Experienced law school educated immigration advocate with a passion for helping people build a better future for themselves.
In my 35+ years of legal experience, I co-founded and owned my own law firm with my business partner, and also helped establish the contemporaneous Venezuelan-equivalent of the IRS (SENIAT). Although NOT currently licensed to officially practice law in the U.S (only 'barred' in Venezuela), I've had the privilege in the last 7 years of guiding and educating vetted individuals and families navigate the immigration system so they can settle and contribute to this great nation. In 2 of those 7 years, I advocated before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Immigration Advocate
St Joseph, Legal Orientation Project and Immigration Service
01.2023 - Current
Design and manage initiatives that provide legal assistance, community outreach, and support services for immigrants.
Engage with policymakers, legal experts, and community leaders to advocate for immigrant rights and influence immigration policies.
Build relationships with immigrant communities to ensure their needs are met, and foster trust through culturally sensitive services.
Ensure the organization adheres to immigration laws, nonprofit regulations, and ethical standards.
Maximize mission goals by fostering a collaborative environment when managing teams and recruiting volunteers.
Create and manage processes and procedures to coordinate documentation for visa processing on immigrant and non-immigrant applications.
Liaised with coworkers and immigration candidates to answer questions, resolve issues, and explain immigration policy.
Personally communicate with and guide clients frequently and predictably, aiding and educating them on immigration procedures, such as those involving Green Cards and other processes.
Build productive relationships with business partners to facilitate immigration program activities.
Maintain public access files to facilitate compliance, documentation and execution of immigration policies and procedures.
Collaborate with outside counsel to interpret and apply technical immigration policies and procedures.
Manage refugee and asylee education projects by fundraising and developing program opportunities.
Work with public and private agencies to refer and educate immigrants on laws, community resources and options for various needs.
Collaborated with individuals and families to evaluate applications and determine eligibility for resettlement transitions.
Developed strategies for court proceedings and negotiations.
Counseled clients on potential outcomes of legal matters.
Interviewed witnesses and gathered public record research relevant to each case.
Prepared and filed pleadings, motions and other legal documents in court proceedings.
Communicated with clients and collected information to research cases and prepare settlement offers.
Presented key evidence and exhibits during civil trials.
Researched, wrote and filed motions, writs and briefs for each case.
Analyzed legal documents and identified pertinent issues for clients.
DOJ Accredited Representative
South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR)
10.2022 - 09.2024
Delivered educational “know your rights” presentations to non-detained individuals at the Harlingen Immigration Court for two years.
Processed participant intake at the Immigration Court Helpdesk program.
Provided counsel to participants that were pro se or those that received direct representation.
Represented clients in various immigration legal matters, including: asylum, cancellation of removal, VAWA, U Visas, family petitions, Cuban Adjustment Act, employment authorization documents, as well as waivers before EOIR and USCIS, drafting motions, PD requests, briefs, and other documents.
Worked as primary counsel in cases 2023 – 2024, and granted two cases of 42B, two cases U Visa and one case of asylum.
Paralegal
American Bar Association
06.2019 - 09.2022
Principal case worker as a DOJ-accredited representative for the Pro Bono Asylum Representation (ProBar) non-profit organization.
Assisted Staff Attorneys handling cases, including filing immigration forms and documents for their review.
Thoroughly researched clients’ cases and delivered “know your rights” presentations for detained and non-detained populations.
Responsible for the granting of 5 asylum cases while acting as principal case worker
Case Manager
Southwest Key Program
05.2018 - 06.2019
Processed the intake of unaccompanied minors recently arrived in the U.S to initiate the family reunification process.
Completed sponsor background checks.
Interviewed South American families to establish the reasons why they left their home country.
Prepared and submitted individualized cases to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) for family reunification approval and met with government officials to complete this process.
Facilitated educational sessions for both individual and group settings.
Monitored clients' progress and tracked client services to provide crisis interventions.
Mentored staff by developing training programs.
Developed and implemented training programs for staff.
Engaged with the public through our community events and provided them with information about the services we provided.
Referred clients to appropriate team members, community agencies and organizations to meet treatment needs.
Provided leadership, guidance and support to staff members.
Independent Foreign Legal Consultant and Tax Plann
Self Employed
08.2013 - 05.2018
Provided families and individuals with tax-planning services while living and working in the U.S and Venezuela
Practiced Venezuelan law in Florida as an authorized Foreign Legal Consultant for the Florida Supreme Court
Provided future migrants with legal orientation about their potential immigration status in the U.S
Law Firm Founder and Senior Partner
Homes Urdaneta & Asociados, Despacho De Abogados
01.1998 - 06.2013
Supervising eighth staff attorney in the area of corporate and taxation.
Tax and estate planning.
General Manager
Servicio Nacional Integrado De Administración Aduanera Y Tributaria
05.1995 - 12.1997
Supervising the collection and revenue for federal taxes in the Zulia State, Venezuela.
Supervising the auditing process for taxpayers in the area on income tax and value added tax.
Educating the taxpayer on the social responsibilities of paying taxes timely.
National Tax Manager
Servicio Nacional Integrado de Administración Aduanera y Tributaria
06.1994 - 05.1995
Leading and supervising the legal representation of Venezuela before the Tax Court and the Supreme Court of Justice. Representing the Venezuelan tax administration before national state authorities. Preparing drafts for tax law and regulation to submit to the Congress or Minister of Finance
Education
Master’s in Law (LLM), -
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
01.1992
International Tax Program - Harvard Law School, Kennedy School of Government
Harvard University
Cambridge
01.1992
Master's Degree in Political Science -
University of The Zulia State in Venezuela (LUZ)
Maracaibo, Venezuela
01.1990
Bachelor's Degree in Law -
University of The Zulia State in Venezuela (LUZ)
Maracaibo, Venezuela
01.1984
Skills
Extensive legal expertise and knowledge
Experienced in legal counseling extending decades
Diligent, responsible and honest
Practicing of continuous empathy and compassion with clients, influenced by my pastoral care experience
Substantial experience working with families, minors and other vulnerable populations
Providing legal education through presentations and public speaking
Involved in community advocacy
Advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills
Multiculturally sensitive and aware
Able to read, write, translate and speak fluently in Spanish
Passionate and experienced in mentoring
Vigorous client representation
Individualized case preparation
Negotiation skills
Formally educated on corporate law
Processing, reviewing and reporting legal documents
Supporting attorneys
Understanding of tax law
Thinking analytically
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Profesor en Titular de Derecho en Venezuela: Universidad del Zulia, Universidad Rafael Urdaneta, Escuela Nacional de Hacienda Pública, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (IESA), Instituto de Gerencia del Zulia. Subjects: Impuesto Sobre la Renta y Valor Agregado, Derecho Tributario, Tributación Nacional, Derecho Financiero, Tributación Internacional, Negociación para Gerentes y Abogados. Venezuela 1985 - 2017
Founder of the Non – Profit and Tax-Exempt Organization “St Joseph, Legal Orientation Project and Immigration Services” (St Joseph – LOPIS) Brownsville, 2022
Diocese of Brownsville. St. Thommas University Houston. Deacon Formation Program. Deacon Aspirant. January 2022 – Current
Clergy. Migrant Minister. San Felipe Catholic Church January 2018 – Current
Author of the Novel: “Por Alli Viene el Licenciado”. Amazon 2020.
Timeline
Senior Immigration Advocate
St Joseph, Legal Orientation Project and Immigration Service
01.2023 - Current
DOJ Accredited Representative
South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR)
10.2022 - 09.2024
Paralegal
American Bar Association
06.2019 - 09.2022
Case Manager
Southwest Key Program
05.2018 - 06.2019
Independent Foreign Legal Consultant and Tax Plann
Self Employed
08.2013 - 05.2018
Law Firm Founder and Senior Partner
Homes Urdaneta & Asociados, Despacho De Abogados
01.1998 - 06.2013
General Manager
Servicio Nacional Integrado De Administración Aduanera Y Tributaria
05.1995 - 12.1997
National Tax Manager
Servicio Nacional Integrado de Administración Aduanera y Tributaria
06.1994 - 05.1995
Master’s in Law (LLM), -
Harvard University
International Tax Program - Harvard Law School, Kennedy School of Government