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also known as Bertha A. Zuniga
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I have dedicated my career to zealously fight for justice and to fearlessly protect immigrant's rights for 44 years. I am not a young lawyer but an attorney that has lived and experienced changes in Immigration laws throughout 44 years. I began my journey as a young lawyer working as the first attorney to handle deportation matters for the United States Catholic Conference in El Paso, Texas.
Later, I opened my own private practice in El Paso, Texas where I represented individuals in deportation matters for 15 years. As an attorney in private practice , I was well known for my common sense yet aggressive approach in representing clients from different countries. I was appointed the nation's first Mexican-American female U.S. Immigration Judge on April 2, 1995. I retired as a U.S. Immigration Judge on April 2, 2015. As an Immigration Judge, I was well known for my dedication and determination to be fair and just, as well as a trailblazer in applying the law to novel issues. I issued noteworthy decisions including the granting of asylum to female victims of femicide in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; those fleeing violence in Central America and Mexico; and female victims of domestic violence. Other noteworthy decisions include the granting of applications for cancellation of removal and other waivers available under immigration law. I authored thousands of decisions in removal and deportation proceedings. I mentored many new Immigration Judges and DOJ/EOIR attorneys. I authoried the Aggravated Felony Outline since 2000 available in the DOJ/Virtual Law Library and on the internet.
I have been Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since December, 2010.
After my retirement as a United States Immigration Judge, I decided to utilize all my skills, knowledge, and experience in defending those in need of immigration representation. In December of 2015, after a brief period in Houston, Texas, I returned to San Antonio, Texas and set up my own law office. I am elated to be back where I started in the private practice of law. Since my retirement in April, 2015, I have been fearless in my representation of immigrants in removal proceedings. Since I was an Immigration Judge, I am fully familiar with how Immigration Judges need to follow the law and will not stand by while your rights are violated by new immigration judges that are not fully familiar with immigration law. I will protect your rights. If you hire me, I will be the one representing you and advocating for you.
Since I have been in private practice, I have been successful in my defense of legal permanent residents in removal proceedings. I have obtained termination of removal proceedings in several cases as I have put the government (DHS) to the task of having to prove their case and they have been unable to do so. I am hired often to enter my appearance after other younger and less experienced lawyers fail in their representation. If you have been denied, I may be able to investigate your case and save you from deportation. I have developed a special skill in representing asylum seekers from all countries in the world including MEXICO, CUBA, BRAZIL, AFGHANISTAN, EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, GUATEMALA, SYRIA, PAKISTAN, INDIA, CHINA, UBEKISTAN, TAJEKISTAN, etc., Recently, I've been successful in the representation of gays, transgender and HIV positive individuals in removal proceedings.
I have a high rate of approval for persons in deportation/removal proceedings who apply to remain in the United States because they have been in the U.S. for 10 years, are persons of good moral character, and their removal would cause exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to their U.S. citizen children, U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident spouses, or U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident parents.
I have been successfull in overcoming denials for legal permanent residents based on false claims to U.S. citizenship.
I am also very knowledgeable in applications for individuals to become legal permanent residents through family members petitioning for them. If you have a dicrect amily member in the military, you may be eligible for a special permit called the "Parole In Place".
I am pleased to be of service to my community and to search for ways to save you from deportation.
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Practice Area
We have not found any cost information for this lawyer
State: Texas
Acquired: 1980
No misconduct found
2619 McCullough Ave., San Antonio, TX, 78212
avvo.com/attorneys/78212-tx-bertha-zuniga-142807.htmlShowing 1 - 5 of 155 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by pablo flores | December 28, 2025 | Hired Attorney
persona muy profesional y seria en todo su trabajo ,mi famila y un servidor estamos muy contentos con todo el trabajo de ella ,simpre hablando con la verdad en el casó ,personal mente es la mejor en lo que hace yo la recomiendo 100% gracias por reunirme con mi famila
Posted by Donna | November 18, 2025 | Hired Attorney
There are not enough words to express the gratitude my family and I have for Bertha Zuniga. From the very first day, she was honest, direct, and unwavering. She didn’t sugar-coat anything or tell us what we wanted to hear she told us the truth, even when it was difficult. And in the moments when fear...
Posted by Liz | August 25, 2025 | Hired Attorney
The best immigration lawyer! Thanks to her, my family and I were finally able to bring our mother back home. She is truly amazing—highly professional, knowledgeable, and dedicated. Yes, she asked for a lot of documentation, but if you truly commit to gathering everything she needs, she will win the c...
Posted by Natacha | August 25, 2025 | Hired Attorney
Attorney Bertha A. Zuniga is one of the most extraordinary immigration attorneys you could ever hope to work with. She knows this field like no one else because she has lived it, shaped it, and continues to fight for people every day. An immigrant herself, she came to the United States from Mexico at...
Posted by Edith | August 18, 2025 | Hired Attorney
100% recomendada, hoy gracias a Dios y a ella puedo caminar tranquila en US. La abogada Bertha Zuñiga es honesta, ruda y sin rodeos, si eres de piel delicada ella no es para ti, pero si buscas una buena abogada con experiencia y que te diga la verdad y sin rodeos la abogada Bertha es para ti, si el...
"Bertha Zuniga's reputation precedes her and she is deserving of every ounce of sweeping approval and respect that she has earned in the legal community. Bertha is a tireless fighter and an equally compassionate counselor. When you hire Bertha, rest assured, she will channel all her energy to bust through barriers and to open doors for her clients. Make no mistake when it comes to legal wisdom; Bertha's engine is fueled by more than 3 decades of irreplaceable experience. I have conferred with Bertha on a number of complicated immigration matters and I am indebted to her for the selfless mentorship she's offered. I am proud to endorse this attorney."
"I endorse this lawyer. Can't say enough wonderful things about Bertha Zuniga. Her knowledge and experience make her a great attorney and combined with her passion and compassion she is a phenomenal advocate! She is particularly well-versed in asylum and detention issues and I can't recommend her highly enough. She will do WHATEVER she can to assist a client!"
Immigration lawyer
Criminal defense lawyer
Immigration lawyer
Immigration lawyer
Immigration lawyer
2024
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2024
Board Certified - Immigration and Nationality Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
2023
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2023
Board Certified - Immigration and Nationality Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
2022
Board Certified - Immigration and Nationality Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
2022
"Warrior Advocate", Texas State Bar, Immigration and Nationality Law Section
2022
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2021
Board Certified - Immigration and Nationality Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
2021
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2020
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2019
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2018
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2017
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2017
Outstanding Woman of Distinction Award Recipient for 2017, The Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC)
2016
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Board Certified - Immigration and Nationality Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
2015
BV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
Board Certified - Immigration and Nationality Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
2014
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2015 - Present
Attorney, ZUNIGA LAW, PLLC
1995 - 2015
United States Immigration Judge, U.S. Department Of Justice
1980 - 1995
Attorney, Law Office of Bertha A. Zuniga
2015 - Present
Bar Association of the Fifth Federal CircuitMember
2015 - Present
Houston Bar AssociationMember
2015 - Present
National Immigrant Rights ProjectMember
2010 - Present
Texas Board of Legal SpecializationBoard Certified Immigration and Nationality Law
2015 - 2015
American Immigration Lawyers AssociatoinMember
1979
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)
1975
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2017
Representing Your Client In Immigration Court
2017
Women Empowerment
2016
Present Impact of Family Immigration History
2015
Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude
2012
Practicing in Immigration Court
2010
How to Present and Asylum Case
2008
Aggravated Felonies
2000
Spanish