Immigration and Nationality Law

Mary Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira (Liz)

CPC Attorney and Principal Partner Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Southern Methodist University (1999) – Dallas, TX, Dedman School of Law, Doctorate of Jurisprudence.
University of Pennsylvania (1993) – Philadelphia, PA, Bachelor of Arts in English and Latin American Studies.

Mary Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira (Liz) focuses on the practice of Immigration and Nationality law representing clients from around the world in family, employment, worksite enforcement, litigation, consular processing, and asylum matters.

Liz has achieved many accomplishments over the course of her educational and professional experience:

Founded S.I. P.U.E.D.E.S! (http://people.smu.edu/sipuedes), a tutoring and mentoring program for Dallas middle school students to inspire and prepare first-generation college bound students.
Currently serves on the SMU Coordinating Committee for the Hispanic Youth Symposium, a Hispanic College Fund leadership program for 200 Dallas high school students in June 2008.
Named 1993 “Woman of The Year” by the Panhellenic Association and “Woman of Color of the Year” for the Class of 1993.
Served on the staff of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard as a fellow with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and later returned to her hometown of Dallas as Special Assistant to Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson working on legislative issues such as veteran’s affairs, immigration, small business, community development and education.
Worked as a policy consultant with Dean International, Inc. as part of a transportation team to receive a federal designation for an international trade and transportation corridor.
Named the John Kennedy Outstanding Woman of the Class of 1999.
Joined Patton Boggs LLP in Dallas, Texas upon graduating from law school.
In 2000, relocated to the Texas/Mexico border to learn Immigration law under the supervision of Lisa Brodyaga in Harlingen, Texas.
In 2002, joined Catholic Charities-Dallas to launch a legal aide program for detained immigrants.
In 2003, selected as a National Finalist for the White House Fellowship and selected as an American Marshall Fellow traveling to Germany, Italy Slovakia and Brussels to study transatlantic relations, immigration and human trafficking.

Liz is involved in a numerous civic and professional endeavors such as:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Liaison for the Texas Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Small Group Advisory Committee,
SMU Hispanic Leadership Council,
Executive Committee of the Hispanic 100,
Advisor to SI PUEDES! @ SMU,
Advisor to Catholic Charities of Dallas,
Member of the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association,
Dallas Hispanic Chamber,
Member of the World Affairs Council,
Member of the Paul Quinn College Inaugural Committee,
Co-organizer of the Texas DREAM Act Coalition and AILA-Texas “Know Your Rights” Project.
In 2008, Liz served as a KERA Local Correspondent as a Delegate at the Democratic National Convention in support of then-Senator Barack Obama.
Named a 2003 “Hometown Hero” by City of Dallas for work in representing immigrants,
2004 “Texas Rising Star” for outstanding young attorneys
2008 “La Cima” Award Recipient for Advocacy by the Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Liz is married to Oscar Pereira, an aeronautical engineer, and together they are blessed with three children, Amanda, Gabriela and Oscar Samuel and three pets.

Eric Cedillo

Eric Cedillo is the founder of the Law Offices of Eric Cedillo, P.C. and a founding Partner of Cedillo-Pereira & Cedillo. Eric attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received his undergraduate degree and St. Mary’s School of Law where he obtained his Doctor of Jurisdprudence.

Eric is a native Dallasite who graduated from North Dallas High School. He had the opportunity to letter in four sports and was given the responsibility of representing his classmates in various offices. Upon completion of his High School studies, Eric received a full academic scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin.

With offices in Dallas and San Antonio, Eric has made a strategic effort to serve the whole “community” of Texas. “Liz and I want to make sure that everyone has access to the courthouses of Texas, whether it be a State civil courtroom or before a Federal Immigration Judge.”

Eric also works with the SMU Dedman School of law heading up the Consumer Advocacy Program. “We assist clients who’ve been wronged by big companies and organizations. I have the honor of working with and supervising some of the brightest young minds at SMU law school. Our students come ready to help our community and hopefully take that with them when they head out to their new legal careers.” Eric has sat on a few Boards of Directors with organizations charged with looking out for the best interests of those most vulnerable such as the Housing Crisis Center.

Throughout his legal career, Eric has been a member of numerous organizations geared toward the representation of Plaintiffs in civil matters and representing the continued right to trial by jury. Including and in addition to these are the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, the State Bar College, Dallas Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association and American Bar Association. Eric is also a barrister in the Mac Taylor Inn of Court.