Maria De La Luz Hernandez
Maria De La Luz Hernandez, an Associate with the Firm, was born in Guanajuato, Mexico. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Spanish in 1998. She received a Juris Doctor Degree from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton in 2005. In 2006, Ms. Hernandez received her Master’s Degree in Ethnic Studies from California State University, Los Angeles.
Ms. Hernandez has also attended the University of Guanajuato in Guanajuato Mexico where she took classes in Mexican Law. Furthermore, Ms. Hernandez attended the Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Mexico where she took advanced Spanish courses. While in law school, Ms. Hernandez was the recipient of a Certificate of Public Service and a Criminal Law Certificate.
Ms. Hernandez currently handles all Immigration matters for the firm including employment and family based immigration petitions as well as both immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Ms. Hernandez has volunteered her time and legal expertise to assist victims of domestic violence as well as victims of crimes in filing for immigration relief through the Los Angeles Legal Aid Center. Ms. Hernandez has also provided pro bono representation to hundreds of naturalization applicants referred by NALEO.
Ms. Hernandez is admitted to practice law in the State of Florida and can practice Federal law nationwide. Ms. Hernandez is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Mexican American Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Hispanic Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Florida Young Lawyers Bar Association. Ms. Hernandez currently serves on the AILA California Border Patrol (CBP) committee and is one of the founding members of the AILA Mexico District Chapter, which covers all of Central and South America as well as the Caribbean.
Gabriela Nieves
Gabriela Nieves, an Associate with the Firm, was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University (“LMU”) in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and minor in Hispanic Business. While at LMU, she was the recipient of the Mexican American Alumni Association Scholarship. Ms. Nieves also attended a study abroad program in Madrid, Spain where she practiced Spanish.
Ms. Nieves received her Juris Doctor Degree at Western State University College of Law in Fullerton. Ms. Nieves was the recipient of the Public Service Certificate. While at Western State University, Ms. Nieves was part of the inaugural class of the Western State Immigration Clinic. Ms. Nieves has successfully represented indigent clients on U Visa immigration petitions.
Gabriela Nieves currently handles family based immigration petitions, VAWA, U Visas, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) petitions. Ms. Nieves has filed numerous DACA petitions for the firm and has attained record approvals. Ms. Nieves has also volunteered her legal expertise to the community. She has spent many hours providing pro bono representation at DACA and Naturalization clinics in Southern California.
Ms. Nieves is admitted to practice in the State of California. Ms. Nieves is a member of the California State Bar, the American Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association, and the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County.
Immigration Practice 