The Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association (WBCA) selected United States District Judge Diana Saldaña as the official Bridge Speaker for the WBCA/IGNC International Bridge Ceremony to be held Saturday, February 20, 2027.
“I am honored by the invitation of the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association to serve as the keynote speaker for the 129th International Bridge Ceremony. This Abrazo Ceremony is a beautiful tradition that holds a special place in my heart because it celebrates the generations of shared history, culture, and friendship that connect our border communities. I look forward to celebrating together the unity, love, and hope for the future of our two great nations, so affectionately portrayed by the Abrazo children. The Ceremony reminds us that our shared common bonds are stronger than what could divide us,” said United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas Diana Saldaña.
The Honorable Diana Saldaña has served as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas in Laredo since her appointment by President Barack Obama in February 2011. During her Senate judicial confirmation hearings, Judge Saldaña received a unanimous vote of 94-0. She also holds executive roles in judicial administration, including on the Judicial Conference Committee on Criminal Law, by appointment from John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and on the Fifth Circuit Judicial Council’s Special Purpose Courts Committee, by appointment from Chief Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod. Judge Saldaña is the liaison District Judge of the Laredo Division, which encompasses the counties of Jim Hogg, La Salle, McMullen, Webb, and Zapata.
Born and raised in Carrizo Springs, Texas, Judge Saldaña is the third of six children raised by her mother, Blanca Hernandez Rodriguez. For much of her childhood, Judge Saldaña was a migrant student. Every summer, she would move from Texas to Minnesota and North Dakota to work the sugar beet, soybean, and potato fields alongside her mother and siblings. Judge Saldaña was the first person in her family to graduate from college, receiving two Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Government from the University of Texas at Austin. In 1997, she received her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.
Judge Saldaña strives to use her experience and position to mentor students of all ages and build a support network for the youth of Laredo. She hosts moot courts for local grade schools, counsels high schoolers who are aspiring first-generation college students on the college application process, accepts high school and college students from the local university as interns in her chambers, and coordinates internet safety and drug prevention programs at local schools.
Most recently, in conjunction with the local bar association, she created a five-week summer fellowship program for students from Laredo-area high schools. The Kazen Fellowship Program launched in the summer of 2023 and has graduated more than 100 high-school juniors and seniors representing each school in the city. The Program aims to raise young civic leaders who value the principles of our democracy and are driven to share that spirit with others. During the summer, the students complete courses in civics, media literacy, the American judicial system, and trial advocacy. The Fellows explore the vital work of federal law enforcement agencies and court departments during immersive field trips, gain college preparation skills, and learn trial advocacy from local attorneys. At the culmination of the program, each Fellow participates in a competitive mock trial. Graduate Fellows remain active through community service projects, including leading a Middle School Citizenship Academy, and hosting a Civics Jamaica with LISD. Judge Saldaña’s founding of the Kazen Fellowship Program has been honored by the Laredo Independent School District, and she received the Community Hero Award from the United Independent School District of Laredo. The Kazen Fellowship program will also serve as as the 2027 Budweiser Washington’s Birthday Parade Marshals.
Judge Saldaña is also deeply committed to expanding access to justice and supporting the successful reintegration of individuals returning to their communities. Throughout her tenure, she has been a strong advocate for initiatives that support rehabilitation, civic empowerment, and successful re-entry. In every case before her, Judge Saldaña brings a deep personal commitment to ensuring that the federal courts remain accessible, equitable, and responsive to the people they serve. In 2024, Judge Saldaña was inducted into the Laredo Women’s Hall of Fame by the Laredo Commission for Women. In 2026, she received the LULAC Orgullo Latino Legacy Award in recognition for her public service leadership.
Judge Saldaña is married to Roberto Carlos Arredondo, a sergeant with the Laredo Police Department. They are the proud parents of two sons and two daughters.
With this designation as the official 2027 Bridge Speaker, United States District Judge Diana Saldaña becomes the newest WBCA Ambassador for the 129th Washington's Birthday Celebration.
For updates on all events, ticket giveaways, and more, follow the WBCA on YouTube, “like” on Facebook, and stay informed via wbcalaredo.org.
The 129th Washington’s Birthday Celebration will span from January 14 to February 28, 2027.