That Lawyer... - Steven Langer Immigration Lawyer Attorney Law Firm I-130 I-129F I-485 N-400 I-129 Visa Adjustment of Status Naturalization Religious Worker Visas

RANT ON.

THAT lawyer.

The one whose name I find on criminal cases that I review for immigration consequences.

There is actually more than one THAT lawyer. When families contact my firm for help with a foreign national held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a criminal conviction, I normally review the criminal file at the courthouse first. And, more often than not, THAT lawyer’s name is on the file.

Who is THAT lawyer?

He is the attorney who holds himself out to one or more immigrant communities as a lawyer of the people.
He is the lawyer who somehow associates with an immigration attorney and gets referrals of immigrant clients.
He is the criminal lawyer soliciting unrepresented clients at the courthouse.

What do they all have in common? They never attend training in the area of crimes and immigration. I go out of state regularly to get that training. And, surprise, I’ve never seen THAT lawyer at a national training session.

So, here I am again, at the courthouse, I am looking at a criminal case file. And, because of THAT lawyer, I’m looking at a mess. A big mess. I’m looking at something that might have been a fair fight to fix prior to THAT lawyer mucking everything up. And, now, my heart sinks when thinking of the effort it will take to right things.

If you do not want to hire me, then that is fine. But, please let me refer you to someone with some training or experience in immigration and crimes. I’d rather do that than ever look at another mess created by THAT lawyer.

RANT OFF.

Cases of note

August 2015

Child born in foreign country. US citizen father used a false ID for foreign birth. Father failed to register birth at US consulate. Child brought to USA by father. Child is now an adult. Adult child came to my office to obtain permanent residence through husband. I suggested the adult child file for a Certificate of Citizenship as she had a good-faith argument for being a US citizen. USCIS agreed. Application approved.

Citizen of Guatemala provisional waiver application approved.

November 2014

With her mom deported, child was left with her aunt. Aunt desperately tried to reunite child with her mom but mom missing in Mexico. Guardianship obtained for aunt. Permanent resident application filed. RESULT: Child is now a permanent resident.

Mother and children given intent to deny letters as they were not eligible to adjust status because the father was a Lawful Permanent Resident. Solution: Naturalization application for dad filed by our firm. USCIS agreed to delay green card cases for father's case to be adjudicated. Father passed exam and became a US citizen. Mom and all the minor children became permanent residents. The children under 18 became US citizens upon application with the youngest taking her citizenship oath this month.

October 2014

On a second appeal, the Board of Immigration Appeals remanded case to Immigration Court involving detainee denied the opportunity to request relief that arose while his first appeal was pending. Order for the immigrant on all issues.

Obtained dismissals from Immigration Court in cases involving unaccompanied children so the children can file with USCIS to obtain lawful permanent residence.

September 2014

Grant of permanent residency by an Immigration Judge under INA sec. 245(i) after over four years of the matter being contested in Immigration Court.

The adult child of a Lawful Permanent Resident had waited since 1993 for her visa to be current. Unfortunately, in 1997, she had left the USA on a voluntary return after being arrested for working without authorization. Seven other immigration law firms said her green card application would be denied. RESULT: GRANTED.

More...

That Lawyer…

Cases of note

Recent Tweets

Recent Blog Posts

Archived Blog Posts