Our Staff

Elizabeth A. Balizan 

Office Manager

Ms. Elizabeth Balizan serves as our dedicated Office Manager, bringing over 25 years of extensive experience in the legal field. She retired from the Third Judicial District Court after twenty-five years of exemplary service, where she skillfully managed a diverse range of cases, including criminal, civil, domestic, and domestic violence matters.

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Following her retirement from the Court, Ms. Balizan continued her commitment to justice and community service by joining La CASA, where she supported the Batterer’s Intervention Program (BIPP) as an Administrative Assistant. Prior to her distinguished tenure at District Court, she worked in various law offices and law enforcement agencies, gaining a broad and well-rounded perspective of the legal system.

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A proud Native American of Tigua heritage, Ms. Balizan is an enrolled member of the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo. She is actively deepening her connection to her roots by learning her native language and studying the rich history of the Tigua people. She is also a proud alumna of New Mexico State University, where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Secretarial Administration.

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Ms. Balizan’s depth of experience, cultural pride, and commitment to community service make her an invaluable member of our team.

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CRISTINA ROBERTS

Accredited Representative/Citizenship

Cristina Roberts is responsible for Family Petitions, Consular Process, residency card renewals, DACAS, FOIAS, waivers (I-212, I-601A), and naturalization cases. 

In addition, she is an Accredited Legal Representative with the Executive Office of Immigration Review through the Office of Legal Access Programs. Cristina is a naturalized U.S. Citizen, born and raised in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. 

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She obtained a degree in information technology and computer systems. Cristina is in her 13th year working for Catholic Charities.

arely zavala

Paralegal

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Elizabeth Zavala

Accredited Representative/Victim Advocate

Elizabeth brings more than 20 years of immigration experience to Catholic Charities. Elizabeth handles family petitions and legal residency for victims of a crime and those covered by the Violence Against Women Act. 

She’s bilingual and an accredited legal representative with the Executive Office of Immigration Review through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Access Programs. 

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Elizabeth previously worked for La Casa Inc. as a domestic violence Intake Specialist and Immigration Advocate.

APRIL HINOJOS

Paralegal/Victim Advocate

April (Abril) is a Paralegal/Victim Advocate here at CCSNM. She was raised in Las Cruces and is a proud Alumni of NMSU where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. She is passionate about serving her community and advocating for the inherent dignity of all people regardless of their immigration status.

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April works closely with Accredited Legal Representative Elizabeth Zavala on the handling of family petitions and legal residency for victims of crime (U-Visa) and those covered by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Cecilia Najera

Accredited Representative/Office manager

Cecilia Najera comes to Catholic Charities with many years of experience in the immigration field. She has been with the Roswell branch since its opening on April 1, 2019.  

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She is an Accredited Representative responsible for family petitions, consular processing, renewals, waivers, and naturalization cases.

Nancy Hernandez

Paralegal

Nancy Hernandez has been with Catholic Charities since May of 2021, where she first served as a receptionist/secretary prior to becoming a paralegal. She is bilingual and works closely with our Accredited Representative Cecilia Najera in the Roswell Office. 

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Nancy grew up in Roswell and volunteered at the Roswell Independent School District for numerous years.

Veronica Calderon

Receptionist

Veronica Calderon is our Part Time Receptionist, who comes with 12 years secretarial experience. 

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Veronica works closely with Accredited Representative Cecilia Najera. She is in charge of scheduling appointments and working closely with clients to ensure all of their documents are in order.

Monique Saenz

Community Outreach Specialist

Monique is our Community Outreach Specialist!

Monique was born and raised in Las Cruces NM, is bilingual speaker and has a background in the dental field. As her new journey with CCSNM started Monique quickly became intrigued with the services provided for the people in her community. Monique states that she feels lucky to be a part of a nonprofit organization who has outstanding services and strives to provide the highest level of assistance.

Stephanie Martinez, LMSW

Director of Community Outreach & Partnerships

Stephanie is our Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships!

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She achieved her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from New Mexico State University, followed by a master’s degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America in 2021. As an active member of the Las Cruces community, Stephanie’s faith drives her involvement in local initiatives and helping those in need.

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Stephanie’s professional journey is marked by a significant history of supporting asylum-seeking families, addressing issues related to domestic violence, and implementing child safeguarding protocols. In her current role, she oversees the Direct Assistance program, and she actively fosters collaborations and partnerships, ensuring that we continue to make meaningful impacts on individuals and families in need in our community.

Ailyn Rubio

Client Liaison

Ailyn is our Client Liaison. She has had the privilege of supporting individuals and families in need through the organization’s Direct Assistance Program. In her role, she provides essential resources such as food, rental and utility assistance, and even support for funeral expenses.

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She is deeply passionate about serving as a bridge between those who are struggling and the resources they need. One of the most rewarding aspects of her work is collaborating with other organizations in the community to ensure that no one feels isolated in times of hardship.

Helping others has always been close to Ailyn’s heart, and being able to live out that calling through her career continues to be a truly fulfilling experience.