Expertise You Can Trust

Daniel Shanfield, Esq.
Founder and Managing Attorney

Daniel Shanfield has succeeded in some of the most difficult immigration cases. Overseas, he led an appeals project to overturn visa denials by the U.S. Consulate, and has overseen numerous successful appeals for detained immigrants in the United States. He is a former INS litigation attorney who advised the government on a broad spectrum of immigration law issues, and was adjunct clinical law professor at New York Law School in Downtown Manhattan. Before entering private practice, Daniel was the Legal Services Manager with the U.S. refugee program in Europe, where he brought immigrants to safety and helped reunite them with loved ones in the United States. Daniel has also served as a migration and refugee advisor to the United Nations, and as an attorney overseeing pro bono legal representation for the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, now Human Rights First. His legal knowledge and uncommon insights are the critical difference behind his clients’ success.

Daniel is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law and UCLA (magna cum laude).  He is admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court, Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Federal District Court, Executive Office for Immigration Review, State Department, and Department of Homeland Security. He is currently the Immigration Court Liaison for the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA SCV).  Daniel previously served as AILA SCV Chapter Chair, and was Chair of the Immigration Section of the Santa Clara County Bar Association. Daniel's experience and skills have also been recognized by the Bar Association of San Francisco, which has selected him to serve on its Pro Bono Immigration Court Panel.  Daniel holds a deep commitment to pro bono service, serving as an asylum law mentor for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights in San Francisco, and on the Legal Advisory Board of the Stanford Law School Immigrants’ Rights Clinic.

Daniel, a California native, is fluent in Spanish and French. As the child of parents from Latin America, he understands the challenges his immigrant clients face.

Click here to view Daniel Shanfield's Linkedin profile.

Heidi Sermeno
Paralegal

Heidi serves as Paralegal with our office, with an interest in asylum, family-based, and domestic violence cases.  Heidi holds a Paralegal Certificate from the University of San Diego, and is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A. Sociology (Inequality and Social Change), B.A. Feminist Studies (Movements, Institutions, Policy and Legal Studies). While at UC Santa Cruz, Heidi worked at a Domestic Violence Agency and received training to serve as a State Certified Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Peer Counselor.

Heidi has been involved in numerous complex asylum cases with refugees from diverse countries. This experience helped her better understand the circumstances that compel immigrants to leave their home countries and resettle here in the United States.

Heidi is the daughter of Latin American parents and is fluent in Spanish. After witnessing the various struggles her parents faced as immigrants, Heidi has dedicated herself to serving the immigrant community, refugees, and their families.

Lorena Cornelio
Legal Assistant

Lorena is the firm's legal assistant, with a deep interest in refugee, asylum, and domestic violence cases. She is a graduate of the University of San Diego and holds a B.A. in International Relations - emphasis on Africa and the Middle East (Double Minor in Media Studies and Peace and Justice Studies).

While attending USD, Lorena was able to study abroad in Madrid, Spain, which led to her expanded world view. As a peace and justice student, she also had the opportunity to participate in various Border Angels expeditions, and witnessed first hand the troubles that plague the U.S.- Mexico border region.

Lorena is the daughter of Hispanic parents and is fluent in Spanish. After hearing the stories of the various struggles her parents faced as immigrants long ago, Lorena has become very dedicated to serve as a voice for those facing such obstacles today.

What We Can Do For You

No matter what you’re facing, our firm can help you sort out the best solution for your immigration needs. Here are some of the services we offer:

Our firm can help English, Spanish, and French-speaking clients, and arrange for interpreters in almost any language. No matter what you’re facing, we can help you sort out the best solution for your immigration needs.

Contact the Immigration Law Office of Daniel Shanfield, Esq. today!