Silvana Caldera joined the ACLU of Florida in May 2020 as the Immigrants’ Rights Policy Strategist, and was Senior Policy Strategist from April 2023 to March 2024, when she joined ACLU National.
Prior to joining the ACLU, she resided in Washington, D.C. doing intergovernmental affairs on behalf of units of local governments across the country. Her portfolio included a large focus on immigration policy, which included helping cities navigate federal, State, and local immigration laws in support of immigrants’ rights and inclusive communities. She has experience lobbying the Administration, Congress, elected officials at all levels of government, and collaborating with national and local organizations on immigration and other public policies that impact vulnerable populations.
As a first generation American and South Florida native, Silvana knew early on she wanted to pursue a career in immigration policy. She knows first-hand the anxiety and fear immigrant families feel while living in the shadows and trying to make their way through our broken immigration system. She believes every immigrant family deserves the chance at a better life.
Silvana began her career in Tallahassee, Florida, where she earned a B.A. in both Political Science and International Affairs at the Florida State University, with a minor in Business. During this time, she served in the Office of former U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), where she learned about the issues most important to Floridians. Later on, she worked in the Washington, D.C. office of Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD).
She earned an M.A. in Public Administration at the George Washington University Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
