Rhodora V. Derpo received her law degree from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law, graduating with a certificate in Asian-Pacific Legal Studies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis. 
After graduating from law school, Rhodora served as a law clerk to Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Eden Hifo in Honolulu. Upon completing her clerkship, she subsequently moved to New Orleans to work with the Capital Appeals Project (CAP) where she assisted on cases at various stages in the appeals process, helping represent clients facing the death penalty. Rhodora  then moved to Chicago where she practiced immigration law for seven years. While in Chicago, she was a monthly immigration columnist for a Filipino American newspaper. 
Prior to founding Hiraya Immigration, Rhodora worked from 2016 to 2023 as an Immigration Attorney at Becker & Lee LLP, a full service immigration law firm in Oakland. During her tenure at Becker & Lee LLP, Rhodora served as a National Qualified Representative (NQR) and provided legal representation at the federal government’s expense to certain unrepresented and detained individuals in removal proceedings with serious mental disorders or conditions.

At Hiraya Immigration, Rhodora provides direct representation to non-detained clients in removal proceedings who are applying for asylum, withholding of removal, Convention Against Torture, non-lawful permanent resident (LPR) and LPR cancellation of removal, and waivers. In addition to practicing removal defense, she represents a diverse base of clients across a variety of industries and help them obtain nonimmigrant visas (e.g., B-1 in Lieu of H, E-3, H-1B, O-1A, O-1B, P, R-1, and TN) and assists clients with immigrant visa filings and applications for citizenship. She also represents clients of outstanding achievement in their EB-1A filings and will file EB-2 immigrant petitions with a National Interest Waiver for exceptional athletes and scientists. 

Rhodora has conducted immigration law seminars and trainings for immigrant advocates, medical and mental health providers, and community-based and nonprofit organizations. She is a long-time practitioner and teacher of Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art. Rhodora is fluent in Tagalog, has immigrant experience and background in martial arts inform her practice as an immigration attorney. 

Christina H. Lee serves as Of Counsel for Hiraya Immigration. Christina was a founding partner at Becker & Lee LLP. She received her law degree from King Hall, UC Davis School of Law in 2003, and her Bachelor of Arts in Economics, from Barnard College. Christina has represented clients in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit. She has also represented many clients in Federal District Court filing mandamus lawsuits against the U.S. government. Including removal defense, Christina has experience in asylum, employment-based immigration, family-based immigration, naturalization applications, hardship and criminal waivers, consular processing, and representing victims of abuse, crimes and human trafficking.  She was also a National Qualified Representative (NQR) where she served as appointed counsel by the Department of Justice to represent detained clients who have been found mentally incompetent to represent themselves in removal proceedings.   
Christina is a Managing Attorney at Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD) and an Adjunct Professor at Berkeley Law. She also serves “Of Counsel” to the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) for their pro bono asylum cases. In addition to her work with NCLR, Christina is a mentor attorney for the pro bono asylum program of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (LCCR) and an immigration detention mentor for Pangea Legal Services.  Christina is the daughter of Korean immigrants–her father is South Korean, and her mother is from North Korea who escaped as a child refugee to South Korea. Christina is fluent in conversational Korean.

Daianna Cristerna was born in Hayward, CA to immigrant parents. Daianna moved to Mexico with her mother and brother when she was only eight years old. She lived most of her childhood and teenage years in her mother’s hometown Santa Rosa de Lima, Jalisco, Mexico. When Daianna was eighteen years old, she decided to move back to the United States. She left behind her family and friends in order to provide a better life and better opportunities for her and her family. Through her own journey, she witnessed the sacrifices and struggles of moving to another country. She understands what it is like to leave everything you love and care about behind and has firsthand experiences of what her parents and every other person immigrating to another country experience when they make the decision to immigrate. This experience has made her take the topic of immigration personally. Daianna is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Jonathan has worked at various immigration law firms since 2017. His work experience includes removal defense, asylum, as well as family-based and employment-based immigration. Jonathan holds a degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with highest distinction. Prior to his work with immigration law, Jonathan researched immigration policy as it relates to undocumented college students. Jonathan is fluent in English and Spanish, and he enjoys trying new hobbies.

Alejandro is a first-generation college student and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Political Science from SFSU. His experience of being brought to the United States as a child fuels his passion and determination to return the support he has received to others seeking a form of immigration relief. In anticipation of law school in the Fall of 2024, he aspires to have a well rounded understanding of immigration law and policies. He previously worked at distinguished immigration law firms in the Bay Area where he obtained experience in removal defense and litigation pending before EOIR and the BIA. He has filed an array of cases before the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State. Alejandro is fluent in English and Spanish. During his free time, Alejandro enjoys pushing his limits at the gym, listening to music, and trying new foods.

As a Legal Assistant, Martha Lidia Monterroso Sosa works closely with clients and guides them through the services Hiraya Immigration provides. Born and raised in Guatemala, Lidia is deeply invested in assisting clients in their immigration journey. Prior to joining Hiraya Immigration, Lidia pursued a law degree at the Universidad de Guatemala while working as a Legal Assistant at the Corte de Primera Instance in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. During law school, she worked as a Professor’s Assistant and obtained practical legal experience working to protect the rights of women and the rights of the indigenous community in Guatemala. Lidia is fluent in Spanish. 

Meet Attorney Rhodora V. Derpo, a highly accomplished legal professional. Rhodora earned her law degree from the prestigious University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law. She distinguished herself by receiving a certificate in Asian-Pacific Legal Studies, highlighting her expertise in this field. Rhodora’s dedication to her education extends to her undergraduate years, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science from the esteemed University of California, Davis.

Rhodora has an impressive legal background. After graduating from law school, she started her career as a law clerk to Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Eden Hifo in Honolulu. She then worked as an immigration attorney at Becker & Lee LLP, a boutique immigration law firm in Oakland, from 2016 to 2023. Before that, she practiced immigration law in Chicago for seven years and was a monthly immigration columnist for a Filipino-American newspaper. 

Martha Lidia Montorroso Sosa plays a vital role as a legal assistant at Hiraya Immigration, working closely with clients to provide them with valuable guidance throughout their immigration process. Hailing from Guatemala, Lidia possesses a strong personal investment in helping clients navigate their immigration journey. With her fluency in Spanish, Lidia ensures effective communication and support for Spanish-speaking clients. 

Daianna Cristerna is a vital member of our team, serving as the office manager.