Andres James Ortiz

Andrés Ortiz is one of California's top immigration lawyers and a foremost authority on the potential adverse immigration consequences of criminal convictions and plea deals (“Padilla Opinions”). Attorneys from across the nation consult Andrés on a regular basis for his expertise in how to resolve criminal cases without triggering deportation and removal.

A graduate of Loyola Law School, Andrés has been the recipient of numerous awards for his work. He was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers and was Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy's pro bono attorney of the year for 2016.

Andrés handles cases in immigration court, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Immigration Section Executive Committee as well as an ICE Public Advocate Field Liaison.

In addition to Padilla Opinions, matters Andrés handles at Shouse Law Group include:

*Removal proceedings,
*Immigration appeals,
*Immigration bond hearings,
*Family based adjustment of status,
*Cancellation of removal for permanent residents, non-permanent residents and battered spouses,
*Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA),
*Inadmissibility Waivers,
*Post-conviction relief in state and federal court,
*Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA),
*Asylum,
*Withholding of removal,
*U.N. Convention Against Torture (CAT),
*Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) claims,
*U and T Visas, and
*Other federal cases under the All Writs Act.

• Credit Cards Accepted

California

Since 2011

Founding Attorney

Andres Ortiz Law

2017 - Current

Represent clients in removal proceedings, Immigration Court, post-conviction relief, Board of Immigration Appeals, petitions for visas, green cards and naturalization.

Immigration Attorney

Frangomen, Del Rey, Bernsen, & Loewy

2014 - 2017

*Firm’s first dedicated removal defense attorney, primary role is to advise criminal defense attorneys who represent noncitizens of the immigration consequences of certain criminal convictions. *Represent clients in immigration court including Master Calendar and Merits hearings. *Represented clients before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Administrative Appeals Office, Federal District Courts, Superior Court of California, California Court of Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. *Manage a staff consisting of an associate attorney, paralegal, and law clerk. *Trainer for the firm’s pro bono unaccompanied minor refugee initiative and represent detained asylum applicants through Kids In Need of Defense

Loyola Government Fellow

Federal Public Defender

2011 - 2011

Wrote memos to trial attorneys informing them of probable immigration consequences for their noncitizen clients if the clients pled to certain federal criminal charges. • Conducted research and prepared a memo advising the trial attorney the appropriate sentence enhancements for a client’s illegal reentry case.• Researched and wrote memos to trial attorneys to advise them of pleas that would likely permit clients to avoid immigration consequences as a result of their criminal cases.• Conducted client intake with the daily duty attorney.

Extern to Honorable Stephen Reinhardt

United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit

2011 - 2011

Wrote the factual, procedural history, and researched legal issues in immigration, civil rights and criminal cases, for bench memorandums that assisted the Judge in preparation for oral arguments.• Assisted in the research and drafting of Ninth Circuit opinions.

Extern

American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California

2010 - 2010

Wrote a memorandum surveying the instances where Federal District Courts certified undocumented workers as part of their U-Visa application when civil or criminal claims were brought against their employers.• Wrote a memorandum explaining the mental health screening process for entering and particularly dangerous immigrants and discussed scenarios where these screening processes may be unconstitutional.

Law Clerk

National immigration Law Center

2010 - 2010

Conducted research, cite checked sections, and wrote line edits for the plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction and other responsive pleadings for Friendly House v. Whiting.• Completed assignments to assist the attorneys in taking declarations from detainees for a case involving the Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Stipulated Removal procedures at the Mira Loma Detention Center; these tasks included translating portions of a questionnaire from English to Spanish, creating a “relief worksheet” for volunteers who were unfamiliar with immigration law, and interviewed a detainee.

Education Pioneers Fellow

Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF)

2009 - 2009

Wrote a position paper discussing the negligible benefits of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s presence in and around schools, and the pernicious effects of this practice on both students and schools. • Drafted a series of parent advocacy letters and corresponding legal memoranda on behalf ofLimited English Proficient (LEP) parents, requesting language interpretation services for LEP parents during school functions.

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles

J.D. (2011)

2011

University of Notre Dame

M.A. (2006) | Education

2006

Rising Star

Super Lawyers

2017

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Current

Los Angeles County Bar Association

Executive Committee, ICE Liason

Current

Activities: Immigration Section

Deferred Entry of Judgment and P.C. § 1203.43

CEB Criminal Law Journal, Summer 16, Vol. 16, Issue 3.

July, 2016

Same Crime, But Different Consequences

Daily Journal

June, 2015

Federal Immigration Controlled Substance Considerations in the Age of State Marijuana Laws

CEB Marijuana Blog

December, 2014

Pleas and Consequences: Attorneys Must Adequately Advise Noncitizen Clients of How a Criminal Plea Can Affect Immigration Status

Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine

November, 2014