Department of Justice takes action to Suspend or Disbar 401 Immigration Attorneys

The Executive Office for Immigration Review announces Latest Disciplinary Actions Under Rules of Professional Conduct.   401 attorneys have been suspended or disbarred.

Four Attorneys Immediately Suspended; Eleven Receive Final Orders; Two are reinstated.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has recently taken disciplinary action against 15 attorneys for violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for immigration attorneys and representatives. Two attorneys were reinstated.

 

EOIR announces these disciplinary actions to inform the public about attorneys and representatives who are no longer authorized to represent clients before an immigration tribunal. These names will be added to the list of disciplined immigration attorneys and representatives, which is available at
http://www.justice.gov/eoir/profcond/chart.htm. The list includes links to immediate suspension orders and final orders issued in each disciplinary case.

 Disciplinary proceedings begin when the Office of the General Counsel of either EOIR or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, files a Notice of Intent to Discipline with EOIR’s Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The disciplinary action can result in the public censure, suspension or expulsion of an attorney or representative before the immigration courts, the BIA and DHS. Before a suspended or expelled attorney can resume the practice of law before the immigration courts, the BIA and DHS, the BIA must reinstate that attorney.
 

EOIR has recently taken the following disciplinary actions:
 

Immediate Suspensions:
 

The BIA ordered the immediate suspension of the following attorneys:
 

• Gabrielle Alexis: The Supreme Court of Florida suspended Ms. Alexis from the practice of law. The BIA granted the government’s petition for immediate suspension on Oct. 20, 2010, based on Ms. Alexis’ suspension in Florida and pending final disposition of her case.
• Anita C. Kanu: The District of Columbia Court of Appeals disbarred Ms. Kanu. The BIA granted the government’s petition for immediate suspension on Oct. 28, 2010, based on Ms. Kanu’s disbarment in the District of Columbia and pending final disposition of her case. 
• Evenette Mondesir: The Supreme Court of Florida suspended Ms. Mondesir from the practice of law. The BIA granted the government’s petition for immediate suspension on Oct. 20, 2010, based on Ms. Mondesir’s suspension in Florida and pending final disposition of her case.
• Emeka M. Uyamadu: The Board of Disciplinary Appeals, appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas, suspended Ms. Uyamadu from the practice of law. The BIA granted the government’s petition for immediate suspension on Oct. 20, 2010, based on Ms. Uyamadu’s suspension in Texas and pending final disposition of her case.
  

Final Orders of Discipline:

• Derrick G. Arjune:A final order of Oct. 28, 2010, expels Mr. Arjune from practice before immigration tribunals, effective Aug. 11, 2005, based on his disbarment in New York and a criminal conviction.

• Anita C. Kanu:The District of Columbia Court of Appeals disbarred Ms. Kanu. The BIA granted the government’s petition for immediate suspension on Oct. 28, 2010, based on Ms. Kanu’s disbarment in the District of Columbia and pending final disposition of her case.
• Royal Daniel, III:A final order of Oct. 28, 2010, expels Mr. Daniel from practice before immigration tribunals, effective July 6, 2007, based on his disbarment in Colorado.
• Jorge De La Mar:The Supreme Court of Florida suspended Mr. De La Mar from the practice of law for 60 days. The BIA granted the government’s petition for immediate suspension on Oct. 4, 2010, based on Mr. De La Mar’s 60-day suspension in Florida and pending final disposition of his case. A final order of Oct. 28, 2010, suspends Mr. De La Mar from practice before immigration tribunals for 60 days, effective Oct. 4, 2010, based on his 60-day suspension in Florida.
• Christina S. Denison:A final order of Oct. 20, 2010, suspends Ms. Denison from practice before immigration tribunals for 1 year, effective Sept. 2, 2010, based on her 1-year suspension in Washington.
• Timothy Darnell Flowers:A final order of Oct. 20, 2010, suspends Mr. Flowers from practice before immigration tribunals for 1 year, effective Aug. 11, 2010, based on his 1-year suspension in Tennessee.
• Grace Smith Foltz:The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania disbarred Ms. Foltz by consent. The BIA granted the government’s petition for immediate suspension on Oct. 20, 2010, based on Ms. Foltz’s disbarment by consent in Pennsylvania and pending final disposition of her case. A final order of Nov. 10, 2010, expels Ms. Foltz from practice before immigration tribunals, effective Oct. 20, 2010, based on her disbarment by consent in Pennsylvania.
• Patrick John McGreal:A final order of Nov. 10, 2010, expels Mr. McGreal from practice before immigration tribunals, effective Sept. 26, 2006, based on his disbarment in Illinois.
• Gaetanella Molinini-Rivera:A final order of Nov. 10, 2010, suspends Ms. Molinini-Rivera from practice before immigration tribunals for 5 years, effective Dec. 2, 2005, based on her 5-year suspension in New York.
• Cheryl Nance:A final order of Oct. 28, 2010, indefinitely suspends Ms. Nance from practice before immigration tribunals, effective Sept. 27, 2010, based on her suspension in Washington.
• Maria Lara Peet:A final order of Nov. 10, 2010, expels Ms. Peet from practice before immigration • tribunals, effective Feb. 16, 2006, based on her disbarment in Florida.
• John Udo:A final order of Oct. 20, 2010, expels Mr. Udo from practice before immigration tribunals, effective July 3, 2008, based on his disbarment in Massachusetts.

Reinstatement:

• John Himmelstein:Mr. Himmelstein was reinstated to practice before immigration tribunals on Oct. 20, 2010, after completing his suspension of 1 year and 1 day.
• Brandon Marinoff:Mr. Marinoff was reinstated to practice before immigration tribunals on Nov. 10, 2010, after completing his 12-month suspension.

Background:

The Rules of Professional Conduct appear in Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations (8 C.F.R. §§ 1003 and 1292). They include provisions specifying grounds for disciplinary action, requirements for receiving and investigating complaints, and procedures for conducting hearings. The rules also authorize the BIA to suspend immediately an attorney or representative who has been subject to disbarment, suspension or resignation with an admission of misconduct as imposed by a federal or state court, or who has been convicted of a serious crime, pending a summary proceeding and final sanction. The Rules of Professional Conduct are available at http://www.justice.gov/eoir/vll/fedreg/2000_2001/fr27jn00R.pdf(PDF) and http://www.justice.gov/eoir/vll/fedreg/2008_2009/fr18dec08c.pdf(PDF).  Additional information about the Attorney Discipline Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/eoir/press/00/profcond.htm(PDF) and http://www.justice.gov/eoir/press/09/AttorneyDisciplineFactSheet.pdf(PDF).

EOIR:

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is an agency within the Department of Justice. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals interpret and adjudicate immigration cases according to United States immigration laws. EOIR’s immigration judges conduct administrative court proceedings in immigration courts located throughout the nation. They determine whether foreign-born individuals—whom the Department of Homeland Security charges with violating immigration law—should be ordered removed from the United States or should be granted relief from removal and be permitted to remain in this country. The Board of Immigration Appeals primarily reviews appeals of decisions by immigration judges. EOIR’s Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer adjudicates immigration-related employment cases. EOIR is committed to ensuring fairness in all of the cases it adjudicates.

 

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