Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Cedillo-Pereira is the Director of the Dallas Office of Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs which was established on March 20, 2017. The Dallas Welcoming Communities office seeks to be a bridge connecting Dallas’ diverse immigrant communities with existing Dallas residents so that common ground and shared leadership can be realized.
A Dallas native, Liz has more than 15 years of experience at the federal, state and local level on immigration related matters. Prior to joining the City of Dallas management team, Liz served as the Obama Administration’s Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, where she focused on immigration policy and community engagement to foster relations in communities across the U.S. An attorney, advocate and policy advisor, Liz is dedicated to improving and strengthening our nation’s immigration system.
Among numerous awards for commitment to service and excellence in the legal profession, Liz has been conferred with the Distinguished Alumni Award by SMU Dedman School of Law, the Ohtli Award from the Republic of Mexico and the Maura Award by the Dallas Women’s Foundation.
Liz is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and graduated from North Dallas High School, the University of Pennsylvania and Southern Methodist University School of Law. She is married to Oscar Pereira, an aeronautical engineer, and they are blessed with Amanda, Gabriela and Oscar Samuel.
Transforming Urban Cardiovascular Health
At the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit, leaders from across sectors gathered to address one of the most pressing global health challenges: cardiovascular disease in rapidly growing urban environments. In partnership with
