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John is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Immigration and Nationality Law and has been practicing law for over 15 years. He focuses his practice on immigration and criminal defense. John has extensive experience as both an immigration attorney and a criminal attorney.

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John served as a Senior Attorney with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As an ICE Attorney, John handled all forms of removal/deportation proceedings including those involving aggravated felonies, drug trafficking, national security and human rights issues, and more.

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John also handled cases involving all forms of deportation/removal relief including asylum, withholding of removal, cancellation of removal for lawful permanent residents and for those who are not lawful permanent residents, adjustment of status, 212(c) relief, and many others.

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As an ICE attorney, John obtained Top Secret Clearance and assisted federal and local law enforcement officers assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).

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During his six year tenure with ICE, John was promoted to Senior Attorney. In that position, he trained other government attorneys from ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and state prosecutors.

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John has also trained ICE officers and local law enforcement throughout Florida on a variety of issues including criminal grounds of removability/deportability, search and seizure law, citizenship, forms of relief from removal and many other immigration issues.

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John has also served as a panelist and guest speaker at many Immigration and Criminal Law events throughout Florida and has provided multiple CLE-accredited trainings to attorneys.

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John has appeared on national and local television to talk about immigration issues and criminal cases. John has appeared live on the FoxNews Network national TV Show Fox&Friends multiple times to discuss immigration, border security and national security issues.

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John is a member of the Florida Bar, the Federal Bars for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, Middle and Southern District of Florida, and the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Middle District.

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Prior to becoming an immigration lawyer with ICE, John started his career in criminal law by joining the State Attorney's Office in Jacksonville, Florida in 2002 as a criminal prosecutor. For his first six years, he prosecuted thousands of cases ranging from simple misdemeanors to first degree murder cases.

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John rose through the ranks at the State Attorney's Office becoming a Division Chief over a felony division and oversaw several other Assistant State Attorneys. He also became a member of the homicide unit, prosecuting homicide cases.

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Prior to becoming a lawyer, John obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History with a minor in Criminology from the University of Florida in 1999 and graduated with honors. John obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida in 2002, also with honors. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and is an avid Gator Fan.

 

JOHN'S PRACTICE AREAS

• Criminal Defense

• Immigration

• Deportation and Removal

• Bond Hearings

• Removal Hearings

• Appeals

• Citizenship and Naturalization

• Federal and State Seizures and Forfeitures

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Education

• Juris Doctor, University of Florida, 2002; Graduated with Honors

• Bachelor of Arts, University of Florida, 1999; Graduated with Honors

 

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

• Florida, 2002

• Middle District of Florida (Federal), 2014

• Southern District of Florida (Federal), 2015

• United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2017

 

Professional & Bar Association Memberships

• Super Lawyers

• Member Since: 2016

• Selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2016, 2017

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

Member Since: 2014

Chapter Chair (2019-2020), Executive Vice Chair (2017-2019), Secretary (2016-2017), Board of Directors (2015-2016), Chair, Litigation Committee (2015-present) Chair, Practice Management Committee (2014-2016). 2016 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Chapter Award

 

Florida Bar Immigration and Nationality Law Certification Committee

• Member Since: 2017

 

Seminole County Bar Association

• Member Since: 2014

 

Orange County Bar Association

• Member Since: 2016

• Immigration and Nationality Committee Member (Current)

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Catholic Lawyers Guild- Central Florida

• Member Since: 2014

 

Federalist Society

• Member Since: 1999

 

Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce

• Member Since: 2014