The Immigration Defense Philosophy

Immigrants are the backbone of America.  Everyday, immigrants make immeasurable contributions to our society, culture, and economic development.  Immigrants work the fields that put food on our table.  They bring their genius and energy to our shores to create enterprises big and small.  They build the homes where we raise our children.  They care for our suffering loved ones and elderly parents.  They make our present liveable, and reinvent the future every day.  Our Nation would be diminished without them.

Immigrants are also people like anyone else, people who get into trouble with the police, who suffer from broken marriages and lost jobs, and make mistakes with U.S. immigration law.  Because of their special contributions to this Nation, immigrants deserve the best legal services available.  They deserve a law firm that will fight hard to defend their rights, to bring family members together here in the U.S., and to keep them here when trouble strikes.  These are the principles that guide the Law Office of Daniel Shanfield, Esq. Immigration Defense, where we aggressively defend each and every client.  

For example, we do not yield to the Government's deportation charges, but force the prosecution to meet its burden and prove up its accusations.  Only once the Government establishes its charges do we then apply for forgiveness from the immigration court.  By fighting every step of the way, we give our clients greater opportunities to avoid deportation, both before the immigration court and on appeal.

Sometimes though the best defense is a good offense.  For instance, many permanent residents with criminal records face a frightening dilemma when it comes time to renew their permanent residency cards.  By coming forward as required with a green card renewal application, they place themselves at risk of identifying their criminal history to DHS, and having their case referred for deportation.  Unbeknownst to them however,  many immigrants with criminal records may still qualify for U.S. citizenship, and thereby avoid the risk of deportation altogether.  In such cases, we judiciously and painstakingly move forward with an application for naturalization, after fully advising our clients of the risks and likelihood of success. Thanks to our specialized knowledge of criminal and U.S. citizenship laws, we can often successfully assert that not every deportable crime is a disqualification for naturalization.  By obtaining U.S. citizenship, our clients are able to live in the United States, free of fear of deportation. 

Alongside our defense of immigrants with criminal histories, we also provide immigrant families with dedicated, creative, and unwavering legal representation.  Whether it be reuniting loved ones impacted by divorce or complex living arrangements, defending separated or divorced immigrants in removing the condition on permanent residency, or assisting abused immigrants under the Violence Against Women's Act and the U visa program,  or firm will serve you with compassion, personal attention, and deep understanding.

Our firm's approach requires adherence to the highest ethical standards.  Simply put, we do not lie, either to our clients or to the Government, or pursue arguments having no basis in fact or law.  We will not assist clients in obtaining U.S. residency based on marriages entered into for the purpose of evading U.S. immigration laws.  We will not represent a client applying for asylum who has no fear of return to the country of origin.  We will not assist companies and employees who have no bona fide employment relationship.  We consistently warn our clients that any attorney willing to deceive the Government will also be willing to deceive and defraud her clients.