Emily Alejandra Sotelo Estrada  

Congressional Intern, Presented by Walmart  

Hometown: Prescott Valley, Arizona  

School: Arizona State University  

Major: Economics; Justice Studies 

Placement: Office of Sen. Ruben Gallego  

Emily Sotelo Estrada is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants who came to the United States from Ixtapan de la Sal, Mexico. Her experiences growing up in Arizona, witnessing the toll of unjust immigration policies, fueled her unwavering dedication to advocating for justice, equity, and the constitutional rights of all individuals in the United States.   

Emily is a student at Arizona State University (ASU) where she is double majoring in Justice Studies and Economics with a minor in Humanities. On campus, she is actively involved in El Concilio, the ASU Latinx coalition, as Director of Advocacy, where she works on recruiting and retaining Latinx students, faculty, and staff. She has also served as an Arizona’s Future Fellow with Aliento, a dreamer and undocumented-led nonprofit. There, she educated Arizona lawmakers on immigration legislation and the importance of maintaining in-state tuition for all. Emily also had the honor of being one of Princeton University’s 2025 Junior Summer Institute Fellows. This experience deepened Emily’s understanding of public policy, and the importance of data-driven decision making.   

Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Emily plans on obtaining her Ph.D. in Economics and attending law school. She hopes to use her education to continue serving underrepresented communities and increasing access to resources in education for Latinos.  

Emily aims to gain a profound understanding of the legislative process while enhancing her leadership skills and networking on the Hill. Through her CHCI internship, she is determined to take these lessons back to her community in Arizona.