About Pedro,

Immigration Experience:

• Pedro was first introduced to immigration law as a student at the University of Houston Law Center. He was accepted into the law schools Immigration Clinic in the Spring of 2017.

• The clinic specializes in handling applications for asylum on behalf of victims of torture and persecution, in representing immigrants who have been the victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and crime, and in representing children and those fleeing civil war, genocide or political repression. Learn more…

• Pedro formally began his legal career as a staff immigration attorney at Catholic Charities, Diocese of San Diego. At the time, he was the organization’s only full time Spanish speaking immigration lawyer.

• San Diego is the largest port of entry in the United States. Thousands of men, women, children, and families arrive there every year seeking political asylum, or to process visa application.

• At Catholic Charities San Diego Pedro gained valuable experience handling clients from all over the world, each with unique immigration cases. Pedro handled complex deportation defenses, liberation from detention centers, and simple green card renewals along with several other immigration case types.

• Founded on October 14, 1946, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is a voluntary bar association of over 15,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law.

• AILA member attorneys represent U.S. families seeking permanent residence for close family members, political asylees, torture victims, and numerous other immigration matters.

• Pedro formally became a member of AILA in August 2021. Since becoming a member, Pedro has been invited to speak on global crisis issues from South and Central America, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Learn more…

• Fear of Return (aka Attorneys for Refugees) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization dedicated to helping refugees find free attorneys.

• Since its launch in 2020 “Attorneys for Refugees” has helped South and Central American migrants at the refugee shelters in Tijuana, Syrian nationals, Uygher refugees, Tigre refugees, and 68 Afghan students trapped in the United States after the US withdrew from Afghanistan.

• Pedro currently serves as the organization’s Board President (non-voting), and Executive Director. Learn more…

• The University of California, Los Angeles’ Community Scholars Program was launched in 1991 to bring together community leaders and UCLA students to study pressing policy issues.

• Using applied research, each Community Scholars cohort addresses an important policy challenge, and formulates a response that furthers a social justice agenda.

• Pedro was chosen for the Spring 2021 cohort of UCLA Community Scholars. He acted as a resource to the students there, and helped produce a digital magazine to raise awareness on the ongoing migrant crisis. Learn more…

About Pedro,

Education & Licenses:

• The University of Houston Law Center is a Texas law school that is highly ranked for its programs in intellectual property and healthcare. The school operates a variety of legal centers and institutes, including the Center for Consumer Law, the Institute for Intellectual Property, and the Houston Immigration Clinic.

• Pedro received his Doctorate in Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center. Prior to his admission to the University of Houston, Pedro attended South Texas College of Law were he was among the top third of his class, and was invited to join the college’s law review.

• At the University of Houston Pedro pursued a publication in constitutional law. He identified a novel constitutional challenge to the affordable care act that was later published in the Houston Business and Tax Law Journal. Learn more…

• The State Bar of Texas (the Texas Bar) is an agency of the judiciary under the administrative control of the Texas Supreme Court. It is responsible for assisting the Texas Supreme Court in overseeing all attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas.

• With more than 100,000 active members, the State Bar of Texas is one of the largest state bars in the United States.

• Pedro was admitted into the Texas Bar in November 2018. He is authorized to practice federal law (including immigration) in all territories of the United States. Learn more…

• The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is a sub-agency of the United States Department of Justice whose chief function is to conduct removal proceedings in immigration courts, and adjudicate appeals arising from the proceedings.

• To practice before an immigration court or the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), attorneys must be admitted under EOIR.

• Pedro has been admitted to practice before EOIR (Immigration Court) since 2019. Learn more…

About Pedro,

Publications:

• Useless Dependents: The Final Constitutional Challenge of the ACA’s Familial Intervention through Direct Taxation. 17 Hous. Bus. & Tax L.J. 236 (2016-2017): https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/houbtalj17&div=16&id=&page=
• Un Puente Llamado Solidaridad – Spanish Zine Version: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dgbgOqmO3Mp84ApWH1qlqXF9Yb4wAyqh?usp=sharing
• This Bridge Called Solidarity – English Zine Version: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1i-zHyQP43ylMgHDGc2rCKW7MLg7hhO_M?usp=sharing
• Venezuela and Covid Response….

About Pedro,

Interviews & Media:

Mind set news, 2021 interview

wine and chisme, 2022 podcast interview

Back to the Top