Michael W Gahagan

Michael W Gahagan

4.9
Rating: 8.6

Licensed for 18 years

Immigration Lawyer at Metairie, LA
Practice Areas: Immigration

3445 N Causeway Blvd Ste 524, Metairie, LA

About Michael

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Immigration 100%

I practice all areas of immigration law, including filing immigration applications, representing clients in federal court and in immigration court. I also represent clients with Freedom of Information Act requests and federal FOIA lawsuits.

19 years

100%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Louisiana for 18 years

State: Louisiana

Acquired: 2007

Eligible to Practice Law

No misconduct found

Location

The Immigration Law Firm of New Orleans

3445 N Causeway Blvd Ste 524, Metairie, LA, 70002-3745

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Michael W Gahagan's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

42 Client Reviews

Posted by Omar Angel | January 24, 2021 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Great Lawyer, excellent job.

Mr Gahagan, helped me with every step in the process to obtain , first my visa, then my green card and finally my citizenship. I am very pleased with his service. I would recommend anyone going through the process to use his services. Thank you very much!!

Posted by Darko | January 6, 2020 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Best Immigration Lawyer

Mr. Gahagan represented me and guided me throughout my entire Permanent Resident and Naturalization processes. I couldn't recommend his services enough to any immigrant who's having second doubts whether he or she needs to hire a lawyer through this journey. My experience was much smoother than I eve...r expected.

Posted by ROBERT DODIE | August 14, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

MRMS

MICHAEL W. GAHAGAN REVIEW WE ARE PLEASED TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR EXPERIENCE OF RETAINING MICHAEL TO REMOVE CONDITIONS OF RESIDENCE. IT STARTED WITH A PHONE CALL. THEN A MEET AND GREET. SIGN CONTRACT. PROVIDING INFORMATION TO MICHAEL AND SUBMITTING OUR REQUIRED EVIDENCED AND OTHE...R DOCUMENTATION TO THE FILING. THE PETITION WAS FILIED WITH PAYMENT AND THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER WE RECEIVED USCIS DECISION. THRU HIS COUNSEL AND MINDFULNESS, THE APPLICATION WAS FILED IN A TIMELY AND COMPLETE MANNER AND USCIS APPROVED THE REMOVAL. HIS ESSENCE, PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL, MADE FOR A FAVORABLE RULING. WE WERE FORTUNATE INDEED TO FIND HIM. HE TAKES QUESTIONS AND GIVES ANSWERS AS WELL. HE KNOWS, HE CARES, AND HE SERVES. LOVING WIFEY, NOW THE CLIENT, HAPPILY RETAINS HIM FOR THE NATURALIZATON CITIZENSHIP PROCESS AS WELL. I CONCUR. ROBERT AND DODIE

Posted by Laura | July 22, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Unethical attorney

Beware of this attorney, he will just get your money. I paid him $6,500 and the only thing he did for me was to get the FOIAs regarding the immigration case for my husband. Before I hired him, I had already filed the application for my husband’s visa and this attorney was aware of that, and all he di...d regarding this case was send me questionnaires for me to fill out; he never took the time to call USCIS to ask information regarding my application (he claims that he didn’t do it because he didn’t fill it out, even though he charged me to “continue” with the process). The last time I spoked with him over the phone I asked him if he knew or had any idea of why one of the applications I submitted to USCIS was rejected and he responded that he didn’t know because I filled out those papers, not him (when I hired him I gave him copies of all the applications I had already submitted regarding my husband’s case). I told him that I knew that I had filled out those forms, but I had given them to him and as my attorney following this case his job was to review those forms, and I asked him, “Or you did not do it?” I reminded him that I paid him to continue with the case but he had been doing nothing regarding it and his answer to me was “I am busy with my clients,” so I responded to him, “So, what am I? I am your client too, we did pay you a lot of money.” When I told him that he had been doing nothing regarding my husband’s case, I was upset and made the comment that I always did everything for this case and that I was going to hire another attorney, BUT I never told him “You are fired” or “I no longer need your services”. He answered right away, “Oh, so you’re hiring another lawyer? OK. I no longer represent you or your husband,” I told him that he can’t leave the case and then he just hung up on my face. When he returned to me all the documents I had provided him with, he attached a letter to the package where he claims in many occasions that I “refused” to provided him with the NVC number. He knows that this is a big lie because I never “refused” to give this number to him, I was just unable to because I don’t have it. I called USCIS and the NVC several times trying to get this information but they have not provide it to me, but on his letter he makes the remarks like I never gave him this information just because I didn’t want to. When he took my husband’s case he knew that I still didn’t have that number and he agreed to take it anyway (he just wanted to take the money), and as my attorney he never tried to reach USCIS or the NVC to get this information himself. I always kept him informed of all the emails and calls I made myself to USCIS and the NVC.

Michael Gahagan

Replied last July 25, 2019

On August 21, 2018, Ms. Laura Alfarao Rodriguez, the person who left the false review above, hired Gahagan Law Firm to apply for an immigrant visa for her husband and file FOIA requests with the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection because her husband was blocked from entering the United States by the FBI and CBP. Ms. Rodriguez hired my firm after trying and failing to represent herself effectively without a lawyer. After being retained, my firm immediately completed all of the contracted work and overnight mailed the completed forms to Ms. Rodriquez for her to review and sign. My office also filed the FOIA requests; and my office quickly provided Ms. Rodriguez with both agency responses to the FOIA requests. During Ms. Rodriguez’s legal consultation with my office on August 14, 2018, I told Ms. Rodriguez that she must provide the National Visa Center (NVC) number, which she stated was already issued to her from the NVC, to my office immediately so that my office can file the immigration applications with the NVC. Although my office waited ONE YEAR for Ms. Rodriguez to provide the NVC number to complete her case, Ms. Rodriguez staunchly refused to produce that NVC number to my office. During the year while I waited on Ms. Rodriguez to provide the NVC number to my office so that my office could file her husband’s immigrant visa applications, Ms. Rodriguez’s husband left my office a false negative online review; even though my office could not file the completed immigration applications with the government due to Ms. Rodriguez’s refusal to provide my office with her NVC number. At that time, I called and told Ms. Rodriguez that if my office ever had another issue with her or her husband like this again, then my office would withdraw from Ms. Rodriguez’s case immediately. Recently, Ms. Rogriguez called my office and demanded for me to explain to her why an application that she filed without an attorney, before she hired my law firm, was denied by USCIS. When I told Ms. Rodriguez that I did not know why her application was denied because I did not file the application (she filed this application without a lawyer), Ms. Rodriguez became very upset and threatened to fire my office and hire a new attorney. At this point I had had enough of her abuse, and I notified Ms. Rodriguez that my office was withdrawing from her case due to her and her husband making it impossible for my office to complete her case, her constant threats against me and my firm, and because of Ms. Rodriguez’s and your husband’s erratic behavior. After my firm withdrew from her case, Ms. Rodriguez continued to demand that my firm represent her in this case, and she stated that my firm could not withdraw from her case. There are three important things that will cause Gahagan Law Firm to withdraw from a client’s case, and they are (1) threatening me or anyone in my firm, (2) refusing to give us the information that my firm needs to complete your case, and (3) threatening to fire me or my law firm. Ms. Rodriguez did all three of the above, so my law firm withdrew from representing her. We simply refuse to continue to represent someone like Ms. Rodriguez who treats us with disrespect and threats. Everyone at Gahagan Law Firm is happy that we are no longer the target of Ms. Rodriguez’s constant threats and fake online negative reviews, we are happy that we no longer have to suffer from her erratic abusive behavior, and we are happy that we now have more time to care for our respectful clients that give use the information that we request to complete their cases. Please feel free to read our scores of five-star reviews on Google and other reputable websites, written by our current and former clients, who appreciate our hard work and dedication to them. Have a nice day, Michael W. Gahagan

Posted by Todd Chiasson | March 4, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Great Lawyer

takes his time covers every detail ... Very Caring and knowledgable person ...recommend for all immgration needs

See All Client Reviews

Michael W Gahagan's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Michael
Sarah Lindsey Moshe headshot
Sarah Moshe

Immigration lawyer | Apr 24

Relationship: Other

"Worked with Michael at the AILA Litigation Institute, and was extremely impressed by his experience and fearlessness in zealously representing deserving clients! He has since served as a delightfully willing, patient mentor on several occasions."

Laurel Annette Salley headshot
Laurel Salley

Immigration lawyer | Dec 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Bradley Justin Egenberg headshot
Bradley Egenberg

Criminal defense lawyer

Monica C. Sanchez headshot
Monica Sanchez

General practice lawyer

Richard R Schulze headshot
Richard Schulze

Unknown lawyer

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Christine Desue

Unknown lawyer

Sarah Lindsey Moshe headshot
Sarah Moshe

Immigration lawyer

Laurel Annette Salley headshot
Laurel Salley

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.6 (Excellent)

Honors

2017

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2016

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2015

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

Work Experience

2007 - Present

Owner, The Immigration Law Firm of New Orleans

Associations

2013 - Present

American Immigration Lawyers Association (MidSouth chapter)

Federal Litigation Chairman

2007 - Present

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Immigration Attorney

2017 - 2019

American Immigration Lawyers Association (Distance Learning Committee)

Committee Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Gahagan v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, et al., 2:13-cv-05526 (E.D.La. May 23, 2014)

First and third motions for summary judgment granted.

Gahagan v. U.S. Citizenship & Img. Svc., 602 Fed.Appx. 198 (5th Cir.2015)

Ruling Vacated and Remanded

Gahagan v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2015 WL 350356 (E.D.La. Jan. 23, 2015)

Mr. Gahagan's first and second motions for summary judgment granted due to USCIS' unlawful withholding of agency records.

Gahagan v. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, et al., 2:14-cv-02619 (E.D.La. 2015)

Mr. Gahagan's first and second motions for summary judgment granted.

DaSilva v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2014 WL 775606 (E.D.La. Feb. 24, 2014)

USCIS produced entire Alien File and over 1,000 pages of emails, which were unlawfully withheld.

Hegyi v. Gomez, No. 2:13-cv-06430 (E.D.La. 2014)

USCIS adjudicated the immigraton application and produced the requested records in order to moot the lawsuit.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2006

Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2001

Middle Tennessee State University

MBA - Master of Business Administration

1998

University of Louisiana, Lafayette

BS - Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

2014

AILA Mid-South Conference CLE

Freedom of Immigration Act and Federal Immigration Litigation

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

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