IIn 2000 Melissa worked as paralegal with Fortune 500 clients, as well as leading universities and large corporations such as Novell, Inc.

In August 2004, as a summer intern, she worked at the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office of Immigration Enforcement with Miami Judges

Melissa then joined Novell, Inc. as an immigration and relocation manager and, after graduating from law school, as a corporate attorney. Responsible for incoming and outgoing transfers, over 200 employees per year, immigration issues related to mergers and acquisitions, and with a budget in excess of 1 million US dollars per year

Afterwards, continued to work on immigration in the private sector. Served as a faculty member, hosting University of Miami Law students for internships at companies from August 2007 to August 2015

Taught PERM Labor Certification at Florida International University and Temporary Protected Status at University of Miami for the award-winning TPS Clinic Program in Haiti and Immigration Opportunities for Undocumented Clients at Healthcare and Elderly Legal Clinic in September 2010. She served on the board of directors of New England Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) from 2017 to 2020, and also volunteered as a clinic coordinator and pro bono immigration attorney at JFON. Helped raise funds for JFON and led numerous volunteers who made JFON a success

Practice

Education

Melissa has been practicing immigration law since 2000. She earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in political science and international relations from Boston University with honors

In 2003, the University of Massachusetts at Boston awarded her a Master of Science in public affairs with honors and a full scholarship to attend college

In 2006, she graduated from Suffolk University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts with a J.D. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and specializes in federal immigration law