Child border separation Archives

Oct 15

Oklahoma Immigration Attorney Rivas Gives Readers Inside Look

Lorena Rivas’ reputation as a prominent immigration attorney continues to grow. The Fry & Elder partner and standout Oklahoma immigration attorney recently penned an article which was featured in the Oklahoma 2019 Super Lawyers® Magazine.

Rivas’ article titled “The Front Line” documented her experiences this past May volunteering at the Karnes County Residential Center – a detention facility which houses women who are asylum applicants and were recently detained at the boarder.

Through the University of Tulsa College of Law immigration student section, Rivas supervised a group of 10 law students who teamed up with RAICES (a non-profit organization which seeks to help immigrants) to help asylum applicants with their credible fear interviews and declaration drafts.

The decorated Oklahoma immigration attorney compared the experience of volunteering at the Texas detention facility and working with applicants still being detained to being on “the front line,” stating that the work days spanned 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

Rivas had this to say about the eye-opening experience,

“I thought that, as an attorney, I’d be working 8 to 5, but this is non-stop work,” she said. “It’s very intense. It takes a heavy emotional toll. But what keeps me going are the wins – whether it’s gaining status for somebody, keeping somebody here, or getting them out of jail. What also keeps me going is the need.”

Accomplished Oklahoma Immigration Attorney Rivas in High Demand

Rivas’ featured article is the most recent installation to what has been an impressive work portfolio for Rivas this year and since joining Fry & Elder in 2015.

One month after volunteering at the Karnes County Residential Center, Rivas won the AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Dreams Contest and delivered a riveting speech at the organization’s National Convention in June.

The decorated Oklahoma immigration attorney has been named a Super Lawyers® Rising Star each of the past two years and was recognized as the 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner – an honor annually given to a lawyer who advocates for human rights or the empowerment of women.

Considered by many to be an immigration law authority figure, Rivas has traveled to Washington D.C. multiple times to meet with legislators to discuss immigration law reform and improved policies.

Rivas was additionally recognized in 2016 by the Tulsa Business & Legal News as being one of the city’s most accomplished professional women with their annual Women of Distinction Awards.

Earlier this year, Rivas attended the 2019 American Immigration Lawyers Association Midwinter Conference in Indian Wells, California where she co-presented with well-known immigration law practitioner Kate Jastrom on the controversial immigration law decision “Matter of A-B-.”

Following the duo’s presentation, Jastrom said she was very impressed with Rivas.

“It was a tremendous pleasure presenting at the AILA conference with Lorena,” Jastrom said. “She’s clearly extremely knowledgeable about asylum law, and she made an excellent contribution to our AILA practice advisory, showing attorneys the concrete steps they need to take to effectively represent their clients.”

Rivas began her article in the Oklahoma 2019 Super Lawyers® Magazine by providing background into an event growing up involving her family which helped pave the way for her to pursue a career in immigration law.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have been given a variety of platforms to share my personal experiences and what it means to me to advocate for my clients as an immigration attorney,” Rivas said. “I am very appreciative of the opportunity Super Lawyers® provided me and hope to bring about more awareness and change to our current immigration law policies.”

Oklahoma Immigration Law Attorney Provides Comprehensive Immigration Law Services

Rivas, along with her talented staff at Fry & Elder, offer a diverse portfolio of immigration law services tailored to meet the individual needs of each clients.

Rivas services include:

To set up a personal consultation with Lorena Rivas, contact Fry & Elder today.

Aug 8

Volunteering at Karnes County Residential Center Impacts Lorena Rivas

KARNES COUNTY, Texas – The Karnes County Residential Center is a difficult place to engage in the art of rhetoric.

Lorena Rivas

Yes, implementing persuasion is a daunting task to say the least at the Karnes County Residential Center which houses mother and child ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detainees and serves as an asylum detention facility for female asylum seekers.

Nevertheless, Fry & Elder’s Lorena Rivas rolled up her sleeves and set out for Karnes County earlier this summer to lend a helping hand and some much-needed legal and, to some degree, emotional support to those seeking asylum.

Rivas supervised a group of 15 law students from the University of Tulsa – two of which included Fry & Elder interns Elissa Stiles and Elijah Johnson – and volunteered at the detention facility.

Stiles and Johns spent five days between Karnes County and San Antonio where they assisted asylum seekers who have been released.

Needless to say, the conditions, attitudes and behavior Rivas experienced and observed from both the asylum seekers and correction center officers were chilling, disturbing and rewarding on many levels.

“It was an experience I won’t ever forget,” Rivas said. “I mean, if you spend any time there, you can’t help but become overwhelmed with a multitude of emotions.”

Rivas documented her experiences at Karnes County with a series of daily themed and content-rich Facebook posts. In those, it was evident the huge need there is for immigration reform and accountability.

Her first post highlighted the scene and situation at Karnes in which she and other legal volunteers had to endure a 6-hour wait before they were able to meet with detainees. She equated the scene to that of a “Sh*t Show” and added this in her initial post:

“It’s a huge compound … It was clear the DHS administration is either incompetent on how to handle logistics or is purposely trying to hinder the detainees’ access to legal representation. It’s probably both … The detention facility’s visitation rules are just asinine. These people as asylum seekers not criminals.”

While on the second day Rivas and the students were able to meet with the detainees without having to wait 6 hours, the conditions didn’t necessarily improve as she heard a detention officer say five times that 14 volunteers trying to assist 700 women was too many.

As she met with the detainees, she asked how they have been treated by officials. Most responded “that they have been treated as reasonable as person detained can be.”

That said, Rivas documented how a lady she spoke to the day before had a much different take. While she was in the Perrera (translates to dog cage or dog pound in Spanish) for 1-3 days after being removed from the Hielera (translates to freezer or cooler in Spanish) after 1-3 days, “she was literally treated like a dog. The Customs & Borders Officers would throw her and the other ladies in the cage their food to the ground, laugh and say: ‘Since you are in cages, you are dogs and should eat off the floors.’”

Still, the day provided satisfaction for Rivas due to the fact that she came into contact with RAICES – a non-profit organization which helps immigrants.

As Rivas said,

“They do so much stuff to help out immigrants. I admire their dedication to the cause. They are willing to be here every week. I realized on Day 2 that there would be no way I could do this consistently. It’s exhausting to hear stories of struggle, while fighting the administration, and do it for 11 hours, all while munching on snacks and being away from your cell phone. Kudos to the RAICES Warriors!”

As Rivas earlier mentioned, one cannot volunteer at a detention facility like Karnes and not eventually become overwhelmed with a tidal wave of emotions.

However, Rivas’ biggest takeaway from one day was seeing two women get released from custody.

“Yay! We are successful at times,” Rivas wrote. “I also got the feels seeing a lady see her family in the visitation area. She embraced affectionately with her daughter and happy tears were shed. Reunifications, even small ones like this one, are positive feelings.”

On her final day at the Karnes County Residential Center, Rivas was asked to take on more of a hands-on role and work on a “special case that needed quick prepping and work since the detainee had an immigration judge (IJ) review the next day.”

Rivas worked with an El Salvadoran client named Marie whose story, though sad and heartbreaking, is not atypical of clients seeking asylum into the United States.

Married at 13, Maria was physically, mentally and sexually abused by her husband.

“She feared that by telling me all this information, he and her adult children would find out and punish her,” Rivas wrote. “… I would love to say that Maria’s story was unique, but I know it’s not. These people go through a lot of horrible conditions in their life and the only hope they have to escape them is to come to America.”

Karnes County Residential Center Experience Offers Life-Changing Perspective on Prominent Tulsa Immigration Lawyer Lorena Rivas

Although Lorena Rivas is less then 10 years into her career as a practicing attorney, there isn’t much the highly-regarded Tulsa immigration lawyer has not observed, experienced or encountered.

The Fry & Elder partner has traveled to Washington D.C. on multiple occasions to meet with state and national legislators to advocate for immigration law reform.

Earlier this year, Rivas won the AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Dreams Contest and delivered a riveting speech at the National Convention in June.

Rivas has also won countless awards and honors, including the 2018 Fern Holland Award and was a 2018 Super Lawyers® selection, but those four days in Karnes County will always deeply resonate inside her.

“It’s hard to put it all into words,” Rivas said. “Volunteering at Karnes was truly an eye-opening experience, but it was one I will always be thankful I was able to experience.”

To speak with a proven and dedicated immigration attorney willing to fight for you, contact Fry & Elder today.

Jun 27

Popular Tulsa Immigration Attorney Rivas’ Speech Inspires Audience

ORLANDO, Fla. – Lorena Rivas needed all of 5 minutes, 50 seconds to emphasize why the popular Tulsa immigration attorney is rapidly becoming a household name in the field of immigration law.

The Fry & Elder partner and standout immigration attorney captivated and inspired an engaged audience this past Friday night at the 2019 American Heritage Awards in Orlando with her riveting speech titled “This is America,” to close out the gala.

Presented by the American Immigration Council, the American Heritage Awards featured stand-up comic Hari Kondabolu, 10-piece salsa band Dave Santiago & Latin Affair and 2019 honoree Martine Kalaw.

Amongst a star-studded lineup, Rivas more than held her own as the event’s final presenter.

She began her speech by outlining the origins of how America’s name derived from Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. She went on to highlight how more and more explorers and immigrants made their way into America where they not only flourished but took the country to new heights along the way.

Rivas’ speech can be heard in its entirety here, but the last portion went as follows:

“And with expansion come opportunities – opportunities for more immigrants from faraway lands to come to this land and help build cities, factories and dreams. They see this magnificent lady with welcoming torch and inviting message. They see masterful machinery that can cut through distance like an eagle soaring through the sky. They see their children staking a flag in a piece of land to build the home and memories.

“This, this is America.

“Now, even though they still see the children, the memories are not the same. They see and hear their children crying and begging for their parent. They see their children in cages. They feel the frigidness of a cooler. They smell the fear of their fellow refugees of being returned to a war-torn country where dreams go to die. They see lists, fences and walls.

“This is America.

“But this doesn’t have to be America. This doesn’t have to be a never-ending cycle between the conqueror and conquered. This land was seen as a revolutionary idea. This land was seen as a land of opportunities – as a home of diverse people and ideas, as a place of endless frontiers and dreams. This land was seen as a home by both natives and foreigners, and there’s no reason why this revolution should stop.

“I see a land where the diversity and differences brought by our immigrants is embraced. I see the immigrants creating advances and technology in medicine that haven’t even been fathomed. I see families reuniting with their loved ones because they haven’t had to wait decades to lawfully migrate to America. I see refugees being given a warm meal and bed after their long harrowing journey. I see the children of our immigrants remaining with their parents and enjoying their first day of school. I see what the explorers saw when they first set their eyes on this land but better. I see dreams for our children. I see hope for our future.

“I see America.”

Powerful Speeches Nothing New for Popular Tulsa Immigration Attorney Lorena Rivas

As Rivas ended her gripping speech with the final words of “I see America,” the in-demand immigration attorney was showered with applause which culminated into a standing ovation to conclude the American Heritage Awards.

Rivas’ most recent speech employed symbolism and vivid imagery, but the popular Tulsa immigration attorney has proven time and time again that she is a versatile and highly-skilled orator.

Earlier this year, Rivas traveled to Southern California where she presented on the controversial Matter of A–B– with Kate Jastram, who serves as the Senior Staff Attorney and Gender Asylum Campaign Director with the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies.

Following the duo’s presentation at the 2019 American Immigration Lawyers Association Midwinter Conference, Jastrom had this to say about Fry & Elder’s acclaimed immigration attorney.

“Her presentation was polished and we got a lot of good feedback from the approximately 100 attorneys in attendance. I’m very glad to know there are attorneys like her helping asylum-seekers navigate this complex legal environment.”

Though Rivas has flourished on the national stage, she still has a deep-rooted allegiance to her Oklahoma roots.

Perhaps her most powerful speech came during a 2017 University Central Oklahoma Pre-Law Society meeting in which the dynamic immigration attorney gave her personal story about what led her to seek a career in immigration law.

“I’ve been very blessed to have been given many opportunities and multiple platforms to tell my story and to try and help those in need,” Rivas said. “This job can be very demanding and emotionally draining, but when you hear the positive feedback and get those positive outcomes, it only reinforces that you are doing something noble.”

Popular Tulsa Immigration Attorney Lorena Rivas has Far-Reaching Impact

Rivas stature as a leading immigration law attorney is not up for debate.

She has traveled to Washington D.C. multiple times to meet with state and national legislators to discuss and advocate for immigration law reform as a top national immigration law attorney.

Additionally, Rivas has garnered many honors and awards for her legal contributions and efforts in immigration law throughout the years.

She further established herself as a top national immigration law attorney when she was chosen as the 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner, an honor annually given to a lawyer who advocates for human rights or the empowerment of women.

Rivas also was honored as a 2018 Super Lawyers® Rising Star and was named to Leadership Tulsa Class 60 and to the Tulsa Business & Legal News’ 2016 Women of Distinction Awards.

Her immigration law services include:

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a popular Tulsa immigration attorney Lorena Rivas.

May 2

Rivas Among Best U.S. Immigration Lawyers Selected for Conference

Lorena Rivas already has proven herself to be one of the top Tulsa immigration attorneys; she’s now rapidly building a reputation as being one of the best U.S. immigration lawyers.

The Fry & Elder partner and decorated immigration law attorney recently traveled to Kansas City to serve as a faculty member for the Immigration Court Trial Advocacy Defensive Asylum conference.

Held April 25-27 at the Johnson County, Kansas District Courthouse, the 3-day intensive Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar’s faculty featured some of the very best U.S. immigration lawyers.

Along with Rivas, the lineup included experienced immigration law practitioners from New York (Lindsay A Curcio), Washington D.C. (Lory D. Rosenberg) Texas (Lindsay Gray), Southern California (Munmeeth Kaur Soni), Wisconsin (Erich C. Straub) and Kansas (Genevra Alberti).

“It was an incredible seminar which really did feature a who’s who of some of the absolute best U.S. immigration lawyers,” Rivas said. “To be able to have the opportunity to collaborate, observe and work alongside some of the sharpest legal minds in immigration law was a tremendous honor for me.”

The Immigration Court Trial Advocacy College Defensive Asylum conference differed from most immigration court practice programs due to the fact that it employed a one-on-one, hands-on training experience designed to make participants “fearless in the courtroom.”

Best U.S. Immigration Lawyers Display Common Traits

It could easily be said that possessing a burning desire to learn and a fierce passion to advocate and fight for those in need are common characteristics of elite immigration attorneys.

Rivas exemplifies those traits and has proven herself to be a dynamic immigration law attorney throughout her standout career.

Lorena Rivas

She was chosen as the 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner, an honor annually given to a lawyer who advocates for human rights or the empowerment of women.

Rivas also was honored as a 2018 Super Lawyers® Rising Star and was named to Leadership Tulsa Class 60 and to the Tulsa Business & Legal News’ 2016 Women of Distinction Awards.

Fry & Elder’s decorated immigration trial lawyer has even visited Washington D.C. multiple times to meet with state and national legislators to discuss and advocate for immigration law reform as a top national immigration law attorney.

More recently, Rivas traveled to Southern California to attend the 2019 American Immigration Lawyers Association Midwinter Conference in Indian Wells, California where she served as one of the featured speakers and teamed up with Kate Jastram to present on strategies and practices to help overcome the controversial immigration law decision “Matter of A-B-.”

“It was a tremendous pleasure presenting at the AILA conference with Lorena,” said Jastrom, who serves as the Senior Staff Attorney and Gender Asylum Campaign Director with the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies. “She’s clearly extremely knowledgeable about asylum law, and she made an excellent contribution to our AILA practice advisory, showing attorneys the concrete steps they need to take to effectively represent their clients.”

With Fry & Elder since 2015, Rivas’ practice features comprehensive legal services in the following immigration law areas:

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with one the best U.S. Immigration lawyers.

Oct 31

Dynamic Oklahoma Immigration Law Attorney Presents at Lawton CLE

Fry & Elder’s Lorena Rivas capped off a memorable October this past week in Lawton. The dynamic Oklahoma immigration law attorney was one of the keynote speakers during Lawton Law Office’s Annual CLE for Pro Bono Attorneys.

Presented by the Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Inc., the day-long Law Practice Montage was held earlier this month – Friday, October 26 – at the Great Plains Technology Center Building in Lawton.

“It was a great event which featured a lot of well-known and accomplished attorneys and legal practitioners throughout Oklahoma,” Rivas said. “It was quite an honor to be selected to present and represent Fry & Elder at the event.”

Rivas’ presentation, “The Current Climate of Immigration Law,” could not have come at a more opportune time with midterm elections set to take place Nov. 6.

Immigration law is a hot button issue this election year and could be the deciding factor in whether or not many candidates are elected or not.

President Donald Trump made headlines earlier in the week when, during an interview for the four-part HBO documentary series “Axios,” he revealed his plan to prepare and sign an executive order that would end the long-accepted constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship, which would “remove the right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants born on U.S.-soil.”

“It’s a pivotal time in our country right now without question,” Rivas said. “It is important that those who disagree with some of policies in place or which are on the table regarding immigration law vote and have their voices heard.”

In addition to Rivas’ one-hour presentation on immigration law, the Lawton Law Office’s Annual CLE for Pro Bono Attorneys also included the following presentations:

Working with Child Support Services
Recent Changes to Expungement Law
Understanding Poverty and How Lawyers Can Help

Dynamic Oklahoma Immigration Law Attorney Closes Out Memorable October

Rivas’ performance in Lawton capped off another memorable month for the dynamic Oklahoma immigration law attorney.

Rivas, along with three other Fry & Elder trial lawyers, was named to Super Lawyers® Rising Stars earlier this month.

The 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner also presented at the Seminole County Bar Association’s 12^th Annual Las Vegas CLE along with fellow Fry & Elder accomplished attorney Aaron D. Bundy in September.

Rivas’ practice at Fry & Elder focuses on the following immigration law practice areas:

Asylum
Business Immigration
Citizenship/Naturalization
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Deportation/Removal Defense
Family Immigration
Fiancé Visa
Humanitarian Relief
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Waivers

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a dynamic Oklahoma immigration law attorney.

Oct 11

Fry & Elder’s “Tulsa Super Lawyers” Continue to Shine

Tulsa Super Lawyers are in abundance at 1630 S. Main Street.

The highly-reputable legal publication Super Lawyers® unveiled its list of 2018 honorees, and Fry & Elder was again well represented.

Fry & Elder’s Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr., Aaron D. Bundy, Lorena Rivas and T. Luke Barteaux were each selected for inclusion.

This year marks the 12^th consecutive year Fry has designated as Super Lawyer for family law, while Bundy (2013-18), Barteaux (2014-18) and Rivas (2018) were each selected as Super Lawyers Rising Stars.

“Very, very pleased with how well our firm is represented,” Fry said. “Each are extremely accomplished and very deserving. I’m particularly thrilled for Lorena. She’s been a vital part to our firm’s success these past few years and has been worthy of recognition since she joined Fry & Elder (in 2015).

Super Lawyers Selection Further Validates Big Year, Stellar Career for Rivas

For Rivas, 2018 marks her first year to garner Super Lawyers accolades, but as Fry alluded to, Rivas has distinguished herself as one of Tulsa’s top immigration attorneys for quite some time.

She was the recipient of the 2018 Fern Holland Award which is annually given to a lawyer who advocates for human rights or the empowerment of women, and Rivas has traveled to Washington D.C. multiple times to meet with legislators to discuss immigration law reform and improved policies.

On multiple occasions, the prominent Tulsa immigration attorney has shared her powerful testimony on what led her into immigration law on multiple occasions and continues to looked at as an authority figure in immigration law.

“Super Lawyers is one of the most esteemed publications in our profession so I am very thrilled to be selected,” Rivas said. “It’s always an honor to receive recognition – be it from a client, colleague or publication such as Super Lawyers.”

Super Lawyers Selection Process Second to None

What helps set Super Lawyers apart from other legal publications is its highly-regarded selection process. Only the best 5 percent of attorneys in a specific practice area are selected as Super Lawyers, while 2.5 percent of lawyers in a given practice area are chosen as Rising Stars.

The Super Lawyers website says the selection process is as follows:

“Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis.

“The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Since Super Lawyers is intended to be used as an aid in selecting a lawyer, we limit the lawyer.” ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public, i.e., lawyers in private practice and Legal Aid attorneys.”

Fry & Elder Tulsa Super Lawyers to Continue Momentum

The honors and accolades for Fry & Elder do not figure to stop any time soon in 2018. The prestigious Oklahoma law firm is vying to make the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms List for a sixth consecutive year.

The U.S. News & World Report will unveil its list on Nov. 1.

Fry, meanwhile, continues to be recognized for his 50^th year of practicing law. He was recently recognized by the Tulsa County Bar Association during its Annual Awards Banquet in August for 50 years of membership with the TCBA.

“It always feels great to be recognized by your peers and colleagues,” Fry said. “Honors and awards such as these are never taken for granted. The firm and myself are very appreciative.”

Contact Fry & Elder to set up a personal consultation with a team of Tulsa Super Lawyers.

Sep 25

Bundy, Rivas Among Seminole County Las Vegas CLE Headliners

Seminole County has found a home away from home in Clark County.

For the 12^th consecutive year, the Seminole County Bar Association held its annual and highly-regarded Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar in Las Vegas earlier this month.

And just as he has the previous two years, Fry & Elder trial lawyer Aaron D. Bundy made the journey out to the desert. This time around, the prominent Tulsa attorney was joined by Fry & Elder immigration law attorney Lorena Rivas at the Seminole County Bar Association’s 12^th Annual Las Vegas CLE.

The two decorated Fry & Elder trial lawyers combined to present for 3 of the 7 hours of the CLE credit offered during the yearly seminar held at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas Resort and Casino.

“Judge Tim Olsen and the Seminole County Bar Association absolutely run a first-class event,” Bundy said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be asked to present the past three years, and the conference just gets better and better every year. It’s an absolute honor to be invited to present. I always look forward to the opportunity to attend their CLE event.”

The Intersection of Immigration Law with Family Law & Criminal Law Highlights Las Vegas CLE

It is not surprising that Bundy continues to be recruited to present at the event. Over the years, Bundy has established himself as one of the most sought-after speakers in Oklahoma on a variety of CLE topics.

Bundy whose practice at Fry & Elder is focused on family law, criminal defense and personal injury, was the co-recipient of the 2017 Earl Sneed Award for his significant and outstanding continuing legal education contributions.

The AV-rated and Super Lawyers® decorated attorney presentation was titled: “The Intersection of Immigration Law and Family Law.”

“Family law matters often intersect with a number of different legal practice areas, including criminal law and immigration law,” Bundy said. “Immigration law is a hot-topic issue right now which affects a lot of families.”

Also a highly-regarded speaker, Rivas picked an excellent year to attend her first Seminole County Bar Association Las Vegas CLE.

As Bundy alluded to, immigration law practices are a major issue of discussion and Rivas is widely considered to be an authority figure in Oklahoma immigration law.

Four of the five seminar sessions offered at the Las Vegas CLE conference focused on immigration law, including Rivas’ seminar titled: “An Overview of the Immigration Affirmative Process – What Every Practitioner Should Know.”

Rivas, the 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner, also presented on “The Intersection of Immigration Law and Criminal Law.” All total, the accomplished Tulsa immigration attorney presented for two hours at the event.

“Aaron has always spoken so highly of this event and how good a job Judge Olsen and the Seminole County Bar Association do with it,” Rivas said. “It was a fantastic seminar and a great opportunity for me discuss immigration law with some very respected and distinguished legal minds. I am very thankful for the opportunity to present.”

Judge Olsen was pleased to have both Bundy and Rivas on board this year in Las Vegas.

“Our CLE had an immigration law theme this year, and Lorena’s presentation was very informative for the general practitioner,” Judge Olsen said. “She is obviously well versed in the subject area and is excellent at presenting it in a way that is easy to understand.

“Aaron focused on immigration and family law issues. As always, he was very prepared and presented the materials in a professional and entertaining manner.”

Experience the Fry & Elder Difference

Bundy and Rivas are just two of many decorated attorneys with Fry & Elder. The firm has been named to the U.S. News & World Report’s elite Best Law Firms list each of the past five years and its team of attorneys include:

A 2018 Best Lawyers® Selection
One of only 19 attorneys in the state to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Oklahoma 2016
Four attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers®
Three attorneys AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
A Cherokee Nation District Court Judge
The 2018 Fern Holland Award Winner
A 2017 OBA Earl Sneed Award Recipient
The 2018 Tulsa County Bar Association Family Law Section Chair
A 2017 Significant Sig Award Winner

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a skilled and experienced Oklahoma trial lawyer.

Sep 12

Highly-Regarded Tulsa Immigration Attorney Weighs in on Child Separation

California immigration attorney Angeline Chen was torn between what action to initially take when she recently volunteered at the border in Tijuana, Mexico to help a 150-person caravan of immigrants from Central America with the U.S. asylum process.

As reported in a July story by Today.com, the potential scene of children being separated from their parents was one which haunted Chen.

“It is so overwhelming, Chen said. “Do you give the children teddy bears and blankets or do we give them attorneys?”

While immigration law has been a constant hot-topic legal issue for decades, Fry & Elder immigration attorney Lorena Rivas says immigration law policies reached a boiling point this past May when Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that those caught illegally crossing the border would face criminal prosecution.

The decision prompted the separation of 2,342 migrant children from their parents between early May and June 19 as reported in this NPR article.

Though President Donald Trump has since modified his stance on family separation to keep families intact even though a zero-tolerance policy will remain in place, Rivas believes the repercussions of the initial separations continue to be impactful and far reaching.

“It’s a very tragic and unfortunate mess,” Rivas said. “For the children and parents who have been separated from one another, it’s not a simple quick fix to locate one another. Many immigrants may be undocumented and those with documentation may have had their documents lost in the shuffle. It becomes further complicated for those with a solid claim for asylum, as they are simply trying to escape violent, life-threatening situations from their home countries.”

What can be Done to Help?

First and foremost, Rivas believes there needs to greater awareness brought to the legal issues and uncertainty surrounding the southern border; but the highly-regarded Tulsa immigration attorney also said additional attention needs to be given to the organizations and programs available which people can donate to and support.

These include the following:

ACLU

This well-known organization is currently raising money to “defend asylum-seeking parents forcibly separated from their children.”

NPR recently reported how a federal judge in Washington D.C. ordered the return of an asylum-seeker from El Salvador.

Judge Emmet Sullivan “threatened to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt because the government had spirited the woman away while her case was still pending.”

The ACLU has publicly stated that “separating families is inhumane.”

Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project

The ASAP provides an abundant amount of support for refugee families who come to the U.S. because of “unspeakable violence” in their home countries.

The organization has recently sued U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to further fight family separation and human rights violations.

The Texas Civil Rights Project

Closer to home, the TCRP continues to be proactive in its quest to assist asylum-seeking families.

The organization recently denounced the Trump administration’s plan to vacate the Flores Settlement Agreement, which has shaped detention standards for underage migrants since 1997, and expand family detention capabilities.

The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration will increase the size of a tent camp for migrant children outside El Paso from 1,200 beds to as many as 3,800.

The TCRP issues the following statement in response:

“The Trump administration has found a new low in the family separation crisis: seeking indefinite imprisonment of children. Any attempt to withdraw from the Flores Settlement Agreement in order to circumvent previous court orders and expand family detention is wholly unacceptable.

“For months, we watched in horror as children were ripped from their parents, but the remedy for family separation is not, and never will be, indefinitely locking up whole families in immigration prisons.”

A Highly-Regarded Tulsa Immigration Attorney Who Cares

A native of Mutual, Oklahoma, Rivas is a first-generation American who takes great pride in being able to represent the Oklahoma Latino community as a highly-regarded Tulsa immigration attorney.

“I’m a Mexican-American,” Lorena Rivas said. “Immigration law is something that is constantly hitting my life, whether it be family members, friends or my clients. In law school, I initially thought I wouldn’t go into immigration law, but I started thinking about it more, and felt like I could make a bigger impact in that area.”

Rivas has done just that, and continues to make an impact as a highly-regarded Tulsa immigration attorney. She has traveled multiple times to Capital Hill to meet with legislators to advocate for immigration law reform and improved policies.

Rivas also is the 2018 recipient of the prestigious Fern Holland Award. As a respected professional in the Tulsa community, she was selected to take part in the Leadership Tulsa Class 60 for 2018-2019.

Her immigration law practice areas at Fry & Elder include the following:

Asylum
Business Immigration
Citizenship/Naturalization
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Deportation/Removal Defense
Family Immigration
Fiancé Visa
Humanitarian Relief
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Waivers

Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with highly-regarded Tulsa immigration attorney Lorena Rivas.