Martina is a Mexican immigrant with a mixed status family. She received her B.A in Social Work from Lehman College (CUNY). She was an immigration Paralegal at Immigration Advocacy Services, where she prepared clients for their interviews and worked on adjustment of status, family petitions, green card renewals, and citizenship cases. Immigration has not always been her passion; she first took an interest when she interned as an IYPEP-er at The Door and as her family and she navigated the immigration system. That’s when she realized the complexity and lack of empathy in the system. Her experience in the immigration system made her understand the importance of community and fighting for justice. Ten years later, she is still committed to fighting for a pathway to citizenship for all 11 million immigrants. She is proud to be part of IJC’s Class of 2021 Community Fellows. She is excited to join her host organization and learn better ways to serve her community.
