Yliana Johansen-Méndez

Yliana Johansen-Méndez serves as the Associate Director at the Immigrant Defenders Law Center since February 2018, collaborating with the executive team to shape the organization’s strategic direction and oversee various departments including Operations, IT, HR, and Program Administration. Previously, Yliana held the positions of Legal Services Director and Managing Attorney, where responsibilities included program oversight and mentoring legal staff in representing unaccompanied minors in immigration proceedings. Yliana has also served as a Lecturer in Law at UCLA and worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a Senior Asylum Officer and Asylum Officer, focusing on adjudicating complex asylum applications. Earlier roles involve serving as an Attorney Advisor at the U.S. Department of Justice and a Fellow at Kids in Need of Defense, where Yliana developed critical resources for legal practitioners. Educational qualifications include a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Occidental College.