John C. Barrera the managing partner of the Barrera Legal Group and head of the firm's Immigration and Criminal Defense practice. John's desire to practice Immigration Law was developed through his Hispanic upbringing being born to Colombian parents, being married to his wife from Colombia and by being raised in the multicultural neighborhood of Jackson Heights in Queens, New York. His everyday life allowed John to interact and become part of the lives of people from many different countries and cultures and inspired John to help immigrants fight through the many challenges they face in realizing their dreams to live and prosper in the United States. He has successfully represented numerous clients in removal defense proceedings in immigration courts around the United States. He has had numerous victories keeping families together in the United States and has had extensive immigration experience in dealing with matters involving employment based visas, immigrant visas, asylum applications and U-visa applications. In addition to his immigration experience, John is also an experienced Criminal Defense attorney obtaining dismissals and acquittals in various cases involving Drug Trafficking, Homicide, Theft Offenses and cases involving Traffic Offenses including Driving Under the Influence charges. John is regularly consulted by the criminal defense bar and has co-hosted a weekly hour long radio show taking immigration questions to help guide the Treasure Valley Community.


John is admitted to practice in the State of Idaho, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho as well as the NInth Circuit Court of Appeals. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. John is fluent in Spanish and he is Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the National Immigration Project and the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers .