Gerald Edward Burns

Gerald E. Burns founded the Burns Law Office, P.L.C. in Chandler, Arizona in 2001.  Mr. Burns, a well-respected member of the Arizona immigration legal community, started the firm based on two simple principles: that all persons should be treated with the utmost respect and a sincere belief that immigrants, their families and loved ones deserve dedicated and zealous legal representation.  The Burns Law Office focuses on all areas of family immigration, removal defense including detained immigrants, asylum and specific business immigration matters.  Mr. Burns is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).  He served three consecutive terms as Chair of the Arizona AILA Chapter (2009-12) and was Chair of the AILA National Family Immigration Committee (2011-12).

Mr. Burns has over 16 years of experience in immigration and nationality law representing clients before the Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Executive Office of Immigration Review (U.S. Immigration Courts), the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), the 9th and 10th Circuit Courts of Appeal and many U.S. Consulates worldwide. 

Mr. Burns has been a featured speaker at the AILA National Conference on complex  issues related to obtaining Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S.  He has testified on behalf of AILA several times before the Arizona Senate and House of Representatives and has appeared in local and national media outlets speaking on a wide range of immigration topics, including the legal validity of SB1070 and the Arizona legislative disaster, SB1062, widely described as an attack on Arizona’s LGBT community. 

Mr. Burns maintains an active pro bono practice representing immigrant victims of domestic violence, violent crime and unaccompanied minors.  Mr. Burns is a frequent lecturer on immigration issues and is fluent in Spanish.  

Mercedes Ryden joined the Burns Law Office in August 2011 and is our Senior Associate Attorney.  Ms. Ryden handles immigration, criminal and certain family law matters.  She is the outgoing Chair of the Arizona AILA Chapter.  Ms. Ryden actively represents detained and non-detained immigrants in removal proceedings.  She specializes in assisting immigrants who have been victims of domestic violence and violent crime.

Celeste Roman joined the Burns Law Office in March 2015 as an associate attorney.  Ms. Ryden handles immigration with a particular specialization in representing clients before U.S. Consulates worldwide.  Ms. Roman is an AILA member and Chair of the Arizona AILA New Members Division.  Ms. Roman is fluent in Spanish.