About Us

Our origin story

CMN was co-founded by Stefanía Arteaga and Becca O’Neill in 2019. Stefanía and Becca met in 2017 doing legal advocacy work in the non-profit sector in Charlotte, NC. Together they worked to create and implement a policy limiting Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to the Mecklenburg County Jail, which had one of the oldest 287(g) agreements in the country. Born out of their collective understanding of the urgent unmet legal and organizing needs of community members in removal proceedings, the Carolina Migrant Network fuses legal services and community advocacy to provide holistic support for our clients and their families.

The Carolinas have an established (and growing) migrant and immigrant population with an ever-increasing need for representation for individuals in removal proceedings. CMN is the only organization across the Carolinas that is bridging the gap between immigration legal services and pro-immigrant community organizing.

Bridging the gap between legal services
& advocacy.

CMN bridges the gap between legal services and advocacy efforts. Our goal is to mobilize the resources and talent that exists in the Carolinas to combat Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in our state. CMN was founded to combat the systemic targeting of undocumented immigrants in the state of North Carolina, which ranks last in the country for access to legal representation for immigrants facing detention and removal, despite its significant and growing immigrant population. CMN utilizes a dual-pronged approach, providing access to free legal representation and implementing organizing tactics to limit the number of people being arrested and placed into deportation proceedings.

Our Mission

Carolina Migrant Network’s mission is to build and sustain services for people targeted by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration (DHS). We provide compassionate and competent pro-bono legal representation. We organize with communities to disrupt the deportation pipeline/ system. We envision a world of empowered, self-determined, organized communities, free from the fear of deportation and family separation.

Meet Our Team

Our team is made up of passionate, dedicated individuals committed to making a difference. Each member brings unique skills, experiences, and perspectives to our work, all united by a shared mission of disrupting the deportation pipeline by supporting communities and creating a more just and equitable future. Get to know the people behind our efforts who are working hard every day to make an impact.

StefanÍa Arteaga

Co-Director/Strategist

Stefanía Arteaga is a dedicated organizer and strategist, deeply involved in advancing immigrants’ rights in North Carolina. Co-founder of Comunidad Colectiva and Carolina Migrant Network, Stefania has tirelessly worked to push back against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) collaboration with local law enforcement. Her efforts include organizing with undocumented students, leading deportation defense campaigns, and contributing to the successful end of 287(g) in Mecklenburg County. Her work has been documented in the Netflix Docu-Series Immigration Nation.

Becca O'Neill

Co- Director / Attorney

Is a Charlotte native with over thirteen years experience working in the field of immigration law, eleven of those years as a practicing immigration attorney. Her practice has focused on humanitarian-based immigration law, asylum (affirmative and defensive), custody redetermination hearings, refugee family reunification, complex naturalization cases, and family-based immigrant visa work.

Previously she served as special counsel on immigration issues to Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden and assisted with ending 287(g) and the implementation of the new jail policy. Prior to enrolling in law school, Becca was a social worker who worked in Eastern North Carolina, Rwanda, and New York, NY. After several years of practicing law in Kentucky, Becca returned to her hometown of Charlotte in 2017.

Tori Shepherd

Immigration Attorney

Tori is a lawyer committed to holistic and trauma-focused advocacy, working alongside immigrant communities to fight incarceration, deportation, and systemic poverty. In Tori’s recent role at the San Francisco Bar Association, she provided procedural and substantive legal guidance to pro se litigants in federal district court while maintaining daily communication with hundreds of pro bono attorneys across Northern California. Actively recruited and supported pro bono counsel, ensuring that self-represented clients had access to legal representation.

Additionally, Tori has experience developing and leading educational webinars, speaking on panels and at conferences, and organizing program events aimed at increasing pro bono participation.

Daniela Andrade

Communication Lead

Daniela Andrade joined the Carolina Migrant Network (CMN). Prior to this, she worked as a Community Coordinator with Comunidad Colectiva (CC), CMN’s sister organization, and has been active in the non-profit sector for over 7 years. Daniela holds a degree in Communications with a focus on Organizational Communications from Florida International University. Born in Mexico City and raised in Charlotte, NC, she considers the city her home and has witnessed its growth over the years.

A creative at heart, Daniela is passionate about raising awareness through artistic expression. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Lola, exploring fashion, practicing pilates, and listening to music.

Yakita Rodriguez

Legal Caseworker

Yakita Rodriguez is a Legal Caseworker who joined in January of 2023. Prior to joining CMN, Yakita held roles in Catawba County providing bilingual administrative support following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 she held an internship with the Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area in D.C. and Silver Springs. There, she was able to gain experience advocating for refugees and immigrants resettling in the area. She is a first-generation graduate with a Bachelors in Political Science from Lenoir-Rhyne University ’21. Yakita grew up in Galax, VA with her family who immigrated to the U.S. from both Guatemala and Honduras, sparking her passion for helping the refugee and immigrant community.

She now resides in Charlotte, NC where outside of work, you will find her in the gym, outdoors, or in a book.

Mary Jose Espinoza

Impact Strategy Lead

Mary Jose Espinosa (she/her/ella) is joining the Carolina Migrant Network to support the inaugural Monarca Fellowship Cohort. With over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she has worked on a range of issues including ICE rapid response, immigrants’ rights, civic engagement across North Carolina, and health equity for BIPOC and marginalized communities during the COVID pandemic.

Growing up in a mixed-status family, Mary Jose witnessed the injustices faced by immigrant communities firsthand. She has worked on civic engagement efforts, focusing on Latinx voters in North Carolina, and has helped lead non-partisan Get Out the Vote campaigns and voter education projects.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets, playing video games, and camping in the mountains.

Zamara Salidvar

Operations Manager

Zamara an experienced Operations Manager with over 7 years of expertise in the non-profit sector. She specializes in overseeing multiple departments, including finance, human resources, marketing, and employee development. Her strong leadership skills enables her to manage teams effectively while ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and efficient workflow. With a proven track record in optimizing processes, improving operational efficiency, and creating systems that streamline tasks and enhance productivity.

Additionally, Zamara excels in coordinating internal and external communications, managing budgets, and implementing strategies that drive organizational growth. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she bring a diverse perspective and a passion for contributing to meaningful work.

In her personal time, she enjoy lifting weights and spending time with her husband and daughters.

Maryann Ruiz

Community Organizer

Maryann Ruiz is a dedicated Community Organizer based in Charlotte, NC, with a passion for empowering individuals and fostering positive change in her local community. With over 10 years of experience working alongside diverse groups of individuals, Maryann is excited to be joining the CMN team to support immigrant communities.

Maryann believes in the power of collective action and is committed to creating spaces where people can come together, share their stories, and work towards a more equitable and inclusive future. She is known for her ability to connect people, inspire collaboration, and mobilize communities to make lasting change.

In her free time, Maryann enjoys spending time at concerts and traveling the world with her family and friends. She is a proud Miami native but considers North Carolina home.