Sylvia grew up in Colorado and lived for years in Portland, Oregon, where she attended Lewis & Clark College and received degrees in International Affairs, Hispanic Studies, and a minor in Latin American Studies. She was inspired to become an immigration attorney while working with immigrant families in Portland as an AmeriCorps member, where she ran after-school programs and a community garden. Before coming to Colectiva, Sylvia worked as an immigration attorney for New York Legal Assistance Group, where she ran free legal clinics for immigrant patients of public hospitals. Most of her clients had experienced domestic violence and other crimes, torture, or severe medical issues. She represented individuals in U visas, family-based immigration, asylum, DACA, VAWA, and other relief, and engaged in extensive advocacy surrounding immigrant access to health care, housing, and other benefits. Prior to that work she clerked at the New York Immigration Court through the Department of Justice Honors Program. She attended George Washington Law School in Washington, DC, and attended a summer program in International Human Rights and Refugee Law at the University of Oxford. As a law student she represented asylum seekers and victims of forced labor and human trafficking, and conducted policy advocacy on behalf of migrant farm workers. She is thrilled to bring her passion for immigrant justice back to the Pacific Northwest. For fun she enjoys spending time in nature, gardening, and making art.