Carlos Olivares serves as the Administrative Program Director at Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), where he leads the administrative staff and oversees data management and reporting efforts. In addition to his current role, Carlos has previously worked at Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, the Immigration Center for Women and Children, and the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice.

Carlos has extensive experience working with adults and children in immigration detention, as well as working with victims of crimes assisting them with U visas, VAWA petitions, and T visas for survivors of human trafficking. He also has significant experience assisting survivors of domestic violence in their family law matters.

Carlos' unwavering commitment to immigration work stems from his personal background as an undocumented immigrant in Los Angeles. He has been an immigration advocate since his teens and has participated in many rallies advocating for immigration reform, including marches against Proposition 187 when he was just seven years old. Originally from Hidalgo Mexico, Carlos holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from California State University, Los Angeles. Carlos has dedicated his career to advocating for and supporting vulnerable populations.