Alfredo Oballos Diaz, a senior studying international relations, was one of 20 students to intern in Washington, D.C. this past Spring semester, though his experience was uniquely personal. 

Oballos Diaz, a Venezuelan asylum seeker, was able to work on legislation such as H.R. 549 that aims to support asylum seekers, introduced in the House of Representatives in January. The legislation proposes to allow Venezuelans eligibility for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States.  

“As a Venezuelan refugee myself, I feel extremely humbled by the opportunity to help my people through the work I am doing on the Hill,” Oballos Diaz said.

Olivia Padilla, an alumna of The University of New Mexico Class of 2018, is finishing a jampacked semester in Washington, D.C., as the first New Mexican to be a Global Leaders Fellow with the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI). CHLI gives students hands-on experience in congressional and corporate offices while earning academic credit hours.

Padilla graduated from UNM in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and International Studies with concentrations in Latin America and conflict, peace, and diplomacy, and a minor in Spanish. While an undergraduate, she was a tour guide for the UNM Office of Admissions, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council #8096, Associated Students of UNM Senator, a member of Trailblazers, and Chi Omega sorority. She studied abroad in Mexico and Italy.