Ileana Rivera, Esq.
MANAGING ATTORNEY
Ileana Rivera, Esq. has over 12 years of experience as an immigration attorney.
Specializing exclusively in immigration cases, her philosophy is to provide you with an honest assessment and the best options for your immigration process.
She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico in 1993. After years of working as a manager in both the private and public sectors, and witnessing injustices during those years, she decided to study law with the hope of helping others navigate the judicial system. In 2013, she earned her Juris Doctorate from Interamerican University, passed the bar exam, and became a member of the Puerto Rico Bar Association and the United States District Court.
The attorney’s legal experience is diverse. She has practiced criminal defense at the Puerto Rico Public Defender’s Office, clerked for a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge, interned at the Interamerican University Legal Clinic, and worked pro bono for the Puerto Rico Bar Association. Of note is her two-year tenure at the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, where she created and implemented an educational program to inform visitors about the court system and the history of the Supreme Court.
In 2014, the attorney co-founded a law firm in collaboration with an experienced immigration attorney. Since then, she has led and managed several firms. In 2023, she founded Immigration Universe Attorneys, where she practices U.S. immigration law throughout the United States and its territories. She is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and teaches continuing legal education (CLE) courses to its members.
The attorney is fluent in English and Spanish. We’d love to meet with you and guide you through resolving your legal issue.
Email her at rivera@immigration-uni.com.
Meet Our Team
Mayra Millán
CASE MANAGER
Mayra Millán brings exceptional depth of knowledge and experience to our team, grounded in over a decade of distinguished service as a USCIS case adjudicator. In that role, she developed a comprehensive, insider-level understanding of the U.S. immigration system, including the adjudication of complex petitions, evidentiary standards, and the legal framework governing immigration benefits. Her firsthand experience reviewing and deciding cases provides invaluable insight into how immigration officers evaluate applications, allowing her to anticipate potential issues and strengthen each filing strategically.
Prior to her service with USCIS, Mayra proudly served our country as both a U.S. Army officer and a Navy officer, retiring after a distinguished military career marked by discipline, leadership, and unwavering commitment to duty. Following her military service, she formalized her legal training by graduating from paralegal school, equipping her with advanced knowledge of legal procedures, research, and case preparation. Mayra possesses extensive knowledge of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and is highly skilled in legal research, case analysis, and the preparation of persuasive legal arguments. She plays a critical role in drafting detailed cover letters and legal support documents that clearly present the facts, apply the law, and advocate effectively on behalf of our clients.
More recently, Mayra has expanded her contributions into teaching and community outreach in support of the immigrant community by co-hosting Inmigración para Latinos, a podcast available on YouTube and major podcast platforms. Through this platform, she helps educate and empower Hispanic audiences by providing clear, reliable information about immigration law, policy, and individual rights. She actively researches and develops topics to ensure the content remains timely, accurate, and meaningful to the communities we serve.
Mayra is an invaluable resource to our legal team and to our clients. She approaches each case with care, precision, and a strong commitment to finding effective legal solutions, always mindful of the profound importance immigration matters hold in our clients’ lives. Her unique combination of adjudications experience, military service, legal training, and dedication to public education allows her to guide clients through the immigration process with clarity, confidence, and trust.
Diego Mahoudeau
Paralegal
Diego Mahoudeau brings a strong legal foundation to our team as a licensed attorney in Honduras and a highly skilled paralegal in the United States. His international legal training, combined with his practical experience in U.S. immigration law, allows him to approach each case with both analytical precision. With two years of focused immigration experience in family cases and humanitarian cases, Diego has developed the ability to navigate complex legal processes while maintaining a focus on accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.
He plays a critical role in the preparation and submission of immigration applications, ensuring that every filing is complete, properly documented, and submitted on time. His meticulous attention to detail and strong organizational skills help minimize errors and delays, providing clients with confidence throughout their immigration journey. Diego approaches each case with care and empathy, recognizing the importance these matters hold for the individuals and families we serve.
Diego is an integral part of our firm’s digital operations, serving as a key point of contact in managing online immigration filings and electronic case systems. His technical proficiency with online platforms and case management software allows him to streamline workflows and enhance the overall efficiency of our practice. His ability to combine legal knowledge with technological expertise ensures that applications are handled with both precision and modern efficiency.
Known for his professionalism, reliability, and dedication, Diego is a trusted member of our legal team and a valued resource for our clients. He is committed to delivering high-quality work and supporting clients with timely communication and professionalism at every stage of the process. His strong work ethic, legal insight, and genuine commitment to service make him an essential contributor to our mission of providing exceptional immigration representation.
Gina Di Benedetto
Paralegal
Gina Di Benedetto is an Argentine-licensed attorney who graduated in 2016 and is a bilingual legal professional fluent in English and Spanish, with over eight years of experience working with the immigrant community in the United States. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively on visa, residency, and citizenship processes across the United States, Italy, Spain, and Argentina, guiding clients through complex immigration matters with clarity, precision, and confidence.
She has significant experience handling a wide range of employment-based and nonimmigrant visa matters, including E-2 Treaty Investor visas, L-1A and L-1B intracompany transferee visas, TN visas under USMCA, B-1/B-2 visitor visas, and J-1 exchange visitor visas. Gina also works extensively with petitions and applications such as Forms I-129 and I-129S, E visa applications (including DS-156 and DS-156E), and PERM labor certification processes.
What truly sets Gina apart is that immigration is not just her profession, it is personal. While still a university student, she successfully prepared and submitted her own Italian citizenship application entirely on her own. She understands firsthand the uncertainty, hope, stress, and determination that come with navigating an immigration process. That experience ignited her passion for this field and continues to shape the compassionate, detail-oriented way she approaches every case.
Gina combines deep legal knowledge with empathy and genuine dedication. She takes the time to understand each client’s story, ensuring that every application is handled with care, strategy, and excellence.
Paula Colina
Intake Specialist
Paula Colina is the welcoming voice and heart behind our client experience as our Intake Specialist. Fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, Paula effortlessly connects with individuals from all backgrounds, ensuring every person who contacts our office feels understood, respected, and valued.
With exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, Paula is known for her warmth, professionalism, and ability to truly listen. Her calm, compassionate demeanor immediately puts clients at ease, creating a positive and supportive environment from the very first interaction.
Paula brings a unique blend of organization, positivity, and proactive energy to our team. She is deeply motivated, quick to adapt, and thrives in high-pressure situations without ever compromising the quality of care she provides.
Her talent for inspiring collaboration and her attention to detail make her a cornerstone of our daily operations. At our firm, we believe that every client deserves to be heard and cared for, and Paula embodies that belief in everything she does. Whether someone is calling for the first time or seeking support on their case, they can be confident they are in caring and capable hands.
Delfina Bacalusso
Marketer
Delfina serves as the Marketer for our company, bringing creativity, precision, and a strong sense of connection to everything she does.
She holds a Certified Translator title earned in December 2023, which reflects her advanced language skills and deep understanding of cross-cultural communication. Before joining our team, Delfina worked as a teacher for one year, where she was responsible for developing detailed lesson plans and fostering meaningful learning experiences. This background laid the foundation for her exceptional attention to detail and structured approach to content creation.
In her current role, Delfina is responsible for managing and creating content for our website, responding to customer inquiries, and engaging with our audience across various social media platforms. Her ability to connect with people is one of her greatest strengths. She has excellent interpersonal skills and is bilingual with top-notch communication abilities in both English and Spanish.
Delfina is also an avid traveler who loves exploring cultures around the world. Her global perspective and appreciation for diversity brings a unique and valuable cultural richness to our company. She is a true problem solver who brings creativity and clarity to our communications.
Her dedication and enthusiasm have made a significant impact on our team, and we are truly grateful to have her as part of our organization.
Jonathan Sanchez
IT
Jonathan is the technology backbone of our firm. As our dedicated IT specialist, he ensures that our systems operate securely, efficiently, and without interruption, allowing our legal team to focus entirely on serving our clients.
What truly sets him apart is his constant availability and unwavering commitment to supporting our team. Whether troubleshooting technical issues, implementing new software, strengthening security measures, or optimizing workflow systems, Jonathan approaches every challenge with professionalism and precision.
Thanks to his expertise and dedication, our firm operates with the technological stability and security our clients expect and deserve.