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About Matthew
Biography
Matthew L. Kolken has served as an elected Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association's (AILA) Board of Governors. He is a trial lawyer with experience in all aspects of United States Immigration Law, and has been an AILA member since 1997.
Mr. Kolken has received the highest AV peer rating by Martindale-Hubbell, has been named a "Super Lawyer" in Upstate New York by Super Lawyers magazine, was listed by Business First of Buffalo as being among the “Legal Elite of Western New York," and has received a "Superb" rating and "Client's Choice" award on . The New York Law Journal has recognized him as a "Lawyer Who Leads by Example" for his work providing pro bono legal services to unaccompanied refugee children.
Mr. Kolken has appeared nationally on FOX News, MSNBC and CNN, and his legal analysis has been solicited by the Washington Post's Fact Check of the immigration statements of Secretary Hillary Clinton, Presidential candidate Donald Trump, and the immigration status of First Lady Melania Trump's parents. His opinions on immigration issues have been published in Forbes Magazine, Bloomberg, Business Insider, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and FOX News among others. He has been an invited speaker at AILA's annual conference on grounds of removability, and is the author of the Deportation and Removal Blog on , where he is a member of the advisory board of the Immigration Daily, an online immigration news periodical with more than 35,000 readers. He is also a prominent immigration reform activist having been ranked as the most influential person on Twitter in the area of Immigration Law. You may follow him at @mkolken.
Kolken & Kolken is a full-service U.S. immigration law firm handling cases in all 50 States.
Immigration, Deportation Defense, Waivers, Family and Employment Based Visas, and Asylum
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Immigration
90%
Asylum
5%
Criminal Defense
5%
Fees and Rates
Awards
2025 2024 2023
...
+
9
2013
Licenses
Licensed in New York for 28 years
State: New York
Acquired: 1997
No misconduct found
Location
Kolken & Kolken
(716) 854-6223
Fax
135 Delaware Avenue, Suite 101, Buffalo, NY, 14202
kolkenandkolken.com/Gallery
Online Presence
Other places you can find Matthew online.
Matthew L. Kolken's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 131 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | March 10, 2026 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hire Kolken and Kolken :)
Today, I am celebrating! I attended my Naturalization Ceremony. It was a day filled with joy and excitement. I am so thankful to my Lawyer and his team for their support throughout this process. Their skill, dedication and professionalism made the uncertain times much easier to overcome! If you ar...
Posted by Roland | December 12, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Flawless execution of a complicated matter
Matthew and his team developed and executed their plan surgically while also giving space for understanding through quite a stressful time. They were knowledgeable and efficient and clearly understand the system backwards and forwards. Best of all, they answered my many questions promptly. I never ...
Posted by anonymous | November 3, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Waiver Renewal/USA Entry
We have had an amazing experience with this lawyer. Every concern has been looked into and fixed thoroughly and without issues. We would 100% recommend him for your needs!
Posted by Yuliya | May 19, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Victory with a 4% Chance
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Kolken’s office for their incredibly professional and effective work. My case was assigned to a judge with an extremely low approval rate — just 4% — and yet, thanks to the team’s coordinated and skillful efforts, we won. Special thanks to attorney Rob...
Posted by Saif Odah | February 25, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Green Card application well done and approved
The laywer and his staff especially Mr. Benjamin, are very professional, reasonable and compassionate about their job and interaction with the client. Mr. Kolken price was much lower than the other options we had. The time to complete our case was super! I am very pleased with Mr. Kolken and his staf...
Matthew L. Kolken's Lawyer Endorsements
"Matt Kolken is a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney. He stands up for the rights of immigrants and is unafraid to challenge the Federal Government when they wrongly deny an immigration benefit to one of his clients. I strongly endorse him."
"Matt Kolken has distinguished himself as a tenacious, eloquent and clear thinking attorney who is unafraid to take on the federal government in the most difficult of immigration matters. He is a fierce defender of our constitution and exactly the type of lawyer you will need at your side when ICE wants to deport you. I am proud to call him a colleague and a friend."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I proudly endorse Mr. Kolken for his excellent work fighting for the rights of immigrants. I respect him for all the hard work he puts into giving back to the community, from taking on pro bono matters to standing up and crying foul when immigration authorities exercise their powers in unjust ways. Mr. Kolken is an asset to the immigration bar in Buffalo."
"I endorse this lawyer. A brilliant and highly respected attorney in the legal community."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Matthew Lindsay Kolken is an experienced attorney whose participation and comments in Avvo show his commitment to serving clients as well as his level of experience. He is an excellent attorney that I recommend wholeheartedly."
"Matthew is very well respected by the legal community, is an excellent immigration attorney and contributes a great deal to our practice area both as an outstanding member of the bar and a mentor."
"Excellent lawyer. Very well respected."
"I have known Matt for many years, he has always conducted himself as a knowledgeable professional. I refer all my clients with immigration matters to him. I endorse Matthew Kolken."
"Matthew Kolken is leader among immigration lawyers. His grasp of the law and regulations is incredible."
"Attorney Kolken is a passionate advocate for his clients and has a national reputation for excellence. He is at the forefront of cutting edge immigration issues."
"Extremely knowledgeable, hard working, and effective immigration attorney."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Matthew is a sharp, hardworking and caring attorney. He is a zealous advocate for his clients and the immigration law professional as a whole."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. It is hard to find attys who really go to bat for their clients, but Matthew is one of those lawyers."
"I endorse this lawyer. Matt is personable and professional at the same time, in addition to being highly comptent on immigration matters. He is respected in the community and is asked to speak at conference and write in professional publications. Matt's passion for immigrants' rights is well known."
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Experience
Honors
2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Best Lawyer - Immigration Law, Best Lawyers in America
2018
Client's Choice, Avvo
2018
Legal Elite, Buffalo Law Journal
2018
The Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, Marquis Who's Who in American Law
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2017
Client's Choice, Avvo
2017
Top Rated Lawyer in Immigration Law, Martindale-Hubbell
2017
Champion of Justice - Immigration Law, Erie County Bar Association
2017
Legal Elite, Buffalo Business First
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2016
Clients' Choice, Avvo.com
2016
Top Rated Immigration Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2016
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2015
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
Clients' Choice, Avvo.com
2015
Lawyers who Lead by Example, New York Law Journal
2015
Legal Elite, Buffalo Business First
2015
Peter J. Murrett Pro Bono Award, American Immigration Lawyers Association (Upstate New York Chapter)
2014
Clients' Choice, Avvo.com
2014
Pro Bono Champion, American Immigration Lawyers Association
2013
Pro Bono Guardian, American Immigration Lawyers Association
2013
IMMI, Nation of Immigrators
2013
Legal Elite, Buffalo Business First
2013
Clients' Choice, Avvo.com
2013
Super Lawyer, New York Super Lawyers
Work Experience
1996 - Present
Immigration Lawyer, Kolken & Kolken
Associations
1997 - Present
American Immigration Lawyers AssociationMember
1997 - Present
Bar Association of Erie CountyMember
1997 - Present
New York State Bar AssociationMember
2015 - 2016
Federal Bar AssociationMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Deportation Prevented for Missing Soldier's Undocumented Wife
Deportation prevented, Green Card issued.
Education
1996
Western Michigan University - Thomas M. Cooley Law School
JD - Juris Doctor
1993
University of the Pacific
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2013
Removal For Experts
Removal Ground and Defenses
2013
ILW.com Seminar Series
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
2013
Hard Line Talk Radio
Immigration Reform
2013
AILA Media Training
Ethics and Professionalism Questions When Dealing with the Media
2013
AILA Education Department Seminar
Seeking Remedies from ICE Post-removal Order
2012
Huffington Post Live
More Immigrants, Please
2009
AILA's Annual Conference
Grounds of Inadmissibility
Publications
2014
American Immigration, LLC (ILW.com)
Rep. Gutierrez Advises Individuals to Visit His Office for Immigration Advice
2014
American Immigration, LLC (ILW.com)
Caught Between a Deportation Impasse and a Hard Place
2014
Fox News Corp
A Special Path To Citizenship Is Not Necessary
2013
Fox News Latino
The Legacy of the DREAM 9
2012
2012
The Cato Institute
Saying the Law Is the Law Isn’t Enough
2012
The Christian Science Monitor
Allowed to stay, Miami student becomes face of Obama immigration policy
2012
2011
2011
Christian Science Monitor
Are Obama deportations truly aimed at 'criminals'?
2011
The Huffington Post
Americans Married To Immigrants Push For Reform
2007
USA Today
Green card for missing soldier's wife
2007
2007
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Top Contributor
Matthew earned significant contribution points in 2013.
Legal Answers
Q&A
Can i cross the border checkpoint with a work permit?
01 Mar 2013
Q&A
What to do when i140 and i485 approved are revoked
28 Feb 2013
Q&A
Can i marry with American citizen if my passport is expired ?
22 Feb 2013