Debra Valladares

Dr. Debra L. Valladares is a strategic thought leader at the intersection of U.S. immigration law and the global Pentecostal movement. As Associate General Counsel for the Foursquare Church, she advances the mission of the Foursquare Church by shaping and scaling religious worker visa strategy, equipping pastors, missionaries, and ministries to fulfill their Kingdom calling across borders. An attorney with over eight years of experience in U.S. immigration law, Debra has led the expansion of a high-impact religious worker visa program, cultivating multi-ethnic partnerships and strengthening the Church’s global footprint. Her work uniquely integrates legal expertise, Spirit-empowered leadership, and cross-cultural engagement to address the evolving realities of immigration and ministry in the 21st century. Debra is an ordained Foursquare pastor whose Pentecostal roots trace back to the historic Bonnie Brae House in Los Angeles, where she encountered Christ and was baptized in the Holy Spirit at age fourteen. This defining moment continues to shape her life and leadership, marked by a deep commitment to advancing God’s Kingdom through obedience, innovation, and spiritual discernment. She holds a B.A. in Sociology (Criminology) from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, a J.D. from Southwestern Law School, a D.S.L. in Strategic Foresight from Oral Roberts University, and an M.S. in Regulatory Science from the University of Southern California.