What We Do

If you have been summoned to appear before a United States Immigration Court or know someone who has, our team will help explain any possible ways of remaining in the United states and devise any available truly effective strategies to safeguard legal immigration status in the long-term.

We advocate for the rights of noncitizens both in and out of detention. For those in detention, we will let you know whether the law allows us to request bond. If it does, we will prepare the most compelling request possible.

Immigration court cases can take months or years to resolve. However long it takes, we will let you know what we are doing and why every step of the way. We will keep a vigilant eye on the law in case any changes will affect you.

To win in immigration court, it is not enough to simply testify about why you should be allowed to remain in the United States, even if you can present the most convincing reasons. It requires both legal acumen and the presentation of as much evidence as possible to corroborate what you are saying to an immigration judge. We will present the most legally sound case possible and guide you through collecting the evidence required to put your best foot forward.

The United States’ immigration laws provide pathways to legal status for (or, at a minimum, prevent the deportation of) those who have experienced severe harm, both inside and outside the United States.

If you came to the united states seeking protection from harm in your home country, we can counsel you on eligibility for refugee protections (asylum, restriction on/withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture). Each of these protections has numerous legal requirements. If you qualify, we will help you prove that you meet all the applicable criteria.

If you were trafficked into the United States or were a victim of or witness to criminal activity, you may be able to get a visa that will ultimately lead to the right to remain here permanently and even become a citizen. Each visa type presents its own requirements and challenges. We will evaluate your case and help you through the entire process of applying for the applicable visa and submitting a compelling evidence packet.

Whether the harm you suffered occurred outside the United States or not, we recognize that having to talk and write about it can be extremely difficult. And while we are not mental health professionals, we will be sensitive to your situation and take as much time as you need to tell your story.

Once we know what happened, we will advocate creatively and forcefully for your right to live and work here.

Finally, if you already have a humanitarian status that eventually allows you to apply for the right to live here permanently, we will help you prepare a well-documented application.

In 2012, the United States initiated a program allowing some people who were brought here without complying with the immigration procedures when they were children to apply for work permits and request that the immigration authorities not deport them. This program is called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

DACA has been the subject of intense litigation, and court decisions on its legality come out every few months. We are tracking the Court orders and can advise noncitizens if it is possible to submit an initial DACA application, renew their DACA, or seek advance parole if they need to temporarily leave the United States.

We can also help noncitizens from selected countries apply for or renew temporary protected status (TPS), ask for a work permit under deferred enforced departure (DED), or take advantage of country-specific programs that grant the right to live here permanently.

If you or a noncitizen you know have served in the United States military, there may be additional options available.

Are you eligible to apply for United states citizenship (i.e. to naturalize)? Do you think you might possibly be a United States citizen even though you don’t have the paperwork to prove it?

We can help you through either situation. If you can apply for naturalization, we will guide you through submitting the application, collecting and filing supporting documentation, and passing the interview. If you do not speak English or cannot take the civics test, we can tell you whether you can still complete the naturalization process.

Sometimes, even the most well-presented applications are denied. You can appeal many decisions of immigration judges and several decisions on applications filed outside immigration court to appellate bodies within the immigration agencies. Regardless of whether you used our services in the original proceedings, we will advise you on any possibilities for appealing or reopening your case and present well-written and thoroughly reasoned arguments on your behalf.

We also represent noncitizens on immigration-related matters before federal courts. This includes petitions for review of decisions by the Board of Immigration Appeals to deport noncitizens, court actions in naturalization cases, suits against the government because of noncompliance with the law or unreasonable delay in processing an application, or petitions requesting release from immigration detention. The decision to go to federal court is not always straightforward, and we will discuss the pros and cons of your case before recommending that you do so. If you decide that it is best to proceed in federal court, we will stand with you to defend your rights under the applicable laws through powerful legal advocacy backed by comprehensive research.