Garcés' father was a fisherman, and her mother was a schoolteacher. Moving from her birthplace of Medellin, Colombia to the United States at a young age, Garcés started acting in commercials through her talent agent, Diego Santiago, her father's best friend. Garcés later pursued a mini-stint career in kickboxing and being a personal trainer in New York City. She is married to Antonio Hernandez, a deli owner and butcher in New York City. Garcés has one daughter, Skye Mahoney, whose father is Garcés' ex-boyfriend from high school (they never married). Her daughter Skye attended I.S.230 in Jackson heights, Queens.

Garcés' film credits include: Spin, Dangerous Minds, Clockstoppers, Marci X, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and Man of the House. She is slated to appear in Harold & Kumar 2, reprising her role as love interest "Maria" from the first film.

Garcés has a recurring role playing Millie Vizcarrondo in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2006, she joined the cast of the FX Networks crime drama The Shield as Officer Tina Hanlon. In Season 6 episode 9, 'Recoil' she is seen doing her first nude onscreen sex role with Alex O'Loughlin (Detective Kevin Hiatt) although a body double was used. She guest starred in the "Unidentified Black Males" episode of The Sopranos (Season 5), in which she played Felicia Galan.