Top Immigration Lawyers in CLEVELAND | 37 available
37 Immigration lawyers are available in CLEVELAND, Ohio, including Bassel Abdallah, Blair Hodgman, Bradley Ortman, and Bruce Allen. These lawyers are rated between 4.5/5 to 4.9/5 and 53% provide free consultation.
Immigration case timelines in Cleveland typically range from 6 to 36 months, depending on case complexity, type, and current court backlogs.
CLEVELAND Court Backlog
Estimated pending immigration cases in the Cleveland area range from 300 (low) to 1,200 (high), reflecting trends in regional court dockets and filings.
Immigration CLEVELAND Filing Volume
Monthly immigration case filings in Cleveland are estimated between 30 and 80, based on recent public court and agency data.
Immigration Case Outcomes
Success rates for immigration cases generally improve at later stages, with approximately 35% resolved favorably pre-litigation, 50% post-filing, and up to 60% at trial, though outcomes vary by case type.
Bassel M. Abdallah is a strong believer that every immigrant to the United States deserves the opportunity to start a new life. His first-hand experience with the U.S. immigration process and extensive legal background make him uniquely qualified to help those in need realize their American dream.. Mr. Abdallah’s experience in the legal world began in his childhood. For many years, he watched his father and older brother practice law in Beirut, Lebanon. It was here that Mr. Abdallah decided to pursue a career in law. Mr. Abdallah graduated first in his class from Lebanese University- Filière Francophone de Droit, with a Bachelor of Laws and was admitted into practice in Lebanon. He furthered his legal education at Paris II Panthéon-Assas University in Paris, France, earning an LLM in Business Law. Intent on furthering his legal education, Mr. Abdallah immigrated to the United States, which piqued his interest in immigration law. He attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, graduating with honors with a Master of Laws in U.S. and Global Legal Studies.
Avvo Review
“rocedures in my nephew's case and situation. Since we gave him the case he's been absolutely profess”
JP Sarmiento, Esq. is the founder and managing attorney of the Sarmiento Immigration Law Firm. Mr. Sarmiento is an immigrant himself, having first entered the United States as an F-1 Student when he was 18. He concentrates his practice on all areas of immigration law, from different types of non-immigrant visas, family, marriage, and employment-based green cards, citizenship and naturalization applications, and asylum and deportation defense. He has broad experience representing foreign nationals from 50 different countries and various small and midsized businesses. He has been to over 25 Immigration Courts and Offices all over the country representing clients for immigration hearings and interviews.. Mr. Sarmiento is authorized to practice immigration law in all fifty states and is admitted to the Ohio Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. He obtained his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law where he received an Excellence in Research and Writing award. Mr. Sarmiento also spent a summer as a judicial extern for Judge Mitchel R. Goldberg at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. He obtained his Bachelors Degree in Economics and Finance, summa cum laude and top of his class at that program, at the Southern New Hampshire University.. In addition to his practice, Mr. Sarmiento maintains an “Immigration Law Blog” designed for foreigners in need of a clear and simplified explanation of immigration law that could help them assess their own situation. He also was a full-time equity trader prior to law school and is still an avid trader on the side.
Avvo Review
“wn case. Atty JP is truly a godsend. He is knowledgeable, kind, extremely accommodating, and answers”
“Mr. Sarmiento is a very passionate attorney who deeply cares about his clients. He is dedicated, hardworking and very knowledgeable. I have worked with JP and I endorse this attorn…”
Jessica Larson joined Okuh & Ibara-Cech Law, LLC as Of Counsel in September 2023. Prior to joining Okuh & Ibara-Cech Law, LLC, Jessica was Of Counsel at MJB Immigration and a partner at Benos & Larson, LLC. Jessica has been in private practice, focusing exclusively on immigration law, since 2012.. Jessica’s practice focuses on removal defense, asylum, family-based immigration, naturalization, and related appeals. Jessica has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2020 and was selected as an Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2017 through 2022. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and serves as the chair of the AILA Ohio Chapter’s EOIR Liaison Committee.
Avvo Review
“recommend anyone with Immigration issues to reach out to Jessica.”
Attorney and Robert Brown LLC Partner Jennifer (“Jenna”) Peyton received her Juris Doctorate from the Case Western University School of Law and is admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio. She is accepted to practice law before the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jenna’s practice focus is removal proceedings, family based cases both within the United States and with consular processing.. Jenna was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up in La Jolla, a small town in San Diego County. During her high school and college years, she studied abroad in Argentina, Italy and spent her junior year of college in Irkutsk, Siberia (Russia). Upon her return from Russia, Jenna graduated from Trinity College, and was awarded the Russian Book Prize for scholastic excellence. She moved to Cleveland in 1995. She is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Case School of Law (Immigration Practicum I and II), and an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Cleveland-Marshall School of Law. She speaks Spanish and Russian.. Jenna is currently the Vice President of Ohio AILA, and a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She has received multiple awards for her pro bono service, notably for her efforts in ending family detention. She is married to Timothy Peyton, and they have two daughters, Margaret and Katherine.
Avvo Review
“She was kind and professional and succeeded in a very difficult and complicated case for me. If you”
“I had the pleasure of working for this delightful lawyer while a law student. Jenna is a compassionate immigration lawyer. Jenna taught me the ropes and guided me as I learned abou…”
815 Superior Ave E Ste 1225 , Cleveland , Ohio 44114
Practice Areas: Immigration
Jathniel Shao is a lawyer in New York, Chicago, Cleveland, and Manila. Originally from Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, Jath grew up bouncing between Asia and America and speaks Hokkien, Mandarin, and Tagalog fluently. He practices the full spectrum of immigration law, from the humanitarian asylum, refugee, or special immigration petitions to all types of family-based and employment immigration and removal defense. He is a member of the bars of New York, Ohio, and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Jath received his BA from Beloit College in Wisconsin, and his JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was a founding board member of the Asian Law Student Association (ALSA) and the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Ohio (FALA Ohio)
33790 Bainbridge Rd, Suite 209 , Cleveland , Ohio 44139
Practice Areas: Immigration
Heather Drabek Prendergast is a member of Aljijakli, Kosseff & Prendergast, LLC, a boutique immigration law firm with offices in Cleveland, OH and New York, NY. Her practice focuses on: complex removal defense including trials, appeals, and federal court litigation; employment-based immigration for skilled professionals; family-based immigration; asylum; and naturalization. Ms. Prendergast is one of 21 Directors elected to serve on the Board of Governors for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), a national association of more than 15,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. From 2015 to 2018, Ms. Prendergast chaired AILA’s National Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Liaison Committee where she met with senior ICE leadership in Washington, D.C. to resolve issues faced by immigrants and their legal counsel when dealing with the agency. She regularly speaks about immigration issues at local, regional, and national conferences, and serves on several conference planning committees as well as AILA’s Department of State Liaison Committee. Ms. Prendergast is an Adjunct Professor at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law where she teaches Immigration & Nationality Law. She is a graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, OH and Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, and is admitted to practice in Ohio, New York, the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is an avid equestrian and runner.
Avvo Review
“vailable to help, provided me with clear information and went above and beyond to find solutions for”
Fabiola Cini, a Partner at Margaret W. Wong & Associates, LLC, received her Law Degree from The University of Tirana Law School in Tirana, Albania in 1997, and her Master of Laws Degree from the Magistrates’ School in Tirana in 2000- the first school of its kind in Albania founded with the support of the European Union. She served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Court of First Instance in Tirana, Albania from 1998-1999 and was thereafter appointed as a judge for the Fier Court of First Instance in Albania where she worked for about three years handling both criminal and civil matters. While attending the Magistrates’ School and working as a Judge in Albania, Mrs. Cini completed several training courses offered by various organizations in Europe such as the European Council of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France; Judicial institutions in Stuttgart, Germany; Zurich, Switzerland; the Legionowo Academy in Poland and the Superior International Institute of Criminal Sciences in Syracuse, Italy with focus on Human Rights, judicial system and fighting against organized crimes. In addition, she participated in professional enhancement programs and obtained certifications in the field of International Secured Transactions, International Public and Trade Law.Mrs. Cini joined the firm and became part of our litigation team in 2005. Having completed an LL.M law degree at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 2013, she passed the Ohio Bar in 2014, and joined the firm as an associate attorney. Long familiar with Fabiola Cini’s excellence, the firm was pleased to invite her to shareholder status in 2016. Mrs. Cini represents clients in a variety of immigration cases including but not limited to litigation in Federal District Courts, Courts of Appeals, Board of Immigration Appeals, Immigration Courts, Department of State and USCIS offices throughout the country . She is also part of the office management.. Mrs. Cini has served as Treasurer for AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Ohio Chapter Executive Committee and as Ohio Chapter AILA asylum liaison.. She has earned Avvo Client’s Choice Award multiple times and has been included in the 2025 and 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for her expertise in Immigration Law (top 5% of legal practitioners in private practice throughout the United States). She has also been listed in the Lawyers of Distinction Directory 2025 as a Featured Lawyer.. Classes & Seminars• Adjunct Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law teaching Immigration Law. Languages• English• Albanian. Professional Associations• Member of American Immigration Lawyer Association since 2016• State of Ohio Bar, May 2014. EducationCleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, OhioLL.M. – 05/2013School of Magistrates, Tirana, Albania, Master of Laws (Magistrate [Judge])2000University of Tirana School of LawLaw Degree – 1997Various training seminars and certificationsInternational Secured Transactions, International Public and Trade LawOther certifications and professional trainings 1999-2002. Bar Admissions• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, 2023 (with jurisdiction over federal appeals arising from the states of Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee)• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 2020 (with jurisdiction over Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Virgin Islands)• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 2020 (jurisdiction over federal cases originating in the states of Alabama, Florida and Georgia)• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 2020• Ohio Bar, 2014• Pro Hac Vice admission in other District Courts
Avvo Review
“Fabiola provided expert advice and legal assistance in my immigration case and it was very successfu”
“I worked with Fabiola on dozens of cases when we were colleagues at the same firm. I believe she is among the most knowledgeable, hard working, and caring attorneys I know.”
815 Superior Ave E Ste 1225 , Cleveland , Ohio 44114
Practice Areas: Immigration
Erin James is a lawyer from Cleveland, Ohio. While attending Case Western Reserve School of law, Erin served as an Executive Editor of the Journal of Law Technology and the Internet and completed an internship in Uganda. She is a graduate of Cleveland State University with a BA in International Relations. Erin then acquired a Master’s in International Relations from Webster University where she studied in five countries including Switzerland and China. Erin has a passion for serving the immigrant community.
Lawyers.com Review
“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Attorney James for several years. She is an intelligent and vigorous advocate. She cares about her clients and works hard to help them …”
Practice Areas: Business & Commercial, Business Formation, Business , Consumer Fraud, Consumer Protection, Contracts, Employment & Labor , Immigration & Naturalization , Labor , Occupational Safety & Health, Products Liability, Sexual Harassment, Immigration, Immigration
Greetings from Cleveland, Ohio! I am the founder and principal member of a boutique law firm Lougovskaia Boop LLC. We are a full-service firm for small and medium-sized businesses. We represent clients in areas of business and construction disputes, product liability, general business law and immigration law. Feel free to browse our website at or drop me a message at We are also available to meet with clients worldwide via Skype technology.
Avvo Review
“Elena was extremely helpful and nice to work with. She was able to help me in something that I think”
20600 Chagrin Blvd, Suite 101 , Cleveland , Ohio 44122
Practice Areas: Immigration & Naturalization , Immigration, Immigration
Past National President/Past General Counsel, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Washington, D.C.; Cleveland, Ohio based immigration attorney; blogger; photographer; educator; world traveler.
Avvo Review
“igently followed up with both the authorities and myself for a period of 13 months. His perseveran”
815 Superior Ave E Ste 1225 , Cleveland , Ohio 44114
Practice Areas: Immigration
I travel extensively and have lived in India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Italy. These world experiences have givem me a unique perspective while working with people of different cultures and nationalities.
Lawyers.com Review
“I have had the pleaseure of working alongside Attorney Rozario for over 18 years. Charmaine heads our firm's Employment Immigration division, working closely with companies, both l…”
Kathryn (Katie) P. Russell received her Juris Doctorate Cum Laude from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and is admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio. Katie graduated from John Carroll University Magna Cum Laude with a double major in History: Latin American Studies Concentration and Spanish. She is fluent in Spanish and has studied at the Universidad Centroamericana with the Casa de la Solidaridad Program in El Salvador and at the Universidad del Pacífico in Lima, Peru. Prior to pursuing her legal career, Katie served as a Jesuit Volunteer at YMCA International Services in Houston, Texas while specializing in Central American Victim of Human Trafficking and refugee resettlement cases. Katie has been with Robert Brown, LLC since 2009 and is experienced in family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, removal defense, and citizenship
Avvo Review
“heduled time, however she was really patient and kind that she gave me an alternative to connect via”
“I don't know many attorneys in Cleveland, let alone the world, who care more about what they do than Katie. She loves her work. She loves to make a difference. She also produces am…”
Disclaimer: This content is based on aggregated public information and estimated market trends. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
