Marisa Peñaloza

Attorney Advocates For Poor As Immigration Debate Continues

Marisa Peñaloza — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:34:00 +0000

As Washington debates changing the immigration system, the demand for immigration attorneys has already jumped, even without new laws in place.

Lawyers such as Jose Pertierra, a veteran immigration attorney, are trained to interpret the law, but Pertierra sees his role as much more.

Every Thursday at 6 p.m. for the past 10 years, Pertierrra is here — on the set of the Spanish language TV studios of Univision in Washington, D.C., near Capitol Hill.

For Ex-Felons, Limited Rights Mean A Future On Hold

Marisa Peñaloza — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:15:00 +0000

Vikki Hankins wants nothing more in the world than to have her civil rights restored. Hankins, 43, lost the right to vote — and many others — when she went to a federal prison for selling cocaine in December 1990. She spent almost two decades behind bars for her crime.

Today, Hankins is an author and an undergrad who dreams of going to law school. She got out of prison four years ago and quickly applied to have her rights — like voting, serving on a jury and becoming a lawyer — restored.

Hankins was denied. She has reapplied three times since.

Carrying 'Dreams': Why Women Become Surrogates

Marisa Peñaloza — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:24:00 +0000

Last in a four-part report

Surrogacy is an idea as old as the biblical story of Sarah and Abraham in the book of Genesis. Sarah was infertile, so Abraham fathered children with the couple's maid. Today, there are many more options for people who want to grow their families — and for the would-be surrogates who want to help.

Macy Widofsky, 40, is eager to be a surrogate.

"I have very easy pregnancies.

U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics Star Readies For London

Marisa Peñaloza — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:04:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A4vBYDfNHg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2ctzsPJZZA

In Haiti, Hope Is Still Hard To Find

Marisa Peñaloza — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:52:37 +0000

You can see some progress in Haiti two years since the 7.0-magnitude quake hit. But Port-au-Prince is a tour of unrelenting misery and often disturbing images. Things are happening — slowly. You can tell the pace of progress by looking into people's eyes — emptiness looks back at you. Pain is etched on their faces.

You see it in Elicia Andre. We met her back in December at the homeless encampment run by Catholic Relief Services in Port-au-Prince, where she sought refuge after the quake.