Betzabeth (she/her) was born in Acapulco, Mexico, and moved to the U.S. at age four, settling in Dallas, Texas. As the daughter of a single mother and a DACA recipient, Betzabeth navigated life without typical support systems. Despite these challenges, she has always worked hard to pursue an education, motivated by her mother’s strength and deep faith in God, which has fueled her perseverance. Betzabeth earned an Associate of Arts degree in 2020 and transferred to the University of North Texas at Dallas, where she plans to graduate in December 2025 with a B.A. in Political Science. She is excited to be selected as an Immigrants Rising Pre-Law Fund recipient and hopes to reflect their values and make them proud. She aspires to attend law school in 2026 and return to her hometown to uplift the community that shaped her. In her free time, she enjoys reading her Bible and walking in nature.

Cecile (she/her) hails from the beautiful island of Jamaica. She emigrated with her family to the U.S. in 2012. Cecile currently calls New York City home. She is passionate about social justice and how policies are weaponized against the poor. She completed her B.Sc. in Public Policy and plans to pursue a law degree in the area of public interest. Cecile plans to be an advocate for the undocumented community, which often lacks the resources to afford quality legal services. Cecile is a poet, a public speaker, as well as an author of children’s books.

Daniela (she/her) migrated from Honduras to the U.S. at age two and has called Miami home for 20 years. She recently earned a bachelor’s in political science with a minor in international relations from Florida International University and certificates in pre-law and law, ethics, and society. Having experienced the challenges of being undocumented, she longed for a community that understood her most personal hardships, leading her to found FIU’s Here to Dream Organization—dedicated to supporting and educating the undocumented community. Passionate about human rights and migrant advocacy, she remains actively involved in the club’s efforts to pursue migrant equality in Florida. She also served as Vice President of Phi Alpha Delta, FIU’s pre-law fraternity, where she helped mentor aspiring law students. Daniela aspires to pursue a law degree to champion the rights of migrants and her community, hoping to one day be a representative for the much-needed change in U.S. migrant policy.

Eva (she/her) was born in Mexico City and migrated to the U.S. at age six. She is a proud first-generation college graduate who recently earned her degree from UCLA. Deeply rooted in her lived experiences, Eva is passionate about giving back and increasing access for others. Over the past two years, she’s worked in the nonprofit space, mentoring fellow first-gen students through the Latino Education Advancement Foundation and supporting programs that center community, empowerment, and education.

She’s also deeply passionate about politics, a space that has personally shaped much of her life. Eva most proudly worked on the 2022 San Jose mayoral race and continues engaging in local organizing efforts that uplift immigrant and first-gen voices.

Outside of work, you can find her creating content for social media where she shares the ups and downs of navigating college as a first-gen student and builds visibility, shares resources, and reminds others that they’re not alone.

Ignacio (they/he) was born in Tijuana, Baja California, México, and migrated to San Diego, California at six years old. Most commonly known as “Natch,” he dreams of a day when he can use his advocacy skills in the legal profession to support marginalized and underserved communities.

Impacted by the barriers undocumented families experience, plus abuse and violence, Natch grew up in a low-income community where he quickly learned the need to advocate for himself, his family, and others. Natch became a proactive student leader advocating for various social justice efforts in his community college and also led a campaign to increase civic engagement in local legislation. After transferring to UC Berkeley, Natch continued onto leadership roles that support LGBTQ+ and migrants across the San Francisco Bay Area. He has experience supporting migrants through immigration cases including asylum, refugees, DACA, Advance Parole, and more. Currently, he supports students at UC Berkeley Law engaging in pro bono opportunities that help advance social justice efforts.

In their free time, Natch enjoys hanging out with their chosen family, friends, and colleagues. He enjoys dancing, designing fashion, playing video games, gardening, and exploring new music genres.

Ingrid (she/her) is a recent college graduate born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil. She and her family immigrated to the United States ten years ago, and their experiences as immigrants in the U.S. further inspired her passion for law and advocacy. Having earned her B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in linguistics from Brandeis University, she dedicated herself to learning the intricacies of what makes world cultures and societies vastly different yet deeply interconnected. She co-founded the Brazilian Student Association chapter at her university. She was also a coordinator for the Language Empowerment Action Project, where she consolidated her interest in education and language acquisition by teaching ESL to adult immigrants in the local community. In her free time, she loves dabbling in photography and crafts, reading, singing and playing music, going to museums, watching foreign shows, and trying to learn new languages.

Lesly (she/her) was born in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. when she was five years old. She was raised in Southern California where she calls home. Lesly is a senior at Pomona College, finalizing her B.A. in Spanish and History. She passionately advocates for humane immigrant rights within the California Dream Network, and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. Lesly continuously works on policy, and advocacy at the state and federal level to promote more equitable legislation for immigrants. Within her community, she organizes informational meetings to ensure immigrants have the resources and knowledge necessary to invoke their rights. Lesly was part of the 2025 Immigrants Rising Pre-Law Bootcamps and is grateful for the community and support she has found within the cohort. In her free time, she loves to paint, draw, and play basketball with her family, and friends.

Manali (she/her) is a dedicated advocate for immigrant rights and an aspiring attorney committed to immigrant justice and community-led change. Inspired by her parents’ sacrifices and the resilience of her community, she is driven to uplift those often overlooked in mainstream immigration narratives.

With a B.A. in International Development Studies from UCLA and experience at the frontlines of immigration law firms, nonprofit organizations, and advocacy initiatives, Manali bridges academic rigor with hands-on legal exposure. Her journey has been profoundly shaped by Vanessa Frank’s mentorship, who instilled in her the values of grassroots organizing, immigration justice, community empowerment, and the power of creating change.

Through various community-led campaigns, policy advocacy, and coalition-building, Manali leads and fights for initiatives and policies that expand immigrant protections. Working alongside leading experts in the nation, legal organizations, and advocates, she remains driven to amplify underrepresented voices and advocate for lasting change.

For Manali, this is more than a career—it is a calling to honor those who paved the way and ensure future generations of immigrants are heard, protected, and empowered.

Min (she/her) identifies herself as a 1.5-generation American with Korean heritage, having spent most of her life in Southern California. During her undergraduate years, she encountered Immigrant Rising through her school’s Undocumented Student Services, where she learned how to seek and offer help to her underrepresented community. Her passion for serving others continued as she transitioned into a role advocating for her clients at a personal injury law firm. Given her circumstances as an undocumented individual, she often questions the concept of self-worth—pondering who and what determines it. However, as she works in the best interest of her clients, Min is reminded of the words of one of the Founding Fathers: that all individuals have the unalienable right to the pursuit of happiness. This belief drives her vision of becoming someone who validates others’ worth, ensuring their voices are heard and their pursuit of happiness is defended.

Yesui (she/her) was born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and immigrated to the U.S. as a child. She is a senior at UC Santa Cruz, double majoring in politics and legal studies. Passionate about legal research and advocacy, she has worked with the Educational Opportunity Program, mentoring students and supporting marginalized communities. Her research focuses on Soviet legal influence in Mongolia and childcare policies in Japan. As a recipient of Immigrants Rising’s Pre-Law Fund, she is committed to pursuing a legal career in family law. She is currently interning at the California Commission on Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG), where she works on initiatives that support women’s rights and family law reform. She is excited to contribute to Immigrants Rising by fostering access to legal education and advocacy. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, reading, and gardening.