For immigrant families navigating the maze of deportation defense, visa applications, and complex status issues, trust is everything. A lawyer becomes more than a service provider—they become a lifeline. Someone who holds your future, your freedom, and often your entire savings in their hands.
But what happens when that trust is allegedly betrayed?
In recent months, a growing number of former clients have come forward with troubling allegations against the practices of Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. Their stories—which, if fully verified, suggest a pattern of steep fees, broken promises, and alleged case abandonment that has reportedly resulted in significant harm to vulnerable immigrant clients.
This isn’t just client dissatisfaction. These are allegations that speak to fear, financial loss, emotional hardship, and serious, potentially irreversible immigration consequences.
And now, people are demanding answers and full accountability.
A Pattern That Demands Immediate Regulatory Review
The allegations shared by former clients are deeply serious. Individually, each case of alleged professional misconduct is heartbreaking. Together, they paint a picture that advocates say suggests a systemic pattern of financial and ethical irregularity that warrants immediate regulatory review.
Here are some of the stories that have ignited public concern and support the demand for accountability:
1. A $20,000 Bill and Silence Behind Bars
One former client says he was charged over $20,000 for a case typically quoted at a fraction of that cost. While detained—terrified and isolated—he claims his attorney never sent him a single update or letter. Critical legal strategies were allegedly overlooked, leaving him transferred hundreds of miles away from his family.
To this day, he describes the experience as “paying five figures for fear and abandonment.”
2. A Refund Promise That Allegedly Disappeared
Another former client recounts paying $3,000 toward an I-751 petition. After what he describes as a sudden change in strategy and then abandonment, he says the firm promised a full refund. Instead, he received only $1,750 and no explanation for why the remaining funds were kept.
For him, it felt like “paying for nothing but humiliation.”
3. A $14,000 Commitment—And Years of Confusion
A couple claims they paid $14,000 for help with a petition and were told future detention-related assistance was included. When detention occurred, they allege the promise went unfulfilled. Worse, they say the case was dropped without notice—twice.
When they asked for a refund, they say they were handed only $4,000 back and spoken to “condescendingly.”
4. A Contract, a $22,500 Fee, and an Alleged Threat
Mr. Jimenez reports paying a flat fee of $22,500 for U visa and removal defense. Mr. Jimenez asserts that the written contract expressly prohibited additional charges. Nevertheless, he alleges the firm subsequently demanded up to $35,000 more in fees.
Following the departure of his attorney, Mr. Jimenez states the firm allegedly failed to assign new counsel for a significant period. This failure resulted in missed filings, including a lack of opposition to a Department of Homeland Security motion, which subsequently led to the reactivation of his deportation case.
When Mr. Jimenez refused to pay the additional, disputed fees—contending they violated the original agreement—he reports being subjected to a recorded communication where an attorney allegedly threatened to escalate his immigration consequences. Mr. Jimenez contends that this was a threat to pay the disputed fees or face expedited deportation.
Furthermore, Mr. Jimenez states that despite repeated requests, the firm has refused to provide a full refund, an itemized accounting of the fees, or his complete case file, an alleged violation of state bar rules.
5. A Simple Case—Until It Was Too Late
Mr. Mauricio Vélez Tobón alleges he paid over $8,000 under the assurance that his case was straightforward. After more than a year of delays, he says he was told the firm had overlooked critical elements and could no longer file his case.
He received only a partial refund and fears he may have missed his eligibility window entirely.
Why These Stories Matter
These are allegations—not conclusions. But the sheer volume and consistency of the reports have raised serious questions.
Questions about:
- Whether immigrant families are being overcharged for work not performed
- Whether critical cases are being abandoned mid-process
- Whether clients are being pressured into paying more than their contracts require
- Whether negligence or mismanagement is causing irreversible immigration harm
The communities affected by these allegations include asylum seekers, domestic violence survivors, long-term residents, and families already traumatized by the immigration system.
They deserve to be heard.
And most importantly—they deserve oversight.
A Call for an Independent Investigation
Advocates and affected families are now urging authorities to intervene. They want:
- A full civil and criminal investigation into the practices of the firm
- A review of attorney licenses if misconduct is found
- Full restitution for clients whose allegations are substantiated
No assumptions. No premature conclusions.
Just a fair, transparent inquiry into serious, life-altering claims.
Why Community Voices Matter Now
Immigration law is one of the least protected professional arenas in the United States. Many families lack the language, resources, or legal knowledge to advocate for themselves when something goes wrong.
That’s why collective visibility—and public pressure—matter.
Every signature on the related petition represents a demand for accountability.
A refusal to let vulnerable families be silenced.
A commitment to protecting immigrant communities from potential exploitation.
Standing With Those Who Stand to Lose Everything
This is not about vilifying attorneys.
It’s about protecting people who place their trust—and often their entire future—in the hands of professionals bound by ethical duties.
The allegations raised must be investigated.
The families affected must be heard.
And the immigrant community must be protected.
To read the full petition and add your voice, visit Change.org and search for “Call for Action: Accountability for Alleged Irregularities at Landerholm Immigration, APC”
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