A native of Dallas, Texas, Mary Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira (Liz) is a founding partner of Cedillo-Pereira & Cedillo, PLLC (www.cpcimmigrationlaw.com) and Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Combining her experience in public policy with the practice of law, Liz is dedicated to seeking U.S. immigration solutions for clients from around the world. She began practicing immigration law under the direction of Lisa S. Brodyaga and thereafter became the staff attorney for Catholic Charities of Dallas where she was mentored by Vanna Slaughter. Liz is a graduate of North Dallas High School, the University of Pennsylvania and SMU Dedman School of Law.

 

Apart from immigration, Liz’s passion is children and education. In law school, she established a tutoring and mentoring project for Dallas kids. Currently, Liz serves on the Advisory Board for the Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School for Girls; the AdvisoryCouncil for the Capitol One University Crossroads Initiative to increase college matriculation for Dallas school children; SMU Meadows School of the Arts Executive Board; and the SMU Hispanic Advisory Committee.

 

Liz helped establish AILA Dallas "Know Your Rights" project to provide information to pro se detainees held in ICE custody and has mentored student leaders to organize for the passage of the DREAM Act and is a member of AILA D2 – Dream Defenders for representation of immigrant youth raised in the U.S.A. Currently, Liz serves as the AILA Texas Chapter ICE Liaison. Liz is a member of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association, the Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, Mexican American BarAssociation, Hispanic 100 and other civic organizations. In 2010, Liz received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Young Leader Award for demonstrated commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

 

Liz is married to Oscar Pereira and together they are blessed with three children whom her beloved mother and best friend, Mary Helen Davila Cedillo, helped rear.

 

 

 

 

Eric Cedillo is the founder of the Law Offices of Eric Cedillo, P.C. and a founding Partner of Cedillo-Pereira & Cedillo. Eric attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received his undergraduate degree and St. Mary’s School of Law where he obtained his Doctor of Jurisdprudence.

 

With offices in Dallas and San Antonio, Eric has made a strategic effort to serve the whole “community” of Texas. “Liz and I want to make sure that everyone has access to the courthouses of Texas, whether it be a State civil courtroom or before a Federal Immigration Judge.”

 

Eric also works with the SMU Dedman School of law heading up the Consumer Advocacy Program. “We assist clients who’ve been wronged by big companies and I have the honor of working with and supervising some of the brightest young minds at SMU law school. Our students come ready to help our community and hopefully take that with them when they head out to their new legal careers.”

 

Eric has sat on a few Boards of Directors with organizations charged with looking out for the best interests of those most vulnerable such as the Housing Crisis Center.

 

Throughout his legal career, Eric has been a member of numerous organizations geared toward the representation of Plaintiffs in civil matters and representing the continued right to trial by jury. Including and in addition to these are the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, the State Bar College, Dallas Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association and American Bar Association.

 

Eric is also a barrister in the Mac Taylor Inn of Court.