Brenda Ascencio is an associate attorney at Valdez & Vilim, LLP. She is a first-generation Mexican American, and proud daughter of immigrant parents.

Ms. Ascencio focuses her practice in the area of immigration and nationality law, including family-based immigration, humanitarian immigration (asylum, VAWA, U Visas, T Visas and SIJS), naturalization, immigration appeals, and removal defense. She represents clients with cases before the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and the Department of Justice. Ms. Ascencio is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Ms. Ascencio earned her J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. During law school, she served as a student clinician for the International Human Rights Clinic at UIC Law. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Ascencio also worked with non-profit organizations providing family-based and humanitarian immigration services to communities in need. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and Sociology with a Certificate in Conflict Management from Pepperdine University. Ms. Ascencio is fluent in Spanish and is admitted to practice law in Illinois.