Columbia Student Mohsen Mahdawi Freed
Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi released after detention by immigration authorities sparked widespread campus protests.
Sobre Nuestra Firma
Alguien Competente Ya Esta a Cargo. Desde Ahora.
Esta enfrentando algo aterrador. Una fecha de corte. Una carta que no entiende. El miedo de que todo se derrumbe si comete un error. Llevamos veinte anos ayudando a personas en esta misma situacion. Ya no tiene que resolverlo solo.
20+
Anos de Experiencia
5,000+
Casos Manejados
Multiple
Idiomas Disponibles
100%
Enfoque en Inmigracion
Nuestro Compromiso
Lo Que Cambia Cuando Nos Contrata
Ha estado cargando este peso solo—tratando de descifrar cartas del gobierno a las 2 de la manana, preguntando en grupos de Facebook, preguntandose si ese notario de la esquina es de confianza. Esto es lo que cambia en el momento en que nos contrata.
Su Caso Es Único. Nuestra Preparación No Lo Es.
La situación de cada persona es diferente—pero después de veinte años dedicados exclusivamente a la ley de inmigración, hemos visto miles de escenarios. Sea lo que sea que enfrente, tenemos la experiencia y el enfoque para manejarlo.
Nada Se Nos Escapa
Su caso tiene un equipo completo vigilandolo—abogados, asistentes legales y personal de apoyo que realmente se comunican entre si. Las fechas limite no se pasan. Los papeles no se pierden.
Nunca Se Quedara Preguntando Que Esta Pasando
Respondemos llamadas y correos dentro de 48 horas. No mas noches en vela preguntandose si alguien esta trabajando en su caso. Siempre sabra como van las cosas.
Le Diremos la Verdad—Aunque Duela
Si no podemos ayudarle, se lo diremos. Si su caso es debil, lo sabra. Nadie le quita su dinero por un caso que no puede ganar. Usted merece la verdad desde el principio.
Calidad Real, Honorarios Honestos
La buena ayuda legal no deberia requerir una segunda hipoteca. Ofrecemos honorarios justos con planes de pago, porque el futuro de su familia no deberia depender de cuanto dinero tiene ahora mismo.
Su Caso Siempre Es Suyo
Cada documento, cada presentacion, cada pieza de su caso—usted recibe copias de todo. Si alguna vez necesita ir a otro lado, se va con su expediente completo.
"El terror empieza a desaparecer en el momento en que alguien competente toma el control."
La Gente en Su Esquina
Con Quienes Trabajara
Cada persona aqui eligio la ley de inmigracion porque importa. Todos hemos visto lo que pasa cuando esto sale mal—y lo que pasa cuando sale bien.
Attorneys
Joshua E. Bardavid
Founding Attorney
Antes de convertirme en abogado de inmigracion, trabaje con el Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados. Vi lo que les pasa a las personas cuando los gobiernos les fallan—y lo que pasa cuando alguien lucha por ellos. Veinte anos de ley de inmigracion. Cientos de casos. Abogado principal en apelaciones que cambiaron como funciona la ley. He argumentado en tribunales de circuito federal y he ganado casos que parecian imposibles. Me gradue cum laude de St. John's Law, donde fui editor en jefe de la New York International Law Review. He vivido en Washington D.C., Africa Occidental y el Medio Oriente. La inmigracion no es algo abstracto para mi—he visto lo que impulsa a las personas a dejar todo atras. Cuando no estoy en la corte, juego futbol y sufro como fanatico de los Mets. Miembro de AILA (Asociacion Americana de Abogados de Inmigracion).
Educacion
- J.D., cum laude, St. John's University School of Law
- B.A., Presidential Scholar With High Honors, University of Maryland
Admisiones al Colegio de Abogados
- New York State Bar
- Immigration Court (EOIR)
- Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
- First Circuit Court of Appeals
- Second Circuit Court of Appeals
- Third Circuit Court of Appeals
- Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
- Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
David Dominguez
Senior Associate Attorney
I'm a first generation American who grew up in a bilingual household. Growing up with immigrant parents, I understood from a very young age how difficult life can be for those who come from another country. As a dual citizen of the U.S. and Spain, I've lived between two worlds my entire life. I know what it means to have the freedom to move, to visit family, to build a life where you choose. I also know what it looks like when someone doesn't have that freedom. When a border separates you from the people you love. The moment that most impacted me was when my uncle was deported from the United States. Watching my family torn apart by an immigration system that treated him like a number. That was the moment that guided me towards becoming a lawyer who works with the immigrant community. Since 2018, I've been working exclusively on immigration law. I focus on removal defense, family-based immigration, and humanitarian relief. I know what's at stake because I've watched it happen to my own family. Freedom of movement isn't abstract to me. It's the difference between a family staying together or being separated by thousands of miles.
Educacion
- J.D., Brooklyn Law School
Admisiones al Colegio de Abogados
- New York State Bar, 2018
Languages
- Spanish
Elizabeth Thomas
Supervisory Attorney
Yo misma soy inmigrante—empece en China, llegue a Nueva York, y ahora estoy pasando por el proceso de inmigracion otra vez para obtener la residencia permanente en Espana. Se lo que se siente navegar un sistema que no fue construido para ayudarte. He estado con Bardavid Law desde 2018. Hablo ingles, espanol y mandarin con fluidez. He representado clientes en cortes de inmigracion en todo el pais y en tribunales de familia en todo Nueva York. Este trabajo me importa porque he estado del otro lado. Entiendo el miedo, la confusion, la frustracion. Mi trabajo es asegurar que usted no tenga que resolver esto solo.
Admisiones al Colegio de Abogados
- New York State Bar, 2018
Languages
- Spanish
- Mandarin
David Herscovici
Of Counsel
I've lived and traveled in many countries, learning to navigate unfamiliar systems, communicate across language barriers, and build trust with people from different backgrounds. That experience shapes how I enjoy life and how I practice law. Immigration clients are navigating a legal process that includes the vulnerability of explaining the most important moments of their lives to strangers, often in a language that isn't their first. I have an idea of how difficult that probably feels from my own experiences. I speak Hebrew, Spanish, and Japanese, all of which I learned as an adult. I know firsthand what it takes to make yourself understood when the words don't come easily. Earlier in my career, I bicycled cross-country helping to raise money and awareness for Street Soccer USA, which uses soccer to end homelessness by transferring job and life skills to homeless youth and adults. For weeks, we visited Street Soccer hubs and relied on the generosity of strangers for help and sometimes a place to sleep. It taught me something I carry into every client interaction: when someone opens their door to you, that's not a small thing. You remember it.
Educacion
- J.D., Brooklyn Law School
- B.A., Arizona State University
Admisiones al Colegio de Abogados
- New York, 2009
- Southern District of New York
- Eastern District of New York
Languages
- Hebrew
- Spanish
- Japanese
Office Manager & Paralegals
Angie Garcia
Office Manager
Over 25 years in legal work, more than a decade here at Bardavid Law. I run the office—making sure everything works the way it should. I grew up in a Hispanic household where family meant everything. That's why I do this work. Every family that comes through our door deserves a chance at a safe future together. I've seen what happens when immigration goes wrong. I've also seen what happens when it goes right. Outside work, I'm writing my autobiography—over 200 pages so far. If my story can help even one person keep going through hard times, every word will be worth it.
Esmerly Feliz
Senior Paralegal
He estado con Bardavid Law por mas de seis anos. Soy la persona que ayuda a asegurar que nada se nos escape—comunicacion con clientes, preparacion de casos, presentaciones en corte, traducciones. Estudie Derecho y Sociedad en John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Hablo ingles y espanol con fluidez. Lo que mas me importa es asegurar que usted entienda lo que esta pasando con su caso. La inmigracion ya es suficientemente confusa sin sentirse a oscuras. Mi trabajo es mantenerlo informado y apoyado en cada paso.
Yenifer Estevez
Paralegal
I come from an immigrant family. I know what it feels like when the system is confusing, when the stakes are your family's future, and when you need someone who actually understands what you're going through. Before joining Bardavid Law, I spent seven years as a paralegal at a nonprofit fighting for immigrants' rights. Advocating for my community, for my neighborhood, and for everything immigrants bring to the vibrancy of our city and our country. Educating people about their options. Making sure nobody got lost in the process. That same mission drives everything I do here. I earned my degree in Political Science from Lehman College. I'm fluent in Spanish. My job is to make sure you feel safe, supported, and informed at every step. You shouldn't have to wonder what's happening with your case. Fun fact: I played basketball in high school.
Languages
- Spanish
Administrative Assistants
Lesliee Zarate
Legal and Administrative Assistant
I grew up in an immigrant household. I watched my parents try to navigate a system that was confusing and often felt hostile. Every client who comes here reminds me of my own family's story. I've worked in offices for over a decade, three years now in immigration law. I know what it feels like to be lost in bureaucracy. I treat every client the way I wish people had treated my parents—with patience, respect, and actual help. Outside work, I hike Bear Mountain with my dog and volunteer at local shelters. I know what a helping hand means when you're going through hard times.
Liany Mercado
Legal Assistant and Receptionist
I grew up translating for my mother—doctor's appointments, government offices, anywhere she needed help. I saw how people's tone changed when they realized she didn't speak English. The impatience. The dismissal. Watching someone I love be treated like she didn't matter. That's why I'm here. Everyone who calls our office should feel welcomed and respected from the first moment. That's my job. I make sure you feel heard, not ignored. Outside work, I travel and explore cuisines around the world. Food brings people together—it tells the story of a place and its people.
Alice Au
Administrative Assistant & Translator (Part Time)
Veinte anos en ley de inmigracion. He pasado mi carrera sirviendo a la comunidad china—cantones, mandarin, fuzhouneno y otros dialectos. Se lo que significa necesitar ayuda y no saber donde encontrarla. Por eso hago este trabajo. Cada persona merece a alguien que hable su idioma y entienda por lo que esta pasando. Fuera de la oficina, soy jugadora de badminton de nivel nacional con victorias en torneos en todo el pais. Mi hijo, la alegria de mi vida, ha viajado por el mundo y ahora trabaja en la Universidad de Fordham.
Languages
- Mandarin
- Cantonese
- Fuzhou
Our team, working for you.
Resultados Reales
Cuando Salio en las Noticias
Casos que importaron lo suficiente para que el New York Times, Washington Post y CNN los cubrieran. Personas que necesitaban ayuda y la obtuvieron.
U.S. Visa Crackdown Hits International Students Under Trump
Investigation into how new visa enforcement policies are disrupting the lives of international students across American universities.
UK Drops Foreign Student Targets, Shifts Focus to Overseas Education Hubs
Report on the UK's policy shift away from foreign student enrollment targets, with implications for global student migration patterns.
Indian Express
US F-1 Foreign Student Visas: FAQs Explained
Comprehensive explainer on F-1 student visa policies, application processes, and recent changes affecting international students in the United States.
The Intercept
ICE Is Entering Churches, Targeting Immigrant Rights Leaders
Investigation into ICE targeting leaders of New York's New Sanctuary Coalition, including surveillance outside churches and detention of movement organizers.
MPR News
Failed Asylum Claims Leave Immigrants Vulnerable to Gang Violence
Minnesota Public Radio investigation into asylum seekers deported back to gang-controlled regions after failed claims in U.S. immigration courts.
Close Call for Haitian Caught in Web of Detention
Following the Haiti earthquake, Bardavid filed habeas corpus to secure his client's release before a planned deportation flight.
What Happens When the Wrong People Get Deported
Commentary criticizing deportation focus on numbers over security, highlighting cases of innocent individuals wrongfully removed.
Un abogado del lado de los inmigrantes
Profile noting Bardavid's prior work with UN refugee agency in Africa and current representation of Spanish-speaking immigrants.
Cancer-Stricken Immigrant Detainee Dies After Being Denied Care
Report on Hiu Lui Ng, a 34-year-old engineer who died in ICE custody after being denied medical care despite losing 30 pounds and suffering a fractured spine.
Dissident Voice
Faith of Ibrahim Redeemed: Texas Family Released from Hutto Prison
Attorneys Cox and Bardavid filed habeas corpus motions detailing troubling detention conditions, leading the BIA to reverse its denial and reconsider an asylum appeal.
U.S. Agrees to Set Free a Stowaway Held in Detention for Four Years
Joshua Bardavid secured release of a stowaway held in immigration detention for four years through habeas corpus litigation.
Detainee in Limbo, Despite Judicial Order
After appellate court ordered release consideration, immigration officials attempted secret deportation via ship without passport.
Jailing Immigrants
Editorial examining the practice of indefinite immigrant detention and its impact on due process rights.
FRANCE 24
'Deportation Machine': How Donald Trump and ICE Are Changing America
France 24 documentary featuring attorney Joshua Bardavid on the impact of aggressive deportation policies on immigrant communities.
Activist & Father of Four Faces Deportation to Devastated Haiti
Democracy Now segment on a community activist facing deportation to Haiti over a decades-old conviction, with commentary from Bardavid.
Dr. Donny / The Book of You
The State of Immigrant Detention in America
Discussion on the conditions and impact of immigrant detention in the United States, featuring immigration attorney Joshua Bardavid.
National Public Radio Story
NPR radio segment featuring Joshua Bardavid discussing immigration law and client advocacy.
U.S. Authorities to Reconsider Asylum for Family
Federal immigration panel reopened asylum case for detained family; attorney anticipated their release and reunification within weeks.
Federal Bar Association
Immigration Law Conference Brochure — New Orleans 2016
Federal Bar Association Immigration Law Conference program featuring panels on asylum, detention, and immigration enforcement.
Casos Que Cambiaron la Ley
Victorias Que Importan
Victorias en cortes federales que no solo ayudaron a nuestros clientes—cambiaron como funciona la ley para todos los que vinieron despues.
Court found an Immigration Judge abused discretion by basing credibility determinations on unrelated facts from another case.
Appeals court rejected the notion that asylum applicants should abandon beliefs causing persecution.
Zheng v. BCIS — 3rd Circuit
Successfully overturned a habeas corpus denial, with the court noting the client had established community ties.
Court ruled for a Catholic persecution victim, finding the BIA's decision 'fatally flawed' for ignoring testimony.
Landmark ruling allowing naturalization applicants to proceed even after removal proceedings begin.
Court held immigration judges must evaluate applicant explanations and possess an obligation to develop the record.
Second Circuit overruled the BIA on derivative citizenship, holding that LPR status was not required when other statutory conditions were met.
Court found the BIA abused its discretion by failing to address petitioner's ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
Court vacated and remanded, identifying a circuit split on whether misprision of felony constitutes a crime involving moral turpitude.
Novel ruling on stateless alien protections, remanding for BIA to address whether removal countries would transfer petitioner to a persecution country.
Court found USCIS's H-1B visa revocation reasoning flawed and unsupported by the administrative record, remanding for further proceedings.
BIA found the Immigration Judge's adverse credibility determination based solely on demeanor was insufficient, requiring remand.
Matter of M-H-M — Board of Immigration Appeals
Precedential ruling that immigrants have a right to proper service of BIA decisions and can appeal when service is improper.
Jahjaga v. Holder — 3rd Circuit
Por Que Existimos
Hemos Estado Donde Usted Esta
Empezamos esta firma porque vimos a demasiadas personas siendo danadas. Notarios cobrando dinero por casos que no podian ganar. Buenas personas perdiendo todo porque confiaron en el consejo equivocado. Familias separadas por fechas limite perdidas y mala informacion.
Cada persona en nuestro equipo eligio la ley de inmigracion porque importa. Vemos lo que pasa cuando esto sale mal. Tambien vemos lo que pasa cuando alguien finalmente obtiene la ayuda que necesita—el alivio en su cara cuando el peso empieza a levantarse.
Hablamos ingles, espanol, creole haitiano, frances y mandarin. No tiene que traducir su miedo. No tiene que preguntarse si entendimos. Puede explicar lo que esta pasando en el idioma en que piensa.
Enfoque
La ley de inmigracion es todo lo que hacemos. Mientras otros abogados tocan una docena de areas, nosotros hemos pasado veinte anos aprendiendo cada rincon de este sistema. Conocemos a los oficiales, los jueces, los patrones. Su caso no es un experimento—es lo que hacemos todos los dias.
Calidad
El gobierno busca cualquier razon para negarle. Una casilla sin marcar, una fecha equivocada, un documento debil—y vuelve al principio. Nosotros vemos lo que otros no ven porque hemos visto donde los casos se caen.
Honestidad
Probablemente ya le han mentido. El amigo del primo que dijo que seria facil. El notario que prometio resultados. Nosotros le decimos la verdad—que es posible, que es riesgoso, que no va a funcionar. Aunque sea dificil de escuchar.
Ha Estado Cargando Esto Solo
Eso termina hoy. Cuentenos que esta pasando—consulta gratis, sin juicios, en el idioma en que se sienta mas comodo.
Hablemos de Su Situacion