Meet the SLI Team

Jacqueline is from the Central Valley and has worked hard to be in a position to give back to the community she loves. Even though she is relatively new to the legal profession, Jacqueline advocates like a seasoned professional. Jacqueline manages most of our USCIS cases and has already helped many people gain lawful permanent resident status and citizenship in the U.S., showcasing a unique ability to build relationships with clients and USCIS officers while also laying down the law when needed.

B.A., Psychology, Fresno Pacific University, 2014
J.D., San Joaquin College of Law, 2023

Rachael is a Uruguayan-American lawyer dedicated to immigration justice. She is particularly passionate about humanitarian-based immigration advocacy, helping immigrant survivors of violence find safety and security in the United States. She is a fierce courtroom advocate and aims to live by Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor’s belief that “We educated, privileged lawyers have a professional and moral duty to represent the underrepresented in our society, to ensure that justice exists for all, both legal and economic justice.”
B.A., Cum Laude, Criminal Justice & French Certificat, The George Washington University, 2015
J.D., With Honors, The George Washington University Law School, 2021

Yvanna joined SLI in 2017 and does a little bit of everything. She helps with primarily court cases but also trains and supervises court and USCIS staff and handles a lot of odds and ends from an administrative end as well. Yvanna combines a unique ability to be loving but firm with clients and has helped hundreds of people in her time here. If you look through our Google reviews her name probably pops up more than anyone…and for good reason.

Ariana has been with SLI since 2017 and is our go-to USCIS case manager. She has a unique gift of managing a large caseload and somehow getting it all done and clients and staff love her despite all the demands on her time. She is efficient, knowledgeable and almost always right. If you have a USCIS case question…Ariana has the answer.

Stephanie shows incredible initiative and helps out in the asylum/litigation part of the firm while also helping Justin with administrative tasks that he cannot get to. She has great rapport with the clients and is starting her journey to become an attorney herself.

B.A., Psychology, California State University – San Bernardino, 2018
Masters of Legal Studies, Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, 2023
Masters in Forensic Psychology, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 2023
Juris Doctorate Candidate, Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, Begin Aug 2024

What does Maggie not do? She manages primarily USCIS cases but also helps out with almost any IT question or problem and also assists with billing and other issues in the office. Maggie’s clients love her and she has had amazing success with her cases so far in the many years she has been at SLI. She is dedicated, loyal and willing to help anyone.

Larisa is from Fresno, CA and recently graduated from La Verne College of Law in Southern California. She is preparing to pass the bar exam and become a lawyer herself. In the meantime helps manage USCIS cases and, as a law clerk, has done legal research and briefing during her time at SLI as well.

Maritza is licensed to practice law in Colombia, holds a Master of Law from Michigan State University College of Law and is currently preparing and pursuing licensure in California by taking the California Bar. She handles both court cases and USCIS work and is an outstanding asset to the firm.

Sarai is the newest member of our staff but fills one of the most important roles. As office assistant, Sarai mostly works at the front desk and is the first person people see or hear when they contact our office. She usually has to manage 50 things at once and does so with aplomb.

Maria Jose has many years of paralegal experience and joined SLI in 2022. She handles USCIS cases and is especially loved by our many clients who are victims of crimes. “MJ”, as she is known in the office, is a licensed psychologist and also a Deputy Sheriff. When she’s not in the office MJ is usually training for a marathon.