As PANA’s Legal Assistant, Patricia, provides legal assistance, with the supervision of an attorney, to community members as they navigate United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Patricia represents PANA at a a regional housing collaborative to prevent evictions. She helps coordinate Know Your Rights workshops as well as tenants’ rights clinics. She represents PANA at a regional housing collaborative to prevent evictions, and coordinates Know Your Rights workshops and housing clinics.
Since 2003, Patricia has advocated for immigrant and refugee rights in the San Diego area. She was Chair of the North County Immigration Task Force from 20015 to 2018. Prior to joining PANA, Patricia worked as an Immigration Specialist at Jewish Family Services (JFS), providing eligibility screening for legal assistance to immigrants.
Patricia graduated in 1991 from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico with a Bachelor's degree in Law. Her background as an attorney in Mexico led her to pursue her Partial DOJ accreditation with PANA. Her ultimate goal is to become a fully accredited DOJ representative to represent immigrants in immigration court.
Patricia is an Indigenous Immigrant from Mexico and a proud mother of a future lawyer. Her hobbies include long walks at the beach, drawing, and listening to music.