Hon. Bertha Alicia Zuniga

I have dedicated my career to zealously fight for justice and to fearlessly protect immigrant's rights for 45 years. I am not a young lawyer but an attorney that has lived and experienced changes in Immigration laws throughout 45 years. I was in private practice in El Paso, Texas for 15 years. As an attorney in private practice , I was well known for my common sense yet aggressive approach in representing clients from different countries. I was appointed the nation's first Mexican-American female U.S. Immigration Judge on April 2, 1995. I retired as a U.S. Immigration Judge on April 2, 2015. As an Immigration Judge, I was well known for my dedication and determination to be fair and just, as well as a trailblazer in applying the law to novel issues. I issued noteworthy decisions including the granting of asylum to female victims of femicide in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; those fleeing violence in Central America and Mexico; and female victims of domestic violence. Other noteworthy decisions include the granting of applications for cancellation of removal and other waivers available under immigration law. I authored thousands of decisions in removal and deportation proceedings. I mentored many new Immigration Judges and DOJ/EOIR attorneys. I authored the Aggravated Felony Outline since 2000 available in the DOJ/Virtual Law Library and on the internet up until my retirement. I have been Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 15 years. After my retirement as a United States Immigration Judge, I decided to utilize all my skills, knowledge, and experience in defending those in need of immigration representation. In December of 2015, after a brief period in Houston, Texas, I returned to San Antonio, Texas and set up my own law office. I am elated to be back where I started in the private practice of law. Since my retirement in April, 2015, I have been fearless in my representation of immigrants in removal proceedings. Since I was an Immigration Judge, I am fully familiar with how Immigration Judges need to follow the law and will not stand by while your rights are violated by new immigration judges that are not fully familiar with immigration law. I will protect your rights. If you hire me, I will be the one representing you and advocating for you. Since I have been in private practice, I have been successful in my defense of legal permanent residents in removal proceedings. I have obtained termination of removal proceedings in several cases as I have put the government (DHS) to the task of having to prove their case and they have been unable to do so. I am hired often to enter my appearance after other younger and less experienced lawyers fail in their representation. If you have been denied, I may be able to investigate your case and save you from deportation. I have developed a special skill in representing asylum seekers from all countries in the world.

I have been successful in appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals. During my tenure as an Immigration Judge I granted hundreds of applications for cancellation of removal for non-lawful permanent residents. During the last eleven years, I have been successful in obtaining legal permanent resident status before Immigration Judges through applications for cancellation of removal for non-lawful permanent residents. I am skilled in identifying factors in your case which will help win your case. In order to be successful in representing individuals in removal proceedings you need: (1) a reputable, skilled, and experienced immigration lawyer that is respected in Court; (2) a lawyer that will document each of the requirements needed to have your case approved; and (3) most importantly, lots of preparation for presentation of the case before the Immigration Judge.

I am also very knowledgeable in applications for individuals to become legal permanent residents through family members petitioning for them. If you have a direct family member in the military, you may be eligible for a special permit called the "Parole In Place". I am pleased to be of service to my community and to search for ways to save you from deportation.

If your application for legal permanent resident status needs a pardon/waiver in order to be granted, I am very knowledgeable in that area. If you are placed in removal proceedings because of some type of fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining your resident alien status, I am skilled in obtaining the waiver necessary for you to keep your resident alien status.