Seth R. Ashton

Seth Ashton serves as the Chair of Wilner & O’Reilly’s Litigation Department, bringing a wealth of experience to his role. Holding a Juris Doctor Degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and being admitted to the Illinois State Bar, Mr. Ashton is licensed to practice immigration law across the United States.

Throughout his career, Mr. Ashton has adeptly represented clients in various immigration matters, appearing before the immigration court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Asylum Office, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His extensive knowledge encompasses removal defense, family-based immigration, asylum and protection claims, as well as immigrant detainee rights and policy.

Before joining Wilner & O’Reilly, Mr. Ashton made significant contributions at the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago, Illinois. There, he demonstrated a keen proficiency in removal defense and the intersection of criminal and immigration law before the immigration court and the Board of Immigration Appeals. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in implementing and running the Legal Orientation Program at Kenosha County Detention Center. In this capacity, he provided free and comprehensive immigration law workshops and facilitated pro bono placement opportunities for unrepresented immigrants.

During his time in law school, Mr. Ashton worked full time as a paralegal and project coordinator with the National Immigrant Justice Center’s LGBT Immigrant Rights Initiative. Prior to entering law school, he pursued dual bachelor degrees in International Studies and Spanish at the University of Utah.

Mr. Ashton is committed to sharing his knowledge, having conducted classes and seminars on Immigration Law at the Institute for Paralegal Studies, Loyola University, Chicago, in 2016. His dedication to the field is further reflected in his active participation in professional associations such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Chicago Bar Association from 2013 to 2016.