As one of the best Oklahoma immigration lawyers, Lorena Rivas’ knowledge, experience and acumen are constantly in high demand.
That was indeed the case the case this past February when Rivas not only handled the demands of her busy private practice, the accomplished Fry & Elder immigration law attorney was also invited to be a part of an Immigration Law Panel hosted by her alma mater, the University of Tulsa College of Law and traveled to Capitol Hill to participate in the Hispanic National Bar Association’s 2018 Advocacy Day.
If that were not enough, the talented and sought-after immigration attorney somehow fit in the time to be the keynote speaker for The Judge Carlos Chappelle Minority Law Awareness Day also held at TU.
“It was a pretty busy month, but immigration law is a very important issue in Oklahoma and throughout our country right now,” Rivas said. “These were all exciting and informative professional opportunities for me to participate in and advocate for my clients and others affected by immigration law. For progress to happen, there must be dialogue.”
Rivas Among Best Oklahoma Immigration Lawyers in Washington D.C.
Rivas most recent voyage to Capitol Hill marked the second consecutive year one of the best Oklahoma immigration lawyers has been courted to visit Washington D.C.
She attended last year’s American Immigration Lawyers Association’s National Day of Action and met with U.S. Senators James Inhofe and James Lankford, U.S. Representatives Frank Lucas, Markwayne Mullin and James Bridenstine and also had a personal meeting with U.S. Representative Tom Cole.
This time around, Rivas met with staff members from Bridenstine and U.S. Representative Steve Russell to further advocate for a number of different issues that affect the Latino community, including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Typically held in May, this year’s HNBA Advocacy Day was pushed up to Feb. 27 and 28 to allow HNBA members a more-timely platform to advocate and “express why DACA legislation is vital to the future of this country.”
President Donald Trump had previously imposed a March 5 deadline for ending DACA, but, as PBS recently reported, that “program, which protects young, undocumented immigrants from deportation, remains in place for now.”
“It’s a vital program which needs to be kept in place,” Rivas said. “I would not be where I am today without it. Congress needs to apply a long-term solution and not just a patch.”
Other issues that dominated this year’s HNBA Advocacy Day included:
- Legal Representation of Minor Children Asylum Seekers
- Timely Confirmation of Diverse Judges to the Federal Bench and Diverse Nominees to the Executive Branch
- Criminal Justice Reform
Rivas Returns to Law School Alma Mater as a Member of a Distinguished Panel and as Keynote Speaker
Some of Rivas’ most fulfilling and challenging years came as a law school student at TU. So when the prestigious law school’s immigration law society ImmLaw invited Rivas to be a part of a panel for a forum held Feb. 19, Rivas jumped at the opportunity.
“I will forever be in debt to the knowledge and opportunities TU Law provided me with and continues to provide me,” Rivas said. “It was a great event that featured some very highly-respected professionals within Tulsa. It was an honor to be among them.”
The event’s panel featured Jania Michelle Wester (Managing Director of Communities in Schools of Mid-America) Elizabeth McCormick (TU College of Law faculty) and Stephanie Daniels-Jackson (former Sergeant of the Family Violence Unit of the Tulsa Police Department and third-year law student at TU), along with one of the best Oklahoma immigration attorneys Rivas.
No stranger to featured speaking engagements, Rivas also served as the keynote speaker for the annual Judge Carlos Chappelle Minority Law Awareness Day co-hosted by TU Law and the Law School Admission Council held on Feb. 23. The late Judge Carlos Chappelle had a decorated and distinguished career as Tulsa County District Judge.
Rivas Demonstrates Qualities of One of the Best Oklahoma Immigration Lawyers
While only six years removed from law school, Rivas already has already established herself as a very in-demand immigration law attorney. Rivas provides comprehensive legal representation in the following areas of immigration law:
- 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
In 2016, Rivas was recognized by the Tulsa Business & Legal News as being one of the city’s most accomplished professional women with their annual Women of Distinction Awards.
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 an 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.”
Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa today to set up a personal consultation with Rivas or another accomplished Oklahoma immigration law attorney.