Rebeca Lopez-Anzures is a senior at Columbia University studying Human Rights and Political Science. Her academic interests span legal and political institutions—specifically in the context of elections, education, and immigration—with a focus on the gap between institutions as they exist on paper and the way people actually encounter them. At Columbia’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights, she researches how the presence of organized crime influences perceptions of insecurity, trust in state authorities, and quality of life in communities on the periphery of Mexico City. Her interest in law has also led her to write for the Hispanic Pre-Law Review, where she publishes work on contemporary legal and political issues, including birthright citizenship. Rebeca has worked with several legal service providers in her young career, including the Federal Public Defenders of South Florida and Project Rousseau in NYC. Most recently, she spent the summer volunteering for the International Rescue Committee, where she assisted refugee clients in accessing public benefits and essential services as they rebuilt their lives in the United States. Upon graduation this coming May, Rebeca plans to attend law school and continue dedicating herself to public service.