DMCA partner Paul Hunker recently shared his experience on worksite immigration raids
Before joining DMCA last year, Paul Hunker was the Chief Counsel of the Dallas branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He recently shared his experience leading ICE on worksite immigration enforcement raids during his 30 years with the agency. From the KERA news story: “Usually, in terms of worksites, we have some information – someone has come to us and told us, you know, that there are undocumented persons that are working there,” Paul Hunker, former chief counsel for ICE in Dallas, told The Texas Newsroom. He said they often receive “intelligence” from an employee or are following up ... Read more
Essential steps for your immigration journey
Is your immigration status about to expire? Are you or your family members undocumented? Are you concerned about how your family will be affected by President Trump’s immigration policies? DMCA has helped immigrants, their families, and business owners navigate the U.S. immigration process since 1976. We can provide you reliable advice on the upcoming immigration changes. Here are some essential steps to get ready for your immigration journey: -Ensure you and all working individuals in your family are filing your taxes and reporting all income accurately. -File your taxes using your US Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or request one ... Read more
Paul Hunker Op-Ed: Judge Barker’s November 7 decision finding the Keeping Families Together parole in place (PIP) program illegal and the future of PIP
Some people have asked me what I think about Judge Barker’s November 7 decision finding the Keeping Families Together parole in place (PIP) program illegal and the future of PIP. Judge Barker’s district court decision is not precedential, and it is unlikely that the Department of Justice will appeal. Will USCIS under Trump 47 follow Judge Barker’s reasoning and find that noncitizens who were paroled in place were not really paroled? The bulk of PIP is Military PIP and Judge Barker indicated that the National Defense Appropriations Act for 2020 “colorably” authorized PIP for certain noncitizen relatives of members of ... Read more
Paul Hunker Op-Ed: legal responsibilities vis-à-vis immigration enforcement and noncitizens
After Boston’s mayor announced her refusal to cooperate with ICE’s deportation efforts, Tom Homan, the soon-to-be border czar under President Trump, criticized her decision as “not very smart” and suggested she should “get the hell out of the way.” Homan warned her about 8 U.S.C. § 1324, a provision of federal law that prohibits alien smuggling, harboring, and shielding from detection. Given the enhanced immigration enforcement of the Trump Administration, municipalities and other organizations are rightly concerned about their legal responsibilities vis-à-vis immigration enforcement and noncitizens. Municipalities are often as identified as “sanctuary cities” when they will not comply with ... Read more
Protect Your Business: I-9 Audits & Workforce Compliance Services
President elect Trump has stated that he will penalize U.S. employers who employ undocumented workers. DMCA has lawyers certified in immigration law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a former Chief Counsel of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), now working as an attorney for DMCA. We can ensure that your company’s hiring practices do not violate the law and will defend you in the event a violation is found. Why I-9 Audits Are Crucial Every U.S. employer is required to complete an I-9 form for each employee hired. Paperwork violations and violations related to hiring or continuing ... Read more
SCOTUS Overturns Chevron: How will this impact rights of noncitizens?
By Paul Hunker The Supreme Court in Loper Bright overturned Chevron and the deference it accorded agency interpretation of the law. How will this impact the rights of noncitizens? Chevron ruled that if a federal law does not directly speak to the precise question at issue, courts should defer to the agency’s interpretation of the law if based on a permissible construction of the statute. This gave the Department of Homeland Security a big advantage in litigation. (Chevron was a nice arrow in my quiver when I represented DHS; grateful to SCOTUS for overruling it now that I am private ... Read more
Attorney Claudia Baellow named Partner
DMCA is proud to announce Claudia Baellow as our firm’s newest partner. With a background in employment-based immigration law, Claudia has been an integral part of our team for almost a decade. She leads our business immigration section, successfully representing churches, schools, and businesses of all sizes. As partner, Claudia will continue to lead DMCA’s business immigration section, which is well-versed in navigating the intricate web of immigration laws for both employers and workers, on a global scale. We congratulate Claudia on her achievement and look forward to her continued success in the years to come.
DMCA Managing Partner, Lance Curtright, named one of the “Best Immigration Attorneys in San Antonio” by Forbes
DMCA managing partner, Lance Curtright, has been named by Forbes as one of the “Best Immigration Lawyers San Antonio Of 2024” in their Forbes Advisor 2024 series. This recognition highlights Lance’s dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to his clients and their immigration needs. Over the years, Lance has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill in navigating complex immigration issues, making a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals, business and families. His accolade from Forbes is not just a testament to his professional achievements but also a reflection of his passion for for immigration law. Forbes Listing El socio gerent de ... Read more
DMCA Managing Partner, Lance Curtright, provides insights on the upcoming SB 4 law on KSAT12.
In a recent interview with KSAT12, Lance Curtright, Managing Partner of DMCA, shared valuable insights about the pending SB 4 law, highlighting important aspects that people should know about. En una entrevista reciente con KSAT12, Lance Curtright, socio gerente de DMCA, compartió informacion valiosa sobre la ley SB 4, destacando aspectos importantes que la gente debería conocer.
DMCA Welcomes Attorney Paul Hunker to the Team and Opens New Office in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
DMCA is excited to introduce Attorney Paul Hunker to our team and announce the opening of our new office in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Prior to joining DMCA he spent his entire legal career representing the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He served as the Dallas Chief Counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, Dallas Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA). With his extensive knowledge and experience in immigration law, Paul is a valuable addition to our team. He has a wealth of experience in all ... Read more
DMCA has been recognized as a Tier 1 firm in Immigration Law by Best Law Firms® in its 2024 edition.
DMCA has been recognized as a Tier 1 firm in Immigration Law by Best Law Firms® in its 2024 edition. Our dedication to providing transparent, high-quality, and competent legal representation in the immigration field has helped us achieve this distinction. To qualify for this recognition, an attorney from the firm must be listed in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers®, which our managing partner Lance Curtright has accomplished. We are proud of this achievement and will continue to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. Estamos encantados de anunciar que DMCA ha sido reconocida como firma de Nivel 1 en ... Read more
DMCA Honored with Frank Herrera Jr. Business Leader Award at the Mexican American Bar Association San Antonio (MABA-SA) Award Gala
DMCA proudly received the Frank Herrera Jr. Business Leader Award. The firm was selected for this distinguished honor due to its remarkable track record in the immigration legal industry, as well as its unwavering commitment to supporting and giving back to the San Antonio community. As a leading authority in the immigration industry, DMCA sets the standard for immigration law. DMCA continues to provide top-notch legal services to individuals and businesses alike. Our dedication to our clients has earned us a reputation as one of the most reliable immigration law firms in the region. Additionally, DMCA has been instrumental in ... Read more