I provide consultations to criminal defense attorneys on the immigration consequences of criminal convictions, in addition to my appellate and direct services. I take appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. I take appeals directly from clients and also contract with practitioners to complete appeals and other legal writing projects. I also take a limited amount of cases in immigration court, as well as affirmative asylum and family based immigration. My areas of specialty include deportation defense, the intersection of criminal and immigration law, asylum law (particularly gender and sexuality based claims), and family based immigration.

Matt's office is a dynamic practice where we delighted in serving clients with cutting edge issues and challenging cases. Provided direct representation in Immigration Court to both detained and non-detained immigrants in removal proceedings, responsible for appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Also prepared affirmative applications for adjustment of status, U visa protection, and naturalization. Specialty areas include defense of removal charges flowing from criminal convictions, asylum and protection under the Convention Against Torture, and gender related violence issues, including U visas and asylum based on extreme domestic or gender based violence in country of origin.

At the Florence Project, the work was really dictated by the needs of the moment, and really, we saw everything while working with the approximately 3,000 adults detained by ICE in AZ. Provided free direct legal services to those detained by ICE in five public and private facilities in Florence and Eloy, conducted daily know your rights presentations for all persons in removal proceedings; advised all pro se Respondents; prepared pro se legal motions, briefs, and appeals; provided direct representation on termination, bond, asylum, citizenship, and other forms of relief; assisted with habeas, humanitarian parole, and advocacy; coordinated and trained volunteers, interns, legal assistants, and staff attorneys; represented the Florence Project and the population we serve with EOIR, ICE Litigation, DRO and other agencies of the Department of Homeland Security

One of the most interesting things I was able to do in my summer at CGRS was to publish the article: Guatemala's Femicides and the Ongoing Struggle for Women's Human Right, Hastings Women's Law Journal, Volume 18, N. 2, 2007. It was adapted to include in the book Terrorizing Women: Femicide in the Americas, Duke University Press, 2010.