Support Staff

Angie Antunez is a senior immigration paralegal at Valdez & Vilim, LLP. She attended Truman State University where she studied Psychology. She has worked in immigration matters since 2008 and has experience in removal proceedings, consular processing cases, fiancé visas, U visas, adjustment of status and citizenship cases. As a Mexican immigrant, she can relate firsthand to the hardships many immigrant families experience and is very passionate and devoted to her work. She is also bilingual in English and Spanish.

Areli Acevedo is an immigration paralegal at Valdez & Vilim, LLP. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago where she studied criminology and sociology. She has worked in immigration matters since 2019 in the Chicagoland area. Areli is experienced in removal proceedings, U visas, asylum, family-based adjustment of status and other humanitarian reliefs. As a first-generation Mexican American, Areli understands the reality of many families and is proud of the work she completes for her clients. Areli is fluent in Spanish

Brenda Ascencio is a bilingual law clerk at Valdez & Vilim, LLP. She is currently attending the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law. Prior to joining Valdez & Vilim, LLP, she interned for 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. As a first-generation Mexican American, Brenda is passionate about helping immigrant families.

Denise Estrada is an Immigration Paralegal at Valdez & Vilim, LLP. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a double major in Sociology and Criminology. She has been working in family-based immigration since 2020, she assists clients in various matters such as Consular Processing, Advanced Parole, DACA renewals, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and now Removal Proceedings. She handles each case with focus and compassion, she believes that the work she is doing to help the immigrant community is meaningful. Denise speaks English and Spanish fluently. When not at work, she enjoys reading, traveling, and going to concerts.

Lizette Gaucin is a bilingual Administrative Assistant at Valdez & Vilim LLP. Prior to joining Valdez & Vilim LLP, she worked as a sales agent at an auto insurance agency for approximately two years. She has worked in the customer service field for over 3 years, Lizette is of Mexican descent and fluent in Spanish and English. She enjoys helping others and learning new things.

Maribel Jimenez is a bilingual immigration paralegal at Valdez & Vilim LLP. Prior to joining Valdez & Vilim LLP, she worked as an Administrative Assistant at a Chicagoland immigration law firm for approximately three years. Maribel started as an administrative assistant at Valdez and Vilim, but she has since transitioned into a paralegal. Maribel is of Mexican descent and fluent in English and Spanish. She enjoys being able to help others and working in a field that she finds interesting.

Guadalupe “Lupe” Lozano is an Immigration Paralegal at Valdez & Vilim, LLP. She has worked as an Immigration Paralegal since 2018. Lupe has experience working on immigration matters such as adjustment of status, consular processing, waivers, U-Visas, VAWA, removal of conditions, and naturalization. She is fluent in Spanish and has experience in document translations and interpreting. She is passionate in the work she does and in helping others.