Armando G. Martinez

My family and I have had the worst possible experience with Armando Martinez from threats from him to report my parents and get them deported to no calls or updates in 5 years to simply his office not knowing anything about immigration or what’s currently going on or knowing when they set up appointm...ents for Armando. His paralegals have been telling me for 5 years that my court won’t be scheduled until 2019 but yet I called 3 weeks ago and told me my case had been closed since 2016. Did I receive a call or anything at all to let me know about this? No. I don’t thing his paralegals watch the news at that considering they knew nothing about the current daca situation that’s going on across the country. Since when I said I couldn’t renew due to it being expired they simply said “really? Why not?”. Whatever you do, do not hire Armando Martinez.

My family and I hired Mr. Martínez in 2008. We hired him because while incarcerated two different people inside the prisons gave me experiences about him. The people who recommended him did not know each other and they were from different prisons and cities. One in Dayton and another in San Antonio. ...I had been transfered a few times during my two year incarceration. He was also handling a girl´s case from the San Antonio federal prison ICE detainees where I was in she was not one of the two who recommended Mr. Martinez. He got her bond lowered down to 700 dollars for me was unheard of. I had already payed 100 dollars to one lawyer for counseling done over the phone. He was famous for his radio show in Houston in Spanish and he said that I was lucky I even had a bond since I was a felon. My bond was about 11,000 dollars and you have to pay all of it not 10% like in normal jails. The first lawyer said ¨pay the bond now before they take your bond away in the court hearing and then call me back.¨ I said I wanted to hire him to lower the bond but he said that they would take away my bond. I really had faith that I could get it lowered plus there was no way we could get that money. We are low income. I had studied in the law library and I learnt my case wasn't moral turpitude and I had faith that my bond could be lowered. All I wanted was to see my family even if it was only 6 months before I was deported if need be so I only wanted my bond lowered. I prepared a very detailed letter to Armando asking him to represent me. My mom called him but could never get a hold of him. He never did get to his phone but he showed up last minute to my hearing. I really thought I had no lawyer until that day. I had not payed him a penny yet. He postponed the court for two weeks I think and he said trough the TV because I had TV court. He said he would visit me later and he showed me my letter. He took a few days to see me. He then said that it was posible to lower my bond and that he would go to Houston to pick up the money from my mom. He said he wanted to take a vacation there with his kids anyway. He met my mom in a coffee shop and mom payed him 1,500 dollars. He explained the case to my mom. Later his assistant talked to me about preparing my case. He lowered my bond down to 4,500 dollars. All the ICE officers would say is that I would be deported because of my felony I knew that my felony was not moral turpitude. Armando agreed. I was given Voluntary departure with no bar. After you have departed from the US you are supposed to get your money back for the bond it took alot longer than what was said. I can't remember. Yes, it has always been hard to get a hold of him and yes I got my money back. I just had patience with him and kept calling about it. He said I can be back in the US in 6 months but the only way is if I get married with a US citizen. He said I could visit with his assitance. I am kind of sad about what the others have said here but all I could share is my expereince. Another thing that I liked is that even though once I was released from ICE I waited what seemed to be a while outside ICE. I remember with fondness how one Young ICE agent made fun of me becuase my lawyer hadn't picked me up and I just couldn't believe I was out. I didn't care I was happy. I was picked up by his assistant and she bought me a Sonic Meal and drove me to the grayhound since I lived in Houston she payed my trip and gave me 20 dollars. He interviewed me to see if there was any way to get legalized but I knew there wasn't since I was not in love and in a relationship with anyone. I don't have kids either. I´m here because I wanted to find his phone number again and I saw these stories and I owe it to him to atleast share my experience. I also saw him lower one bond for free for an abandoned Young person in Immigration that had not commited a crime and had finished high school and had not been in Mexico since 6 months old, but she could not pay.

Mr. Martinez has helped my family a lot. My husband got a DWI and was also on immigration hold. Mr. Martinez got him out of county court with no more time in jail and no probation. My husband has his immigration court Tuesday and we will see what happens. His office takes a while to answer emails, bu...t he is Great. If he can't help you, he will tell you right then and there. He won't take your money like other attorneys do.