Karem Herrera

Passionate about protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant communities, Karem joined Centro Legal as an immigration paralegal on the Pro Bono Project. Currently, Karem lends paralegal support to Pro Bono attorneys who are representing individuals, families, and minors in their immigration proceedings before the Immigration Courts and before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  As part of the Pro Bono Project, Karem developed and coordinated Pro Se Asylum Clinics, U Visa Clinics, Adjustment of Status Clinics, DACA Clinics, and Work Authorization Clinics.

Prior to joining Centro Legal, Karem worked at Public Advocates, providing legal support to the Education Equity and Metropolitan Equity teams. As a legal coordinator, Karem contributed to advancing access and equity around housing access, transportation rights, environmental justice, and education equity.

Karem earned her Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies, with a concentration on Human Rights, from the University of California, Berkeley. During her undergraduate career, Karem co-founded the Berkeley Anti-Trafficking Coalition, leading modern abolitionist efforts across the UC Berkeley campus and organizing collaborative spaces to address modern-day slavery. While at UC Berkeley, Karem also worked with the Blum Center for Developing Economies, the Restorative Justice Center, and the Public Service Center. Karem was a recipient of the Haas Public Service Leader Fellowship and the Dang Fellowship for Human Rights.

Karem’s determination to see justice in our communities comes from her and her parents immigrant identities. She believes change must be inclusive of all voices, informed by compassion, and community led.