Carlos A. Valenzuela was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is an immigration attorney who practices law in New York City and Long Island and was previously an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow with the Safe Passage Project. Mr. Valenzuela currently has his own immigration practice and is a part time Staff Attorney with CUNY Citizenship Now through their City Council Member Program. Mr. Valenzuela has dedicated himself to working with vulnerable immigrant populations, focusing on helping immigrant youth from Central America access legal relief from deportation.

In December 2016, Mr. Valenzuela, along with his colleagues, volunteered with the CARA Pro Bono Project at the South Texas Family Residential Detention Center in Dilley, Texas. During his time there, Mr. Valenzuela mostly assisted detained women and children prepare for credible fear interviews, which if passed, resulted in the release of the women and children from detention. Mr. Valenzuela considers this experience to be life-changing and it inspired him to continue his advocacy for immigrant rights.