She worked for La Voz newspaper for the last six years covering the immigration beat. The National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) named her the 2004 Latina Journalist of the Year and recognized her sustained coverage of Proposition 200, Arizona's first immigration law, and her series on Maricopa County Sheriff's immigration raids in Hispanic neighborhoods with national awards. Her articles on immigration have been published in La Opinión of Los Angeles and Colorlines magazine, and honored numerous times by the Arizona Press Club and the Arizona Newspaper Association. She is currently a guest contributor on www.racewire.org. Valeria was born and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay and moved to the United States ten years ago.