Eloy Gardea is the proud son of Mexican migrants from Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. Growing up in Texas, he witnessed firsthand the resilience, hope, and determination that define the migrant experience—values that continue to guide his life and work today.

Rooted in these experiences, Eloy has dedicated his career to ensuring that migrants are treated with dignity and compassion within the legal system. His greatest strength lies in his ability to connect with people—listening deeply, building trust, and transforming complex legal challenges into pathways toward security and empowerment.

Eloy served as a Managing Attorney at Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD), where he provided consultation and legal representation to individuals through ILD’s Legal-Education partnerships within the California Community College and California State University (CSU) systems. His work helps expand access to justice for immigrant students and their families, ensuring that education remains a bridge to opportunity rather than a barrier.

Before joining ILD, Eloy served as a Senior Staff Attorney at the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) in Fort Worth, Texas. There, he represented detained and non-detained individuals in removal proceedings and supported families seeking reunification through humanitarian visas, family petitions, and citizenship applications.

Earlier in his career, Eloy worked with Catholic Charities’ St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant and Legal Services in Houston and with the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration Detention Hotline, where he advocated for unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers, and survivors of gender-based violence. Across these roles, his guiding principle has remained constant: that every migrant’s story deserves to be heard, honored, and defended.

Eloy holds a B.A. in Spanish Literature and Political Science from Columbia University and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School. He is a member of the Texas Bar and fluent in Spanish.

Driven by his roots and guided by compassion, Eloy continues to stand alongside migrant communities—turning empathy into action and commitment into meaningful change.

In his free time, Eloy is an avid runner and hiker, plays recreational soccer, and enjoys chess and scrabble, occasionally playing in national tournaments. He enjoys listening to and playing music and spending time with family.