Since her election in 2005 (in a special election filling the unexpired term of Rep. Joe Moreno, who was killed in a car crash in May 2005), she has represented District 143, part of Houston including areas of Magnolia, Manchester, Port Houston, Cimarron and Denver Harbor, the cities of Galena Park and Jacinto City, and portions of Pasadena and Channelview.
Her parents overstayed their visas, but Hernandez became a permanent resident and eventually a citizen after the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
[3] Hernandez attended a Peace Corps summer internship in South Africa, and also studied abroad in China and Sydney, Australia.
[3] Hernandez strongly supported the Texas "sanctuary city bill" that would prohibit police from enforcing federal immigration law.
[2] Hernandez is also an attorney at Mostyn Law Firm, and serves on the board of directors of the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston.