Esmeralda received her J.D. from UCLA with a specialization in Critical Race Studies. She graduated from UC San Diego with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Law and Society. At UCLA Law, Esmeralda served as Co-Chair of La Raza, Conference Co-Chair of the 16th Annual National Latina/o Law Student Association Conference, Co-Chair of the Immigration Law Society, Co-Coordinator of the student run VAWA Immigration Clinic, and Chief Executive Editor of the Chicana/o-Latina/o Law Review. During her time in law school, Esmeralda provided direct immigration legal services – U Visa, VAWA, SIJS, and asylum – through her work with the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), ICWC, Public Counsel, and Kids In Need of Defense (KIND). After graduating from UCLA Law, she returned to ICWC as a 2013-2014 UCLA Law Public Service Law Fellow. Email Esmeralda at esme@icwclaw.org.