UCSC. She will be applying to law school to pursue a career as an advocate for immigrant and civil rights. She is eager to assist other immigrant students in finding remedies for their legal status, and to work together for passage of the DREAM Act.

Susan

Susan was born in South Korea and raised in Canada, becoming a naturalized citizen there at the age of nine. She did not fully understand what citizenship meant until she immigrated to the United States when she was ten and later interned for an immigration law firm during high school, where she discovered she was undocumented. Susan dedicated her undergraduate studies majoring in Sociology with a minor in Asian American Studies at University of California, Davis to reevaluate her social identity. Her first time disclosing her status was at an AB 540 Task Force meeting where she was the only Asian American sharing a testimony. While her work has been focused on underprivileged and underrepresented communities, she hopes to promote collaboration among the different undocumented faces for common goals of education, advocacy, and self-empowerment. Susan will be applying to law school in the fall of 2013 to continue her pursuit of becoming an immigration attorney.

Zulma

Zulma is a first year student attending the University of San Francisco School of Law.  Her older brother was carried across the border from Mexico when he was only 6-months-old. Zulma was born in Oakland, CA.  She attended U.C. Berkeley as an undergraduate. When she was a freshman in college, her older brother was deported. Zulma has worked for Centro Legal de La Raza, RISE at Berkeley High School conducting research on immigration issues, Parent Revolution, and for E4FC in San Francisco. She has a strong interest in immigration issues and education. This summer she will be splitting her summer with Judge Trina Thompson Stanley at the Alameda County Superior Court and assisting Professor Bill Ong Hing with an immigration project in Texas. Thousands of children have been warehoused in overcrowded detention centers in Texas and she will conduct Know Your Rights presentations regarding asylum, credible fear interview and exit plans, intakes, and assist other immigration attorneys who are not fluent Spanish speakers in credible fear preparations and bond hearings. As a Judicial Intern, Zulma will prepare pre-trial and post-trial bench briefs for a 6-week homicide case.  She will conduct interviews for the creation of an interactive PowerPoint presentation for UC Berkeley students exploring the historical treatment of people of color and the law, and create supplemental information for California Judges regarding Korematsu Day.

Krsna

Krsna is a Juris Doctor Candidate at Cornell Law School and a graduate of the University of California, Davis where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Psychology. Having immigrated to the United States when he was only four months old, Krsna grew up feeling like he belonged in this country, despite his legal status. Growing up in East Oakland, he was a victim of four gun violence incidents. Early on, education became Krsna's tool for freedom and self-advancement. Since Krsna joined E4FC in 2009, he helped develop and advance E4FC's Legal Services program, gained in-depth knowledge of U.S. immigration law and has been able to use his knowledge to pursue and gain lawful permanent residency for himself and help others in similar situations.

Denia

Denia immigrated to the U.S. with her parents when she was only 11 months old. Hoping to reunite with their family and have a chance at a more prosperous future, the Perez family left their beloved Mexico and settled in Santa Rosa, California.Denia's primary inspiration has been watching her parents work hard and leave everything they knew behind so that she and her brothers could have a better life; without such incredible examples of what it means to lead with courage, love, and persistence, Denia would not be where she is today. In May 2012, Denia became the first in her family to receive a college degree; she graduated cum laude from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s degree in Women & Gender Studies, and is currently in the process of applying to law school. Denia wants to become an attorney working in the public sector with underserved populations. She joined E4FC in 2010 and in 2013 was granted the first openly undocumented Board of Immigration Appeals Level 1 Accredited Representative status by the United States Department of Justice, which authorizes her to represent clients before the Department of Homeland Security and certifies her knowledge of U.S. immigration law and policy. Denia plans to use the knowledge she learned as a Women & Gender Studies major to pursue a career in public interest law.

LEGAL ADVOCATES 2009-2010 (FOUNDING MEMBERS)

Beleza

Beleza was born and raised in Brazil, and has been living in the Bay Area for almost eight years. As the daughter of Chinese immigrants in Brazil and an immigrant herself in the United States, she has witnessed the struggles and difficulties of newcomers. She has seen how cultural and language barriers prevent even the most hardworking from successfully adapting, and how broken immigration laws also prevent high-achieving students from becoming active members in society. Beleza has worked towards social justice as a teacher of at-risk youth in San Francisco, a writer with ethnic media such as AsianWeek.com and New America Media, and a community organizer. She graduated with Phi Beta Kappa and Highest Honors from UC Berkeley, and will be attending the University of Toronto in the Fall, where she will study Urban and Environmental Planning, with a focus on Community Development.

Krsna

Krsna is a Juris Doctor Candidate at Cornell Law School and a graduate of the University of California, Davis where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Psychology. Having immigrated to the United States when he was only four months old, Krsna grew up feeling like he belonged in this country, despite his legal status. Growing up in East Oakland, he was a victim of four gun violence incidents. Early on, education became Krsna's tool for freedom and self-advancement. Since Krsna joined E4FC in 2009, he helped develop and advance E4FC's Legal Services program, gained in-depth knowledge of U.S. immigration law and has been able to use his knowledge to pursue and gain lawful permanent residency for himself and help others in similar situations.

Mohammad
 
Mohammad is an undocumented youth organizer from Michigan. His family moved here from Iran when he was three years old. He is a co-founder of DreamActivist - a growing network of undocumented student organizers and allies across the United States who are working on the passage of the DREAM Act. In 2008, Mohammad served as board member and co-chair of the United We Dream Network's organizing committee.  In May of 2010, Mohammad joined four other students in staging a civil disobedience action in the Tucson, Arizona offices of Senator John McCain.  Mohammad is currently studying for his Bachelors degree in Social Work.

Prerna

Prerna is an attorney licensed to practice in the District of Columbia. She is the Principal and Founder of Law Legal LLP.

Sergio

Sergio is a first-generation college graduate, and the son of immigrant parents. He is a product of the community college education system, and a graduate from the University of California, Berkeley. There, he obtained his BA degree in Sociology and Minor in City and Regional Planning. His passion for social change and immigrant rights led him to co-found Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education (RISE), a support and mentoring program helping immigrant and underrepresented students successfully graduate college. Sergio has extensive leadership experience advocating for civil rights, immigrant rights, and affordable education at local, state-wide and national levels.


Currently, he volunteers with Reform Immigration for America (RIFA) national campaign as a Central Valley Lead. He is a Family Resource Specialist for the Center of Human Services in Modesto, California. Sergio co-manages a worker cooperative owned by UC Berkeley undocumented students who consult with local non-profit and community organizations. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in Law, and to continue being an agent of social change. His dedication to advocating for immigrants and students stems from his faith, humanitarian perspective on life and his lived experiences. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his friends and family.

OTHER IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS

David Bennion

David Bennion is a staff attorney at Nationalities Service Center, a Philadelphia nonprofit organization, where he provides legal representation to low income immigrants.

Dan Berger

Dan Berger is an immigration attorney at Curran & Berger LLP. He is a frequent speaker at colleges and universities around the northeast. He won the 1995 American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) annual writing competition for an article on INS policies toward international adoptions. Mr. Berger has also been a Senior Editor of the Immigration and Nationality Law Handbook since 2000, was an Author/Editor of the revised National Association of Foreign Student Advisers' Manual (2000), Editor-in-Chief of Immigration Options for Academics and Researcher (2005), and the Editor of the International Adoption Sourcebook. He is currently the Chair of the AILA Publications Committee and Vice Chair of the AILA Business Litigation Committee, having recently served five years on the Vermont Service Center Liaison Committee. Mr. Berger developed his interest in immigration in college, where he studied immigration history and taught English as a Second Language for adult refugees. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Cornell Law School.

Francisco Gonzalez

Born and raised in Cuba, Francisco obtained his law degree at the University of Las Villas, graduating as one of the top students in the school. For several years, he worked as a civil litigator and taught civil litigation, civil procedures and administrative procedure at the University of Santa Clara in Cuba. After joining a Catholic political opposition movement and becoming legal adviser to the bishop of Santa Clara, Francisco was forced to leave Cuba and become an immigrant and asylum seeker in Sweden. He later immigrated to the United States, initially working as a janitor while enrolled full-time at City College. In 1998, Catholic Charities of San Francisco hired Francisco as an immigration counselor and promoted him to the coordinator position of their Refugee & Immigrant Services Program just eight months later. Francisco is a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representative, which authorizes him to represent and advocate for clients at all possible levels within the immigration legal system. Francisco has represented dozens of asylum seekers and clients seeking suspensions of deportation and/or cancellations of removal. He is also a writer for the El Heraldo Catolico and appears as a weekly guest on the Telemundo channel. Francisco believes that "caring deeply for the clients' legal problems is the soul and essence of a successful legal practice."

Sin Yen Ling

Sin Yen Ling is a senior staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus focusing on immigrants rights. She is a former staff attorney at the New York-based Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) where she has spent 6 years conducting litigation and advocacy in the areas of anti-Asian violence, racial profiling and immigrant detention/deportation. A native New Yorker, Ms. Ling was born in Manhattan's Chinatown to immigrant parents who worked in garment factories and restaurants.

Mark Silverman

Mark Silverman is the Director of Immigration Policy at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), where he has worked as an attorney since 1983. Mark has done over 400 presentations and trainings for immigrant communities throughout California. He has also made numerous presentations on various aspects of the law to attorneys and other legal workers. He is the author and co-author of more than ten ILRC publications on different aspects of immigration law, including Winning Asylum Cases; Winning NACARA Suspension Cases; and publications on family visa, Temporary Protected Status, pro bono asylum programs, and the hardship requirement for waivers and cancellation. Mark's hobbies include increasing his repertoire of (what some people consider) jokes through disciplined study of The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and other contributions to the highest traditions of American culture. He is a fluent Spanish speaker.

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