[2] Vélez-Rivé served as a law clerk for Justice Francisco Rebollo López of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court from 1993 to 1994.

From 1994 to 1997, she was an associate at Pietrantoni Méndez & Alvarez in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

[2] Vélez-Rivé served as a United States magistrate judge for the District of Puerto Rico from 2004 to 2022.

President Biden nominated Vélez-Rivé to the seat vacated by Judge Francisco Besosa, who assumed senior status on January 1, 2022.

[6] On November 30, 2022, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 54–43 vote.