A Commitment to Helping Undocumented Families
Cristel Rosales Martinez, an alumna of Western State College of Law (Class of 2017), has turned her challenging experiences as an undocumented immigrant from Honduras into a successful career in immigration law. Dedicated to helping others in similar situations stay in the United States and improve their lives, she now serves as the Managing Director at Martinez & Nguyen Law (MNM), a firm she founded and that was later joined by two fellow Western State alumni. Throughout her journey, the support she received from her community helped her persevere and fostered a strong commitment to giving back.
Finding Purpose through Personal Challenges
Born in Honduras, Cristel faced many hardships from a young age. At nine years old, she traveled on a perilous journey to the United States to reunite with her mother. “It took us a couple of months from Honduras to get to the United States,” Cristel recalled. Her early experiences with the immigration system had a profound impact on her. These experiences ultimately fueled her desire to pursue a career in law. “I wanted to be an attorney and help other people, other kids, to be able to stay here [in the United States],” she explained. This set her on the path to becoming an attorney at Western State College of Law.
Choosing Western State College of Law
When Cristel embarked on her journey to a career in the legal field, she was particularly interested in finding a law school that offered practical experience in immigration law. Western State College of Law stood out to her because of its Immigration Clinic. “One of the reasons I decided to go to Western State was the Immigration Clinic,” she explained. She highlighted that the opportunity to help people in situations similar to her own was what truly excited her. Through working on real cases, including participating in the Immigration Clinic, Cristel found her calling in immigration law. This valuable experience ultimately shaped her career as an attorney. “The immigration clinic gave me the courage to do things that I never thought I would do.”
Overcoming Financial Barriers with Western State’s Support
As an undocumented student, Cristel did not have access to traditional loans and scholarships. Her financial hardships were unique compared to those most students face. To pursue her dream of a career in law, she had to find different ways to pay for school. She sold food on weekends and worked as a Lyft and Uber driver. “My mom was terrified,” she said of her ride-app employment, showing how much of a toll her financial difficulties took on her and her family.
Cristel eventually realized she needed more help, so she reached out to Western State. In a remarkable show of support, the school created a scholarship to help her pay for law school. “I remember meeting with the dean, and they created a scholarship to help me pay for that semester,” Cristel recounted. The generosity shown by Western State eased her financial burden and demonstrated the institution’s commitment to its students, especially those facing unique difficulties. “Western State gave that nine-year-old undocumented little girl the opportunity to make her dream become a reality.”
Mentorship and Guidance from Western State Faculty
During her time at Western State, Cristel had the support of professors who empathized with her situation and offered guidance. Professors like Sabrina Rivera, who was a staff attorney in the Immigration Clinic at the time, as well as then Professor Jennifer Koh, were pivotal to her life as an undocumented law student. “They were the first ones that understood my legal status situation and always supported me,” Cristel shared. “Being part of the clinic made me feel that I belong there.”
Other professors also made a lasting impression on her. When Cristel’s stepfather passed away, she was impacted heavily, and Professor Charles Shephard showed her compassion. “I got to see another side of him, and he probably doesn’t remember that, but that definitely made an impact on me,” she recalled.
Cristel expressed how much she enjoyed Professor Elizabeth Jones’s criminal law classes. “Professor Jones made it so easy for me to learn and understand the concepts,” she recounted. Having struggled with legal writing as an ESL student, she remembered how invaluable the guidance of Professor Eunice Park was. “Because of her support and guidance, I was able to get the Best Oralist award,” Cristel said, referring to her experience in the moot court competition.
The mentorship of these professors equipped Cristel with essential legal skills, along with invaluable emotional and moral support, to help her thrive in law school and beyond.
Giving Back and Staying Connected to Western State
After graduating in 2017, Cristel founded her own law firm, Martinez & Nguyen Law, in 2019. In 2020, she was joined by two fellow Western State alumni Mariana Nguyen and Jessica H. Magana. Inspired by Cristel’s own family experiences of hardships with legal fees, the firm is dedicated to providing legal services to those in need and now takes only pro bono cases. “As of last year, all the cases we take are pro bono cases,” she said proudly. “My goal has always been and will always be to help as many people as possible with immigration, especially low-income families.” This dedication to pro bono work demonstrates Cristel’s commitment to supporting undocumented families in the United States.
Under Cristel’s leadership, the firm expanded to 18 staff and attorneys, enabling her to help more people in need. In addition to offering pro bono services, Cristel will also use part of the proceeds from her memoir, Too American for Hondurans, to provide scholarships and grants for undocumented students.
Cristel is still involved with Western State and is set to return as a guest speaker this November to share her experiences with current Western State students. “Giving back is an essential aspect of alumni engagement,” she explained. “It’s a fulfilling way to express my gratitude and stay connected to a place and people that hold significant meaning.” Her continued connection to Western State shows how impactful supportive educational environments are on their students and how integral it is to have a sense of community on campus.
Embracing Heritage and Inspiring Others
As a Latina in the legal field, Cristel understands how important representation is. She hopes her story will inspire students from similar backgrounds to pursue their dreams, no matter the hardships they encounter. “Being an ESL student in law school was very difficult for me,” she shared. “But I wanted to prove to myself more than anything that I could do it.”
Cristel encourages students who face similar difficulties not to give up on their dreams. She urges them to look for support, make connections, and participate in networking. Cristel pointed out how pivotal networking was for her along her journey. She insisted that it is a crucial tool that students have to find people who care and want to help. Her message is clear: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help and work hard.”