Jennefer Canales-Pelaez

Jennefer has advocated for immigrant rights from the age of 11 when she advocated for her relative’s immigration status to the President at the time, George W. Bush. Although her relative was ultimately deported, she learned that emotions alone aren’t enough, and you need legal authority behind your word. Since then, Jennefer has dedicated her life and career to ensuring that no one else experiences the trauma she felt at the age of 11. She graduated from Occidental College with a B.A. in Sociology in 2012 and earned her Juris Doctor at Southwestern Law School in 2016. During her time at Occidental College, Jennefer served as a Senator and Vice President of the Associated Students of Occidental College. While at Southwestern Law School, Jennefer was the President of the Immigration Law Student Association and a board member of the Southwestern Law School Student Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. Jennefer has been involved with ICE out of LA, Southwestern Immigration Law Clinic, National Immigration Law Center (NILC), Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (IMMDEF), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and worked with the Los Angeles Immigration Court. While at CHIRLA, Jennefer represented the organization discussing topics such as unaccompanied minors and immigration detention to Spanish Language media. Additionally, she is the current Co-President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild.