SEAN LAI MCMAHON, LEGAL PROGRAM director

Sean was raised in an immigrant family in Richmond, California. He comes to DSCS with 14 years of experience in nonprofit organizations, with nearly a decade of that as an immigration attorney. His work has focused on removal defense, federal immigration litigation, detention issues, and the intersection of law and organizing. Prior to DSCS, Sean represented both detained and non-detained immigrants in removal proceedings and federal litigation at Pangea Legal Services. His work at Pangea included habeas litigation for detained immigrants, appellate matters at the circuit level, and amicus and impact litigation work such as Pangea v. Dep’t of Homeland Security I and II, the lawsuits that blocked the Trump Administration’s changes to asylum regulations. 

Previously, Sean worked at the Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center (now TakeRoot Justice) in New York, where he provided legal support for the organizing work of workers’ centers and grassroots community organizations. He represented individual members of these organizations on a broad spectrum of humanitarian immigration matters, provided technical assistance for organizing campaigns, and helped to advocate for policies supporting immigrants’ rights in the New York area. Sean was also in the first class of Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC) legal fellows, from 2014 to 2016. He earned a bachelor’s degree with honors from U.C. Berkeley, and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.  As Legal Program Director of DDLAP, Sean hopes to continue to help build power in working-class and immigrant communities. Sean speaks Spanish and English. He is licensed to practice law in the states of New York, New Jersey, and California.

KARINA ALMANZA, doj accredited representative

Karina joined Dolores Street in October 2019. Her work focuses on representing individuals and families before USCIS. Prior to joining Dolores Street, Karina worked as a DOJ Accredited Representative for five years representing individuals applying for affirmative immigration relief through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). She graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Sociology, where she was also involved in student organizations advocating for undocumented students. She is devoted to giving back to the immigrant community by defending immigrant rights through her work and empowering individuals by proving them with access to education and resources. Karina speaks Spanish and English.

diego sifuentes, program assistant

Diego joined DSCS in 2022. He is the Deportation Defense Program Assistant. In his role he ensures that every community member is guided through our program’s services while creating a welcoming space. He understands that navigating the immigration legal system can be daunting, and strives to offer the necessary support and guidance. Diego speaks English and Spanish.

CINDY RAMIREZ, supervising ATTORNEY

Cindy joined Dolores Street in October 2021. She provides legal services to detained and non-detained clients facing deportation proceedings. Prior to joining Dolores Street, Cindy represented detained clients in Houston, Texas as an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow. She is committed to practicing movement lawyering, especially after witnessing the devastating impact that deplorable immigration jail conditions have on her clients. She believes that people should not be denied their humanity or their liberty for being born outside of man-made borders, and those most directly impacted by unjust immigration laws and policies should be leading the immigrant rights movement. 

Cindy is a graduate of UC Hastings College of the Law, where she participated in the Refugee and Human Rights Clinic and the Community Group Advocacy Clinic. She speaks English and Spanish. Cindy is licensed to practice law in the state of California.

Elizabeth Davis, managing ATTORNEY

Elizabeth's work focuses on providing legal representation to individuals who are facing deportation.  Prior to joining DSCS, Elizabeth worked for a non-profit organization called The Door, as an immigration attorney primarily representing young people seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status in New York Family and Immigration Courts. She is a graduate of NYU School of Law, where she was a student advocate with the NYU Immigrant Rights Clinic.

Elizabeth speaks English and Spanish. Elizabeth is licensed to practice law in New York as well as before immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals nationwide.

KARINA FERNANDEZ, legal ASSISTANT

Karina is a San Francisco native, born and raised in La Mission. She joined Dolores Street in July 2019 as a Legal Assistant in the Deportation Defense and Legal Advocacy Program. Her work primarily focuses on providing support to the program’s attorneys and clients. More specifically, she works on detained cases in which the clients are in immigration custody. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Karina earned her B.A. in Sociology & Anthropology with a Minor in Public Policy from University of Redlands in Southern California. She is passionate about uplifting marginalized communities and bases her work ethic upon inclusivity, respect, and compassion. Karina speaks Spanish and English.

Andrea reyes corena, skadden fellow

Andrea began her legal career in 2015 as a paralegal with Dolores Street and re-joined our team in September 2022 as a Skadden Fellow. Andrea provides immigration legal services to immigrant community members seeking immigration relief both defensively and affirmatively. Her project focuses on the needs of low-income immigrant workers and those experiencing housing instability. She is committed to providing social justice-oriented representation rooted in her own experiences as an immigrant and the principles of mutual-aid. In addition to her work with Dolores Street, Andrea was a member of the UC Davis Immigration Law Clinic where she worked on federal litigation on behalf of detained immigrants and an intern with the Immigration Unit of the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office.

Andrea is a graduate of UC Davis School of Law. She speaks English and Spanish. Andrea is licensed to practice law in the state of California.

MATTIE M. ARMSTRONg, staff attorney

Mattie joined DSCS as an Equal Justice Works legal fellow prior to transitioning into a Staff Attorney position. Mattie’s work focuses on providing legal support for individuals who are facing immigration consequences due to criminalization. She helps non-citizens obtain post-conviction relief in California criminal courts. In addition, she represents individuals who are facing deportation and seeking relief before the immigration court. Prior to joining DSCS as an attorney, Mattie interned during law school with Dolores Street, as well with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and the San Francisco Public Defender’s Immigration Unit. Before attending law school, Mattie worked for several years at Van Der Hout LLP and interned as a legal advocate at Asylum Access in Quito, Ecuador. She is passionate about combatting the criminalization of immigrants by both the criminal and immigration systems and believes in uplifting those targeted by these violent systems. 

Mattie is a graduate of UC Berkeley School of Law. She speaks English and Spanish. Mattie is licensed to practice law in the state of California.

MANUEL REYES, staff attorney

Bio coming soon!

JOIDA BERNAL, LEGAL ASSISTANT

Bio coming soon!

GRACE PAINE, STAFF ATTORNEY

Grace joined Dolores Street as a staff attorney in December 2023. She represents detained and non-detained clients in deportation proceedings. Prior to joining Dolores Street, Grace was a Law Fellow at the Law Office of Helen Lawrence, where she represented community members seeking immigration relief both defensively and affirmatively. In law school, Grace participated in the East Bay Community Law Center’s Immigration and Housing Clinics, interned at the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, and clerked for the Yurok Tribal Court. Her practice focuses on client-centered lawyering and movement-based advocacy for immigrants’ rights.   

Grace is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley School of Law. She speaks English and Spanish. Grace is licensed to practice law in the state of California.