Maite Garcia is a Miami native and a longtime advocate for immigrants’ rights. Her commitment to social justice work began as an organizer during her time at Florida State University where she advocated for comprehensive immigration reform and pathways to residency/citizenship through her role as Political Action Chair for the Latinx Student Union. Maite went on to earn her JD and has over 11 years of experience representing individuals facing the criminal and immigration legal system. She previously worked at Americans for Immigrant Justice and the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, where she represented unaccompanied youth and adults facing removal proceedings. Prior to joining Acacia, Maite worked at the ACLU of Florida where she dedicated her practice to impact litigation focused on challenging conditions of confinement in immigration detention centers and expanding the access to counsel in removal proceedings for those in detention in Florida. She loves trying new foods, time with family, and spending hours outside, especially near water.