With an active California State Bar Certified Specialization in Immigration and Nationality Law, Flanagan Legal has expertise in all areas of the immigration process.The firm focuses on deportation defense and family/humanitarian immigration, including applications, interim benefits such as work permits and travel documents, administrative appeals, and federal court litigation.

We have a passion for complex cases, particularly cases that intersect with the criminal legal system. We also work with criminal defense attorneys to advise their clients on immigration consequences of plea agreements and other alternative dispositions with the goal of protecting the client’s status in the United States.

Below are just a few examples of the kinds of clients we serve:

Mixed-status families and fiancés seeking to grow and protect their lives in the United States.

  • Family-based petitions
  • K-1 fiancé(e) petitions
  • Consular processing
  • Adjustment of status (green card) before USCIS
  • I-601/A hardship waivers
  • I-212 consent to reapply
  • 245(i) grandfathering
  • Parole-in-place / deferred action for military families

Survivors of crime and family violence seeking immigration relief and protection

  • U visas for survivors of violent crime
  • T visas for trafficking survivors
  • Permanent resident status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
  • Relief for dependent family members of survivors

Refugees, asylum seekers, and others seeking protection in the United States

  • Affirmative and defensive asylum applications
  • Withholding of removal
  • Protection under the Convention Against Torture
  • Refugee travel documents
  • Asylee/refugee adjustment of status and I-602 waivers
  • I-730 refugee/asylee relative petitions
  • Humanitarian parole applications and renewals

Individuals facing complex deportation and removal proceedings, especially for those with prior involvement in the criminal legal system

  • Contested removal proceedings and motions to terminate
  • Rescission proceedings
  • Cancellation of removal for permanent and non-permanent residents
  • Administrative appeals and motions to reopen
  • Administrative closure and prosecutorial discretion
  • Petitions for review to the U.S. Court of Appeals

Green card holders & military service members seeking to apply for naturalization or protect their status

  • Naturalization, including military naturalization
  • Green card renewals
  • Re-entry permits and boarding foils for long-term and/or emergency travel
  • Applications to preserve residency (N-470)
  • I-751 petitions and waivers for removal of conditions for conditional residents

Undocumented youth, DACA recipients, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) / Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders seeking to obtain protection from removal and explore permanent immigration relief

  • Advance parole and other emergency travel
  • Unaccompanied minor asylum proceedings
  • Special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS)
  • TPS and DED applications and renewals

Beneficiaries of special legislation / executive action

  • Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA)
  • Cuban Adjustment Act
  • Humanitarian parole programs for Ukrainians (U4U), Afghans (OAW), Central Americans and Colombians (FRP), as well as Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV)

Citizenship documentation and benefits issues

  • Certificates of citizenship (N-600 / N-600K)
  • U.S. passport defense
  • Child Citizenship Act (CCA) issues

Criminal defense attorneys seeking to comply with their ethical obligations under Padilla v. Kentucky (2010)

  • Investigation of immigration collateral consequences
  • Research of alternative pleas and mitigation of immigration consequences