As an immigrant from Peru, Lorena has personally experienced the very real fear of suddenly losing everything and the powerlessness of being at the mercy of the U.S. government. Her own immigrant experience fostered a strong sense of obligation to advocate for members of the immigrant community who do not have access to the same opportunities. While attending The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Lorena interned at Make the Road New York, where she worked on asylum and humanitarian visas for crime victims and juveniles. She also interned with the New York Legal Assistance Group’s Domestic Violence Clinical Center, where she assisted Intimate Partner Violence survivors in Family Court as well as in immigration-related matters, such as Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions. Lorena works at Lutheran Social Services of New York, where she represents asylum seekers and unaccompanied minor children in removal proceedings.
