Vleidmy R. Velarde, LL.M., DOJ Accredited Representative

Vleidmy R. Velarde is the Immigrant Victims of Crime Program Supervisor at HIAS Pennsylvania. She joined HIAS Pennsylvania in August of 2008 to help provide legal services to the Latino immigrant community in Philadelphia. Born in Venezuela, Ms. Velarde came to the United States in 2001 as a student and earned her Master’s in International Legal Studies and American Law from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law in 2007. Prior to joining HIAS Pennsylvania, she worked as a legal interpreter and a legal assistant at a boutique immigration law firm.

Ms. Velarde graduated as an attorney from the Law School of Universidad Catolica de Tachira, Venezuela, in 2000. She practiced business, corporate, employment and family law prior to taking a position as the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for a private Hospital in Venezuela.

Since joining the legal services department at HIAS Pennsylvania, she has become an Accredited Representative and supervises the Immigrant Victim of Crime Initiative. In May 2011, she co-authored, with Judith Bernstein-Baker, an article about a case that was published in the Philadelphia Bar Association Foundation newsletter, titled “A New Citizen Becomes a Proud Marine.”