The Cases I’ll Never Forget

I have two memorable cases—one from law school, and one since I started as an attorney. 

During law school, I was in a crimmigration clinic—working on cases that combined criminal law and immigration. These were incredibly complex cases.

One case in particular drew me towards practicing immigration long-term. We had a client who had been a lawful permanent resident for many years, having been brought to the United States by his mother when he was very young. In his teens he was charged with burglary and assault. The first charge was when he was under 16. Due to these charges, he was deported to Guyana, a country where he didn’t know anyone, and spent 20 years trying to return to be with his family. 

Unfortunately, his story is not uncommon. But it worked out for him! We were able to vacate his convictions by proving that he had incompetent legal counsel. That opened the door to reopening his deportation case, and ultimately, we succeeded in bringing him back to the United States and reuniting him with his family.

It was an incredible feeling. After all of our hard work, I got to meet him at the airport when he arrived and to watch him reunite with his family. It was deeply emotional for both of us. I'm so glad I got to be part of that. That moment was one of the most meaningful in my life, as I’m sure it was for him too.

As an attorney, one of my favorite cases was working with a Venezuelan comedian who came to the United States on Temporary Protected Status. He was scared of what might happen to him under the Trump administration. I helped him secure his EB-1 visa approval, file his I-140 petition, and ultimately adjustment of his status to become a green card holder. I guided him through the entire process from start to finish. This was an emotional experience for me too, because I put a lot of heart into my cases and my work. 

He was an important client for me because he became one of those people who just brightened my day. He was also one of the first people I helped secure permanent status for in the United States. That was a really cool moment for me.

I’ve always thought of immigration as something that keeps giving. My client was incredibly  funny—obviously, since he's a comedian—but he also lights up every room, makes everyone feel comfortable, and creates opportunities for others. He’s the first comedian in the United States to perform exclusively in Spanish, and he’s created numerous showcases for Spanish-speaking comedians.

Helping someone like him, who uplifts others, meant a lot to me. It was truly special to support someone so influential in his community, who also provides opportunities for other immigrants.

It just goes to show that we, as immigrants, are the backbone of the United States and its economy.