Noemi was born and raised in Managua, Nicaragua. At the age of 14, her family immigrated to the United States due to the unstable political climate in her country of origin. Her family applied for political asylum in 1982 and it was granted ten years later.

After earning her B.A. in Spanish and a B.S. in psychology from the University of California at Davis in 1991, Noemi worked as a counselor at FamiliesFirst, a non-profit organization serving troubled youth in the Bay Area. In 1994 she joined NCLR and has continuously dedicated herself to assist and support the LGBT immigrant community.

As the Director of NCLR’s Immigration & Asylum Program, Noemi coordinates NCLR’s free monthly legal clinics, responds to LGBT immigrants seeking information and assistance from NCLR, represents NCLR at conferences and workshops nationwide, and acts as NCLR’s liason to the broader immigration rights community.

Noemi is also a volunteer interpreter for the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights. She completed her Paralegal and Court Interpreter certifications and graduated from San Francisco State University with High Honors.

Languages spoken: Spanish