Israel's Great-Great Grandparents (right)

 in Mesilla - Canuto & Josefina Apodaca

Israel comes from a long line of Mesilla Valley families who inhabited the region at the time it was founded. His Great-Great-Great Grandfather lived in Mesilla as a subsistence farmer and community leader, who married the adopted daughter of Mariano Barela, the County Sheriff of Doña Ana at the time and proprietor of the store that would become the Taylor-Barela Mesilla Historic Property.  His paternal grandfather was a Bracero worker in the 1950's, who fought to make a better life for his family by migrating to the United States and working under the unjust conditions of farms at the time. 

Israel was born and raised in the Mesilla Valley - he grew up in the Village of Doña Ana and his first job was shining shoes in Art's Barber Shop on Valley Drive.  He graduated from Mayfield High School and continues to give back to the local community that raised him.  He attended the University of New Mexico for his B.A. and Law Degrees. 

Israel has continued his family's tradition of service to community as a civil rights activist before attending law school, leading on LGBTQ issues, public transportation, and giving a voice to struggling communities. With his experience as a government attorney - as a criminal and labor prosecutor and former Assistant County Attorney - he brings inside knowledge of cases involving governments. He leads in the legal community as the President of the Southern New Mexico Bar Association and can often be found advocating for struggling colonia communities. 

He brings the same compassion and attention to his clients, who are often facing difficult challenges.