Fernando Perez III

Fernando Perez

It is unfortunate that this client did not understand all the work that went into her husband's case. Removal proceedings are very complex, and sometimes when a client does not understand the procedures the attorney is blamed when things don't go exactly as the client thinks they should. In this case, before I was hired, I explained in writing that I would not be able to appear in court or visit detention facilities because of Covid, and that if that was a concern, she should not hire me. She said it was not a problem and that she understood. I appeared telephonically at every hearing held for her husband about which we had notice after being retained. Then, my firm spent a tremendous amount of time trying to get her husband released from ICE detention while we pursued other aspects of the case. We even included her husband in a federal class action suit as a named plaintiff in an attempt to force ICE to release him, but at that time, as is now well known, ICE was not releasing anyone. The fact that ICE refused to release her husband despite all our efforts and in violation of court orders is in no way indicative of the hours and hours spent fighting that battle. She hired a new firm because they were willing to go to court in person, and we cooperated in every way possible wit that firm. That firm went forward using the application I had prepared and information I had gathered. Her husband was released in 25 days because that was the date set by me for his trial. In terms of the refund, given the number of hours spent trying to get her husband released from detention, in the preparation of his application for relief, and in preparation for the trial, we actually refunded more than what the client was entitled to.