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The questions were usually well-intentioned, but they always gave Daniel Parga pause. Did he ride a horse to school growing up? Did he dodge bullets? Are the movies about his Mexican hometown accurate? How did a kid who grew up with one foot in the US and the other in Mexico wind up attending American University College of Law?
“It’s still something I hear to this day,” Parga says. “How did a person who grew up traveling between El Paso and Juárez, an area that’s on the news for violence and immigration issues, make it to a Fortune 100 company? It shows how misunderstood people from my region are.”
Parga is young and already an associate general counsel at Meta, the parent company for social media titans Facebook and Instagram. He previously worked at Amazon, and before that, he was building international trade, international arbitration, and litigation experience at Greenberg Traurig.
“I may not work in a field directly connected to civil or human rights today, but it’s something I think about so much.”
Daniel Parga
On paper, Parga’s résumé could rival that of any blueblood from the Northeast. Unfortunately, it’s still rare for him to encounter another person of color in a high-ranking legal role.
The lack of diversity in law struck Parga in law school as well. At the time, American University had one of the statistically highest percentages of Latinos and Mexican Americans enrolled, but Parga was one of only three Latinos in his class. The experience has made him especially sensitive to outreach emails or LinkedIn requests he gets from Latinos and other people of color either working through or considering law school.
“I get so many messages from people I’ve never met,” the lawyer says. “I always try to make time to provide them with any advice or perspective. I know my role gives me some responsibility, and I believe that representation is important. Seeing that people who share your background have opened some doors can give you the confidence to walk through them yourself. That makes a difference, especially in law, which is often so white and so male.”
Parga is especially grateful for the Law School Preparation Institute at the University of Texas at El Paso, where the lawyer completed his undergraduate studies. The prelaw institute is dedicated to helping (primarily) Mexicans and Mexican Americans prepare for the law school admission test (LSAT), work through law school applications, and master law school methodologies. Parga says the institute taught him how to be a law student, improved his test scores, and guided his law school search.
“My grandfather instilled this desire to always continue to learn. I try to keep an open mind and understand there are so many incredible people who have informed my life.”
Daniel Parga
The associate general counsel has continually sought out pro bono opportunities to give back to the people from his community and other underrepresented populations. For instance, he assisted children who were separated from their parents during the border crises of the first Trump administration and sued the Department of Homeland Security to demand that their rights be respected. He represented in court two teenagers from Guatemala who had been separated from their parents but couldn’t return to Guatemala for fear of gang retaliation.
“I may not work in a field directly connected to civil or human rights today, but it’s something I think about so much,” Parga says. “Today, I try to use the skill set I have acquired to be a force for good and help those working on the front lines get their message out and try to make our world a better place.”
When you speak with Parga, you quickly realize his upbringing has stayed with him. He was close to his maternal grandfather, whom he describes as the wisest man he’s ever met. Though his grandfather died fifteen years ago, Parga still vividly remembers the insatiable curiosity of a man always watching documentaries, reading books on every subject, and teaching himself about economics, medicine, and other topics.
“My grandfather instilled this desire to always continue to learn,” Parga says. “I try to keep an open mind and understand there are so many incredible people who have informed my life. I just want to stay on that path.”
It’s a tough time to be in the information business. While encountering new ideas has never been easier, it’s part of Parga’s job to ensure that vulnerable populations like children and older people are having safe interactions on Meta’s platforms. Parga’s team ensures that safeguards on Meta’s platforms are functioning as safely as possible, allowing people to connect safely and to access the benefits of social media.
People tend to forget that social media doesn’t have to be a tool that divides us. Parga’s industry often grapples with the worst actors and sowers of division, but he still believes in Meta’s mission.
Social media might be part of the reason people think Parga grew up in a city crawling with crime and strife. As the adage goes, “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on.” El Paso and Juárez have their issues, but so do all cities. Parga and his team at Meta are working to ensure the truth can get a little more of a head start.
“Daniel is an outstanding lawyer and strategist – leading a team that navigates complex and evolving legal challenges around the world on a daily basis, including issues of first impression. He does so with incisiveness, pragmatism, humanity, and characteristic good humour. It’s been a pleasure partnering alongside Daniel as we tackle the myriad of risk and compliance issues faced by a global technology giant such as Meta. We look forward to continuing to work closely with him to advance Meta’s goals.”
–Rory Hishon, Partner
