Amy J. Mantilla is a 3L, in 2022, she graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. While there, she competed on the Mock Trial Team and worked as a research assistant under Dr. Eric Schmidbauer. After graduation, she worked as a paralegal for a workers' compensation firm. In law school, Amy was a quarterfinalist in the John T. Gaubatz Moot Court Competition and has worked on a variety of immigration, criminal, and construction defect cases. In the Clinic, she worked on complex immigration cases involving cancellation of removal, relief under the Convention Against Torture, and other forms of relief.
Andrea Cecilia López is a 2L from Miami, Florida. She received a B.S. in Linguistics & Languages and a B.A. in Editing, Writing, & Media at Florida State University. She spent her 1L summer working as a Judicial Intern at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Florida for the Honorable Judge Laurel M. Isicoff, as well as a Bankruptcy Research Assistant for Vice Dean Andrew Dawson. She is currently working with in-house counsel at MSC Cruises (USA), LLC, and is a member of the International Moot Court Program’s Moot Madrid Competition. At the Immigration Clinic, Andrea worked on asylum cases seeking cancellation of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture and won the case for her client.
Carlos Jose Santiago is a 2L student from Miami, Florida. Carlos earned his Bachelor's in political science with a minor in International Relations from Florida International University. During his undergraduate studies, he was a Diplomacy Fellow for high school and middle school students learning International Relations and how to compete in Model United Nations and the head coach for John A. Ferguson Senior High School's Track & Field team. Last summer, he interned for the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office, helping attorneys represent clients within the Major Crimes Division, taking on cases of homicide and more. Carlos interned with Catholic Charities Legal Services representing children immigration proceedings. Carlos is continuing his work aiding those caught up in the immigration system the Immigration Clinic by working on bond hearings, litigating habeas corpus petitions in federal district court, and preparing for a bench trial with multiple witnesses in immigration court.
Denisse Sandoval is a 2L from Miami, Florida, passionate about advancing immigrant rights. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Miami. Before law school, she worked as a paralegal at Saleh & Associates, P.A., a boutique immigration firm in Coral Gables, where she gained firsthand experience supporting clients through complex immigration matters. Last spring, she volunteered with The Door Legal Services in New York, conducting intakes in French, and this past summer she clerked with Catholic Charities Legal Services of Miami in the Children’s Department, assisting unaccompanied minors. This year, Denisse continues her advocacy as a member of the Immigration Clinic, representing detained clients with dedication and compassion. Denisse is preparing for a bench trial in El Paso, Texas after ICE transferred one of her clients.
Emily Velasquez is a 2L originally from La Ceiba, Honduras. Prior to law school, she worked as a deputy clerk at the Florida Department of Commerce, where she facilitated attorney-client communication, organized evidence, and drafted appeal decisions. She also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Panayotta Augustin-Birch in federal district court, where she observed hearings and drafted opinions and report and recommendations. Currently, with the Immigration Clinic, Emily represents a client recently transferred to El Paso, Texas, who is facing deportation and is seeking asylum status, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. She is currently preparing the case for an upcoming bench trial. These experiences and her personal background strengthen her commitment to public service.
Hannah Liu is a 2L student from Cooper City, Florida. Hannah earned her Bachelors in Political Science from Florida State University. This past summer, she interned at Van Horn Law Group, where she drafted motions and performed legal research on behalf of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy clients. As part of the Immigration Clinic, she is focused on advocating for clients in removal proceedings and fear-based asylum claims. During the fall semester, Hannah appeared before an immigration judge to represent a client in his asylum merits proceeding. Hannah also spoke before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in support of detained individuals’ rights against wrongful treatment at “Alligator Alcatraz.” This spring semester, she represents a non-detained client’s claims for cancellation of removal and withholding of removal under INA and Convention Against Torture.
Joseph Korzeb is a 3L originally from New England. He is a graduate of University of Rhode Island. During 1L summer, Joe worked with the Miami-Dade Public Defender where he conducted intake interviews with clients at the county jails. As a 2L, Joe was a member of the International Moot Court Program; he participated in the Sports Arbitration Moot in Madrid, Spain. Joe joined the Immigration Clinic as a 2L and returned as a 3L Fellow. As a 2L, Joe successfully litigated an asylum case. This year, Joe successfully drafted an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) which resulted in remand. He has worked on motions and briefs submitted to Immigration Court, the BIA, U.S. District Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Joe is preparing to second chair oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Prior to law school, Joe volunteered teaching English to a resettled refugee. Joe speaks Spanish as a second language.
Kadia Mohammed is a 2L student from Orlando, Florida. She graduated from summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with focuses on the Behavioral & Social Sciences and the Humanities, as well as Minors in Sociology and Legal Studies. Before law school, Kadia worked at a personal injury law firm and volunteered to help immigrant and refugee women learn English. During her 1L summer, Kadia interned with the Innocence Project of Florida reviewing wrongful conviction claims. With the Clinic, Kadia is working on client cases involving cancellation of removal, relief under the Convention Against Torture, and other forms of relief. Last fall, Kadia represented an asylum case and argued before an immigration judge. Kadia also helped to shed light on the torture her client experienced at “Alligator Alcatraz” before the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights at a community townhall. Kadia received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for her Clinic work in Fall 2025.
Maria Alonso is a 3L law student born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who graduated from the University of Florida. She began her immigration law career before law school and has since developed experience in both business and removal defense immigration. She is the President of the Student Association for Immigration Law and the Brazilian Law Association and plans to continue her career advocating for immigrant communities. Maria currently works as a Law Clerk at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, where she manages employment-based cases from intake through filing, prepares EB-1, O-1, L-1, H-1B, AOS and E-3 petitions, and develops legal arguments for complex RFEs. She previously worked at Azadi Law P.A. and Vialex Law, focusing on business immigration.
Maria served as a student intern in the Immigration Clinic during her 2L year and returned as a 3L Fellow. She has represented clients in asylum, withholding, and CAT proceedings from intake through merits, personally arguing bond and merits hearings. Her work includes authoring a CAT appellate brief that resulted in a remand by the Board of Immigration Appeals, securing asylum for a detained client, and conducting intakes in Spanish and Portuguese. As a Fellow, she mentors students on client counseling, evidence development, and litigation strategy.
Micah Zebersky is a 2L from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2024 with degrees in Political Science and History. At the University of Miami School of Law, Micah is involved with the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board, interns with the Immigration Clinic, and is Treasurer of the Cardozo Jewish Legal Society and the Disability Law Student Association. Micah also serves as a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Last fall, Micah argued for bond in front of an immigration judge, and drafted a federal district court challenge in a habeas corpus petition. This spring, Micah is focusing on the conditions of detention impacting clients in immigration custody. After law school, Micah hopes to pursue trial advocacy, continuing his commitment to helping others navigate the legal system.
Rocio Lopez is a 2L pursuing an Immigration, Asylum, and Citizenship Law Area of Focus, born and raised in Miami, Florida. Rocio graduated from Florida International University with degrees in Political Science and International Relations and worked as a law clerk at Richard J. Diaz, P.A. during Summer and Fall 2025, assisting with criminal and civil matters and preparing an immigration appellate brief for the Eleventh Circuit. Rocio is currently working with the Immigration Clinic, where she has represented a client in removal proceedings and contributed to their successful asylum claim following a full-day bench trial. Her work in the Clinic earned her the Dean’s Certificate of Achievement Award in Fall 2025. She continues her advocacy by assisting in the preparation of immigration damages cases for both detained and non-detained clients. As the daughter of Cuban immigrants, Rocio’s family experiences navigating the immigration system have shaped her passion for immigration law. She aims to approach every case with diligence and compassion, recognizing that each client represents a family and a life deserving of respect and a voice.
Sienna Rodriguez is a 2L student from New York. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Florida State University. After her first year of law school, she worked at Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., where she drafted motions, pleadings, and discovery responses, gaining valuable experience in litigation. She joined the Immigration Clinic to further develop her client communication skills and gain hands-on experience in immigration law. Sienna has conducted intake interviews with immigrants detained at the Federal Detention Center in Miami and worked on cases involving cancellation of removal, asylum, and relief under the Convention Against Torture.
See former student interns
