Estefania DeJesus

I am a rising Junior at Cornell University in the College of Arts & Sciences. I am majoring in Biology and Society on a pre-law track with a Minor in Crime, Prisons, Education & Justice. Having grown up in a sanctuary city that is home to a number of Hispanic immigrants, I have strong ties to my culture. I pride myself in being Mexican-American and the experiences it has granted me, both good and bad. I have witnessed firsthand the damages of racial discrimination in the criminal justice system. Something as simple as a traffic stop became a phone call to Immigration and Customs Enforcement very quickly for my mother. Fortunately, my mother’s attorneys were able to resolve the situation and she is now on a visa. This incident influenced my career goals as I now work towards becoming a Criminal and Immigration Attorney. I wish to serve marginalized communities that our criminal justice system has failed time and time again. With this in mind, I am eager and excited to join the team and address the racial discrimination in our criminal justice system that drives mass incarceration.