Lizbeth Velasquez

Bio

Lizbeth Velasquez was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and immigrated to Mississippi at the age of five. As an immigrant herself, she understands firsthand the uncertainty, cultural transition, and legal complexities that families face when building a life in the United States. That personal experience shapes her practice and allows her to approach each client’s case with both legal precision and genuine empathy.
 
Lizbeth has always been an advocate—long before becoming an attorney. She has been involved with the Mississippi Hispanic Association since its founding in 1996, an organization her mother helped establish. Over the years, she has remained deeply committed to community service and currently serves as Treasurer, as well as Director of both the Bilingual Reading Program and the Scholarship Program. Her dedication to education, empowerment, and access to opportunity has been a constant thread throughout her life.
 
Before entering the legal profession, Lizbeth spent nearly 20 years as an archaeologist, including more than 18 years in the Environmental Division of the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Her work focused on the preservation of Mississippi’s cultural and historical sites—protecting stories, heritage, and identity. Ultimately, she made a career change to law because she wanted to make a more direct and immediate impact on the Hispanic community in Mississippi, advocating not just for preservation of the past, but for the futures of families navigating the immigration system.
 
Lizbeth was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in September 2023. She began her legal career in the nonprofit sector, working with Mississippi Immigrants’ Rights Alliance and El Pueblo Mississippi, where she focused on immigrant advocacy and community-centered legal services. She later practiced at Danks Miller & Cory, handling civil, criminal, and immigration matters. She now concentrates her practice primarily on immigration law, representing individuals and families in a wide range of immigration proceedings.
 
Lizbeth attended Byram Attendance Center and graduated from Mississippi State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. Outside of her legal practice, she remains deeply engaged in community advocacy, education, and initiatives that strengthen and uplift Mississippi’s immigrant families.

Hometown

Clinton, Mississippi

Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.), Mississippi College School of Law (2023)
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology, Pre-Medicine Concentration (2000)
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Anthropology, Archaeology Concentration (2000) 

Professional Activities/Awards

• Active member, Mississippi Bar Association
• Active member, Hispanic National Bar Association

Community

• MS Hispanic Association (MHA, non-profit) Member, 1995 – present
  • MHA Reading Program Director, 2013 – present
  • MHA Treasurer, 2018 – present

Legal Experience

• Immigration attorney with 3+ years of experience practicing immigration law
  • Danks Miller & Cory, Attorney, 2023-2025
  • El Pueblo – MS (non-profit), Contract Attorney, 2024-2025
  • MS Immigrants’ Rights Alliance (non-profit), Paralegal, 2023
  • MS Attorney General’s Office, Legal Intern Civil Litigation Division, 2021
• Handles a wide range of immigration matters, including:
  • Removal and deportation defense
  • Family-based visas
  • Employment-based visas
  • Naturalization and citizenship
  • Waivers
  • Non-immigrant visas 
• Experienced in working with key immigration agencies and bodies, including:
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
  • National Visa Center (NVC)
  • U.S. Consulates
  • Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)
  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  • Immigration detention and holding facilities 
• Has practiced in immigration courts across multiple states, including Hawaii, Washington, California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida