Rhodora Vizcarra Derpo is the founding attorney of Hiraya Law, where she represents individuals and businesses in a wide range of immigration matters, including removal defense, nonimmigrant visas, and employment and family-based immigrant petitions. Her practice includes representing clients in asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture claims, as well as cancellation of removal and waivers. She also advises clients across diverse industries on nonimmigrant visas such as B-1 in lieu of H, E-3, H-1B, O-1, P, R-1, and TN, and represents individuals of extraordinary ability and exceptional achievement in EB-1A and EB-2 National Interest Waiver petitions.

Rhodora brings over a decade of immigration law experience to her practice. Prior to founding Hiraya Law, she was an Immigration Attorney at Becker & Lee LLP in Oakland from 2016 to 2023. During that time, she served as a National Qualified Representative (NQR), providing federally funded legal representation to detained individuals with serious mental health conditions in removal proceedings.

Earlier in her career, Rhodora practiced immigration law in Chicago, where she also served as a monthly immigration columnist for a Filipino American newspaper. She began her legal career as a law clerk to Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Eden Hifo in Honolulu and later worked with the Capital Post Conviction Project of Louisiana, assisting indigent individuals facing the death penalty in appellate proceedings.

Rhodora earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law, with a certificate in Asian-Pacific Legal Studies. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.

In addition to her practice, Rhodora regularly conducts immigration law trainings and seminars for advocates, medical and mental health professionals, and community-based and nonprofit organizations nationwide.

Bridging the Gap Between Sport and Immigration Law

A dedicated practitioner and teacher of Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, Rhodora competes regularly in national and international tournaments. Her commitment to high-level performance is equally evident on the lifting platform; in March 2026, she competed in her first national Olympic weightlifting meet at the renowned Arnold Sports Festival, earning three bronze medals in her category.

Fluent in Tagalog and deeply shaped by her own immigrant journey, Rhodora translates the discipline of an elite athlete into fierce, culturally competent advocacy for her clients.

Christina H. Lee serves as Of Counsel for Hiraya Law. 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.

With a career in immigration law spanning back to 2017, Jonathan brings extensive expertise across removal defense, asylum, and both family and employment-based immigration. A graduate of UC Berkeley with Highest Distinction, he offers a sophisticated understanding of the legal landscape.

Prior to his work in private practice, Jonathan conducted specialized research on immigration policy affecting undocumented college students. Fluent in both English and Spanish, he combines academic rigor with nearly a decade of hands-on experience to ensure every case is handled with precision and depth. Outside of the office, Jonathan is an avid explorer of new hobbies and skills.

With over a decade of experience in immigration law, Serena brings a sophisticated blend of legal expertise and political insight to Hiraya Law. A graduate of UC Davis in Political Science, she has been a driving force in the California political landscape, managing successful campaigns for prominent leaders, including Congressman John Garamendi.

Originally from Santiago, Chile, and raised in the Bay Area, Serena’s career is rooted in advocacy. Before joining Hiraya Law, she led community outreach and defended the rights of noncitizens through local nonprofit organizations. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, Serena leverages her unique background in law and policy to provide high-level, strategic support for our clients.

A Senior at UC Berkeley, Kayla is pursuing a double major in Legal Studies and Political Science with a minor in Race and Law. Her exceptional leadership was recognized with the UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Student Leadership. As the Founder and President of the Public Health and Law Society and an instructor for the Pre-Law DeCal course, Kayla is a dedicated mentor to her peers.

At Hiraya Law, she translates her academic rigor into practical advocacy by assisting with legal drafting, client communications, and the development of “Know Your Rights” resources. An aspiring immigration attorney, Kayla is committed to securing justice for underrepresented communities.

A Senior at the University of San Francisco (USF), Samantha is pursuing a degree in Politics with minors in Legal Studies and Philippine Studies. A consistent Dean’s List scholar and member of the USF Honors College, she is also part of the university’s accelerated 4+3 Pre-Law Program.

In addition to her role at Hiraya Law, Samantha serves as a Student Assistant at the USF School of Law Admissions Office and as the Director of Kasamahan’s Philippine Cultural Night. Her leadership in the Filipinx community includes spearheading cultural workshops and helping establish new academic coursework at USF. Samantha is dedicated to a future career as an immigration attorney, bringing a sharp logistical mind and a deep commitment to advocacy to our firm.

A Senior at the University of San Francisco (USF), Jaeda is a Psychology major with triple minors in Criminal Justice, Philippine Studies, and Public Service & Community Engagement. A consistent Dean’s List scholar, Jaeda currently serves as the Executive Director of Kasamahan, USF’s largest culturally focused organization, following successful tenures as both Cultural Director and Philippine Cultural Night Director.

Beyond her campus leadership and her role in the USF School of Law Dean’s Office, Jaeda has extensive experience with San Francisco non-profits and public service entities, including the Filipino Community Development Corp and the SFFD Behavioral Health Unit. At Hiraya Law, she leverages this deep community connection and her background in psychology to provide compassionate, high-level support to our clients as she prepares for a career as an immigration attorney.

As a Legal Assistant, Martha Lidia Monterroso Sosa works closely with clients and guides them through the services Hiraya Law provides. Born and raised in Guatemala, Lidia is deeply invested in assisting clients in their immigration journey. Prior to joining Hiraya Law, 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. 

Martha Lidia Montorroso Sosa plays a vital role as a legal assistant at Hiraya Law, 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.