By Leah Berry | Photo by Alex Boerner
Norma Perdomo immigrated to Siler City from Honduras as a teenager, and faced the daunting challenges of learning English, adjusting to a new culture and managing the challenges of adolescence all at once. Though she didn’t know it at the time, that experience laid the groundwork for her future as an immigration lawyer.
She was unsure of her career path when she started undergrad at UNC in 2009, but Norma was eager to explore where her passions might lead. “I knew I wanted to make a tangible difference in people’s lives,” Norma says. “At the same time, I was very shy and introverted, and I did not like to speak in public. I didn’t see myself going to court, speaking in front of a judge, having a trial or meeting people for consultations like I do now.”
Norma’s passion for law was ignited as she observed others in her community experiencing the same challenges she did as a teenager, like navigating the complexities of the citizenship process by herself without legal assistance. “I saw that many immigrants in my community – including those in my own family – didn’t know where to go when they had legal issues,” she says. “Or, when they went to an attorney, they couldn’t communicate with them in a way that they would be well represented because of the gap in communication.”
Norma also realized there was a representation gap in terms of women attorneys. “I didn’t see myself in the community at the time,” Norma says. “There wasn’t a female attorney, there wasn’t a Latina attorney. That’s why I decided to go to law school.”
While earning her law degree at North Carolina Central University School of Law, Norma balanced her studies with a role as an ESL instructor at Central Carolina Community College, helping others find their voice while shaping her own future. “I couldn’t afford not to work while being in school,” Norma says. “And that offered an excellent experience and culture … I think it shaped my path to becoming an attorney.”
She is determined to give those experiencing language barriers, economic limitations and systemic obstacles the voice and advocacy they deserve. “I understand the questions that individuals have when they come for a consultation,” Norma says. “I have a teaching background, which helps me explain it in a better way, and I also have sincere empathy for the people going through the process. Having gone through everything I’ve gone through affects the way I conduct my processes and consultations.”
After a few years of practicing immigration law, Norma made her entrepreneurial mark in December 2022, launching Perdomo Law Firm PLLC, an all-female firm in Siler City – then took it a step further by purchasing her own building in early 2024.
Her mission is to empower immigrants with guidance, but she understands the uncertainty and hesitation many in the community feel today.
“Immigration law is influenced significantly by politics, so every time we have a new administration come in, we expect there will be changes,” Norma says. “I know a lot of immigrants, both in our community and nationwide, are concerned right now because of what they see in the news and on social media. We know that some of those changes must comply with our constitution, and we have a system that is well established. I’m hopeful that those changes will be positive and that there will continue to be a path [to citizenship] for individuals who qualify.”
Norma is still mastering the balance between work and her home life, but finds true joy in unplugging at the end of the day – soaking up time with her husband, Ezequiel Hernandez Cruz; playing with her kids, 9-year-old Alina Hernandez Perdomo and 8-year-old Ezequiel Hernandez Perdomo; and cooking. By morning, she’s recharged and ready to dive back into her work with renewed passion. She’s also especially proud to call Siler City home. “I bought my house here, got married here,” Norma says. “This city is very close to my heart.”
