I am the son of immigrants. My father came to the United States in 1964; my mother in 1968. They met at a party in Hempstead, New York. Turns out they are from the same province in the Philippines and that their towns are only an hour apart. My grandfather was a revered mathematics teacher in Manaoag. My father served 22 years in the U.S. Navy and another 20 years with the State of California; my mother made sure that my brother, sister and I had everything we needed to excel in school. It worked: I was valedictorian of my class at Elsinore High School, graduated from UCLA, and Northeastern University School of Law. My brother and sister are proud graduates of California State University, Sacramento and San Jose State University, respectively.

I have represented numerous individuals and families who appeared in front of the Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the federal Circuit Courts of Appeals. I have also successfully litigated mandamus and Administrative Procedures Act claims against USCIS in the U.S. District Courts.

I have extensive experience with the various applications for relief that can be resolved by the Immigration Court, such as Cancellation of Removal for Certain Non-Permanent Residents (Form EOIR-42B), Cancellation of Removal for Certain Permanent Residents (Form EOIR-42A), Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and Relief under the Convention Against Torture (Form I-589), Application to Register Permanent Resident Status or Adjust Status (Form I-485), and review of USCIS denials. I have filed successful Motions to Reopen (in absentia orders, exceptional circumstances, changed circumstances, and sua sponte) and Motions to Terminate Removal Proceedings.