Catalina Cruz represents New York State Assembly District 39, the most diverse district in the nation, encompassing the neighborhoods of Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights in Queens, New York. She currently serves as the Chair to the Task Force on New Americans in the New York State Assembly, where she advocates on behalf of immigrants state-wide. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a Juris Doctorate from the City University of New York School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.
Catalina was born in Colombia and came to Queens at the age of 9. Catalina grew up as a DREAMer; she lived in the United States for more than 10 years as an undocumented American. Catalina is an experienced attorney and a leader for tenant protections, immigration reform and workers’ rights. Catalina began her career as a practicing Attorney, representing low-income, rent-stabilized tenants in New York City Housing Court. She also served as the Counsel to the Division of Immigrant Policies and Affairs at the NYS Department of Labor, where she worked with immigrant workers and business owners, and led the agency to become a national leader in combating labor trafficking. Since elected, she has passed more than 16 laws including Nourish NY, which combats food insecurity, a permanent fund to support the TGNB population, and making immigration and citizenship a protected class under the State Civil Rights Law.