You're facing something terrifying. A court date. A letter you don't understand. The fear that everything falls apart if you make one wrong move. We've spent twenty years getting people through exactly this. You don't have to figure it out alone anymore.
You've been carrying this weight alone—trying to decode government letters at 2am, asking Facebook groups for advice, wondering if that notario down the street is legit. Here's what changes the moment you hire us.
Every person's situation is different—but after twenty years of nothing but immigration law, we've seen thousands of scenarios. Whatever you're facing, we have the experience and approach to handle it.
Your case has a whole team watching it—attorneys, paralegals, and support staff who actually talk to each other. Deadlines don't get missed. Papers don't get lost.
We return calls and emails within 48 hours. No more lying awake wondering if anyone's working on your case. You'll always know where things stand.
If we can't help you, we'll say so. If your case is weak, you'll know. No one takes your money for a case that can't win. You deserve the truth upfront.
Good legal help shouldn't require a second mortgage. We offer fair fees with payment plans, because your family's future shouldn't depend on how much cash you have right now.
Every document, every filing, every piece of your case—you get copies of everything. If you ever need to go somewhere else, you walk out with your complete file.
"The terror starts lifting the moment someone competent takes over."
Every person here chose immigration law because it matters. We've all seen what happens when this goes wrong—and what happens when it goes right.
Founding Attorney
Before I became an immigration lawyer, I worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. I saw what happens to people when governments fail them—and what happens when someone fights for them. Twenty years of immigration law. Thousands of cases. Admitted to all eleven federal circuit courts of appeals. I've filed thousands of Petitions for Review challenging BIA denials and won reversals in circuits across the country. When the Board of Immigration Appeals gets it wrong, I take it to federal court. I graduated cum laude from St. John's Law, where I was editor-in-chief of the New York International Law Review. I've lived in Washington D.C., West Africa, and the Middle East. Immigration isn't abstract to me—I've seen what drives people to leave everything behind. When I'm not in court, I play soccer and suffer as a Mets fan. Member of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association).
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Bar Admissions
Senior Associate Attorney
I'm a first generation American who grew up in a bilingual household. Growing up with immigrant parents, I understood from a very young age how difficult life can be for those who come from another country. As a dual citizen of the U.S. and Spain, I've lived between two worlds my entire life. I know what it means to have the freedom to move, to visit family, to build a life where you choose. I also know what it looks like when someone doesn't have that freedom. When a border separates you from the people you love. The moment that most impacted me was when my uncle was deported from the United States. Watching my family torn apart by an immigration system that treated him like a number. That was the moment that guided me towards becoming a lawyer who works with the immigrant community. Since 2018, I've been working exclusively on immigration law. I focus on removal defense, family-based immigration, and humanitarian relief. I know what's at stake because I've watched it happen to my own family. Freedom of movement isn't abstract to me. It's the difference between a family staying together or being separated by thousands of miles.
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Supervisory Attorney
I'm an immigrant myself—started in China, made my way to New York, and I'm now going through the immigration process again to get permanent residency in Spain. I know what it feels like to navigate a system that wasn't built to help you. I've been with Bardavid Law since 2018. I speak English, Spanish, and Mandarin fluently. I've represented clients in immigration courts across the country and in family courts throughout New York. This work matters to me because I've been on the other side. I understand the fear, the confusion, the frustration. My job is to make sure you don't have to figure this out alone.
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Associate Attorney
I grew up in Colombia and built my life in the United States. That gave me a firsthand understanding of what immigrants face here. Before I relocated, I practiced law in Colombia, including serving with the Congress of Colombia, where I gained experience in public service and legal advocacy. After moving to the U.S., I continued my legal education with an LL.M. in International Business and Trade Law from Fordham University School of Law, and then became licensed to practice law in New York. Being both an immigrant and an attorney lets me connect with clients personally while guiding them through the complexities of the U.S. immigration system. I've experienced the challenge of building a life in a new country. I know how much it matters to have legal guidance you can trust throughout the process. Every immigration case is more than a legal matter. It's about keeping families together, creating opportunities, and helping clients build their future. That's what I'm committed to: representation that is compassionate, practical, and effective.
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Of Counsel
I've lived and traveled in many countries, learning to navigate unfamiliar systems, communicate across language barriers, and build trust with people from different backgrounds. That experience shapes how I enjoy life and how I practice law. Immigration clients are navigating a legal process that includes the vulnerability of explaining the most important moments of their lives to strangers, often in a language that isn't their first. I have an idea of how difficult that probably feels from my own experiences. I speak Hebrew, Spanish, and Japanese, all of which I learned as an adult. I know firsthand what it takes to make yourself understood when the words don't come easily. Earlier in my career, I bicycled cross-country helping to raise money and awareness for Street Soccer USA, which uses soccer to end homelessness by transferring job and life skills to homeless youth and adults. For weeks, we visited Street Soccer hubs and relied on the generosity of strangers for help and sometimes a place to sleep. It taught me something I carry into every client interaction: when someone opens their door to you, that's not a small thing. You remember it.
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Office Manager
Over 25 years in legal work, more than a decade here at Bardavid Law. I run the office—making sure everything works the way it should. I grew up in a Hispanic household where family meant everything. That's why I do this work. Every family that comes through our door deserves a chance at a safe future together. I've seen what happens when immigration goes wrong. I've also seen what happens when it goes right. Outside work, I'm writing my autobiography—over 200 pages so far. If my story can help even one person keep going through hard times, every word will be worth it.
Senior Paralegal
I've been with Bardavid Law for over six years. I'm the person who helps make sure nothing falls through the cracks—client communication, case preparation, court filings, translations. I studied Law and Society at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. I'm fluent in English and Spanish. What I care about most is making sure you understand what's happening with your case. Immigration is confusing enough without feeling like you're in the dark. My job is to keep you informed and supported through every step.
Paralegal
I come from an immigrant family. I know what it feels like when the system is confusing, when the stakes are your family's future, and when you need someone who actually understands what you're going through. Before joining Bardavid Law, I spent seven years as a paralegal at a nonprofit fighting for immigrants' rights. Advocating for my community, for my neighborhood, and for everything immigrants bring to the vibrancy of our city and our country. Educating people about their options. Making sure nobody got lost in the process. That same mission drives everything I do here. I earned my degree in Political Science from Lehman College. I'm fluent in Spanish. My job is to make sure you feel safe, supported, and informed at every step. You shouldn't have to wonder what's happening with your case. Fun fact: I played basketball in high school.
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Legal and Administrative Assistant
I grew up in an immigrant household. I watched my parents try to navigate a system that was confusing and often felt hostile. Every client who comes here reminds me of my own family's story. I've worked in offices for over a decade, three years now in immigration law. I know what it feels like to be lost in bureaucracy. I treat every client the way I wish people had treated my parents—with patience, respect, and actual help. Outside work, I hike Bear Mountain with my dog and volunteer at local shelters. I know what a helping hand means when you're going through hard times.
Legal Assistant and Receptionist
I grew up translating for my mother—doctor's appointments, government offices, anywhere she needed help. I saw how people's tone changed when they realized she didn't speak English. The impatience. The dismissal. Watching someone I love be treated like she didn't matter. That's why I'm here. Everyone who calls our office should feel welcomed and respected from the first moment. That's my job. I make sure you feel heard, not ignored. Outside work, I travel and explore cuisines around the world. Food brings people together—it tells the story of a place and its people.
Administrative Assistant & Translator (Part Time)
Twenty years in immigration law. I've spent my career serving the Chinese community—Cantonese, Mandarin, Fuzhou, and other dialects. I know what it means to need help and not know where to find it. That's why I do this work. Every person deserves someone who speaks their language and understands what they're going through. Outside the office, I'm a nationally ranked badminton player with tournament wins across the country. My son, the joy of my life, has traveled the world and now works at Fordham University.
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Our team, working for you.
Cases that mattered enough for the New York Times, Washington Post, and CNN to cover. People who needed help and got it.
The death of a Salvadoran man held at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark renewed scrutiny of conditions there. Joshua Bardavid explained that spouses and next of kin generally have a legal right to access a detainee's medical records.
Columbia University responded swiftly to the ICE arrest of student Elmina Aghayeva after a restrained response to Mahmoud Khalil's detention a year earlier. Joshua Bardavid said the difference between the cases appeared to be political rather than legal.
Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi released after detention by immigration authorities sparked widespread campus protests.
Investigation into how new visa enforcement policies are disrupting the lives of international students across American universities.
Report on the UK's policy shift away from foreign student enrollment targets, with implications for global student migration patterns.
Comprehensive explainer on F-1 student visa policies, application processes, and recent changes affecting international students in the United States.
Investigation into ICE targeting leaders of New York's New Sanctuary Coalition, including surveillance outside churches and detention of movement organizers.
Immigrant rights organizers Jean Montrevil and Ravi Ragbir faced deportation. Joshua Bardavid, who represented Montrevil, said an emergency motion for a stay of deportation had been filed and called for organizing to continue.
Gerald Nwozuzu was declared a U.S. citizen, ending four years in immigration detention and the threat of deportation, after the Second Circuit ruled in his favor on derivative citizenship. His lawyers were Theodore Cox and Joshua Bardavid.
Minnesota Public Radio investigation into asylum seekers deported back to gang-controlled regions after failed claims in U.S. immigration courts.
Following the Haiti earthquake, Bardavid filed habeas corpus to secure his client's release before a planned deportation flight.
Commentary criticizing deportation focus on numbers over security, highlighting cases of innocent individuals wrongfully removed.
Profile noting Bardavid's prior work with UN refugee agency in Africa and current representation of Spanish-speaking immigrants.
Report on Hiu Lui Ng, a 34-year-old engineer who died in ICE custody after being denied medical care despite losing 30 pounds and suffering a fractured spine.
Attorneys Cox and Bardavid filed habeas corpus motions detailing troubling detention conditions, leading the BIA to reverse its denial and reconsider an asylum appeal.
Joshua Bardavid secured release of a stowaway held in immigration detention for four years through habeas corpus litigation.
After appellate court ordered release consideration, immigration officials attempted secret deportation via ship without passport.
Editorial examining the practice of indefinite immigrant detention and its impact on due process rights.
France 24 documentary featuring attorney Joshua Bardavid on the impact of aggressive deportation policies on immigrant communities.
Democracy Now segment on a community activist facing deportation to Haiti over a decades-old conviction, with commentary from Bardavid.
Discussion on the conditions and impact of immigrant detention in the United States, featuring immigration attorney Joshua Bardavid.
NPR radio segment featuring Joshua Bardavid discussing immigration law and client advocacy.
Federal immigration panel reopened asylum case for detained family; attorney anticipated their release and reunification within weeks.
Federal Bar Association Immigration Law Conference program featuring panels on asylum, detention, and immigration enforcement.
Petitions for Review that overturned BIA denials in circuit courts across the country. Habeas corpus and mandamus actions in district court challenging unlawful detention and government delay. Federal litigation isn’t a sideline here — it’s what we do.
Zheng v. BCIS — 3rd CircuitPetition for Review
Matter of M-H-M — Board of Immigration AppealsBIA Appeal
Jahjaga v. Holder — 3rd CircuitPetition for Review
We started this firm because we saw too many people getting hurt. Notarios taking money for cases they couldn't win. Good people losing everything because they trusted the wrong advice. Families torn apart by missed deadlines and bad information.
Every person on our team chose immigration law because it matters. We see what happens when this goes wrong. We also see what happens when someone finally gets the help they need—the relief on their face when the weight starts lifting.
We speak English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, and Mandarin. You don't have to translate your fear. You don't have to wonder if we understood. You can explain what's happening in the language you think in.
Immigration law is all we do. While other lawyers dabble in a dozen practice areas, we've spent twenty years learning every corner of this system. We know the officers, the judges, the patterns. Your case isn't an experiment—it's what we do every day.
The government looks for any reason to deny you. One missed box, one wrong date, one weak document—and you're back to square one. We catch what others miss because we've seen where cases fall apart.
You've probably already been lied to. The cousin's friend who said it would be easy. The notario who promised results. We tell you the truth—what's possible, what's risky, what won't work. Even when it's hard to hear.
That ends today. Tell us what's happening—free consultation, no judgment, in the language you're most comfortable with.
Let's Talk About Your Situation