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Benjamin T. Wiesinger
Education
- Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2008
- Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts, B. A., 2003
Bar Membership
- Admitted before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Admitted in Arizona
- Admitted before the United States District Court of Arizona
Professional Associations
- Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Member - Immigration Section of State Bar of Arizona
- Member - State Bar or Arizona
Languages Spoken
- Spanish
- English
Mr. Wiesinger was born in Berkeley, California, and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. After graduating from North High School, Mr. Wiesinger enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served four years as an Engineering Journeyman.
Mr. Wiesinger graduated from Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts in 2003 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish Literature and a Certificate in International Economics. Mr. Wiesinger is fluent in Spanish and speaks some Portuguese. He worked for a year as a substitute Spanish teacher before going to law school. Mr. Wiesinger graduated from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law with a Juris Doctorate in 2007, and received his Arizona law license in 2008.
Mr. Wiesinger began working at Pope & Associates in February of 2008, where he is now the senior associate attorney. Mr. Wiesinger has appeared in every Immigration Court in Arizona where he has litigated a wide variety of cases, from simple bonds to complex asylum and cancellation of removal cases. Mr. Wiesinger is also the primary brief writer and appellate litigator for Pope & Associates. He has worked on hundreds of appeals and motions to reopen to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Mr. Wiesinger is highly regarded in the community as one of the best Federal litigators in Phoenix. He has written more than 100 briefs to the Ninth Circuit, conducted eight oral arguments before the Court, and has worked on four successful petitions for citizenship in the U.S. District Court of Arizona.
A dedicated family man, Mr. Wiesinger is married to Christina and they have two beautiful children. Together they enjoy cooking, hiking and camping with their dogs, and they are active in their church.
We are proud and humbled about our record of appellate cases. I have been counsel of record or assisted in the briefing in the following published opinions: Morales-Garcia v. Holder, 567 F.3d 1058 (9th Cir. 2009); Mendoza v. Holder, 606 F.3d 1137 (9th Cir. 2010); Rojas v. Holder, 704 F.3d 792 (9th Cir. 2012); Matter of Davey, 26 I&N Dec. 37 (BIA 2012); Murillo-Prado v. Holder, 735 F.3d 1152 (9th Cir. 2013); Cornejo-Villagrana v. Whitaker, 912 F.3d 479 (9th Cir. 2017); Duran- Rodriguez v. Barr, 918 F.3d 1025 (9th Cir. 2019); Altayar v. Barr, 947 F.3d 544 (9th Cir. 2020); Akosung v. Barr, Case No. No. 17-72829 (9th Cir., Aug. 14, 2020).
Please visit these links to my oral arguments:
- Rojas v. Holder, 704 F.3d 792 (9th Cir. 2012)
https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/view.php?pk_id=0000009680 - Obeid v. Holder, Case No. 08-72944 (9th Cir., Mar. 12, 2012)
https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/view.php?pk_id=0000008907 - Velazquez-Soberanes v. Holder, Case No. 11-73668 (9th Cir., Nov. 6, 2014)
https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/view_video.php?pk_vid=0000006628 - King v. Lynch, Case No. 11-73855 (9th Cir., Aug. 19, 2015)
https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/view_video.php?pk_vid=0000007152 - Cornejo-Villagrana v. Whitaker, 912 F.3d 479 (9th Cir. 2017)
https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/view_video.php?pk_vid=0000011603 - Monreal-De Leon v. Barr, Case No. 18-71853 (9th Cir., Dec. 5, 2019)
https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/view_video.php?pk_vid=0000016221 - Altayar v. Barr, 947 F.3d 544 (9th Cir. 2020)
https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/view_video.php?pk_vid=0000016364 - Akosung v. Barr, Case No. No. 17-72829 (9th Cir., Aug. 14, 2020)
https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/view_video.php?pk_vid=0000016915
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Luciana Galarza
Education
- J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, 2019
- Administrative Editor, Journal of Law Technology & Policy
- B.S. Environmental & Resource Management, Arizona State University, 2013
Professional Associations
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- State Bar of Arizona
Admissions
- U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Luciana was born in Durango, Mexico and was raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She earned her B.S. in Environmental & Resource Management at Arizona State University and is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law. Since joining Pope & Associates, Luciana has successfully represented individuals in removal proceedings before the Phoenix Immigration Court. Luciana also represents individuals before U.S. Embassies and Consulates, USCIS, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
While in law school, Luciana successfully handled a cancellation of removal case while interning at the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago, a non-profit that offers legal services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Luciana also participated in the Domestic Violence and Immigration Clinic at the College of Law where she successfully handled a VAWA case and earned the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for the highest grade in the clinic. Luciana also represented children and parents in abuse and neglect cases at the Champaign County Court through the College’s Family Advocacy Clinic. Luciana also served as the President of the Latino/a Law Student Association at the College of Law.
Additionally, Luciana received advanced training in trial advocacy and professional responsibility while in law school through the Jerome Mirza Trial Academy in Chicago.
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Pedro Angel
Education
- Florida State University, double major with a B.S. in Political Science and International Affairs.
- Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Juris Doctorate in 2024
Bar Membership
- Admitted in Arizona
Professional Associations
- Member – Youth and Development Chair of the Chicano/Latino Law Student Association
- Member – Associate Editor of the Sports and Entertainment Law Journal.
Languages Spoken
- English
- Spanish
Pedro Angel was born in San Salvador, El Salvador, and immigrated when he was only two years old. His family settled in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Mr. Angel attended Florida State University, where he earned a double major with a B.S. in Political Science and International Affairs. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona to attend Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, from which he graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 2024. Following graduation, Mr. Angel began working for Pope & Associates as their newest associate. Mr. Angel is fluent in Spanish.
While attending Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Mr. Angel earned the CALI Excellence for the Future Award having earned the highest grade in his Asylum Law class. He served as the Youth and Development Chair of the Chicano/Latino Law Student Association. Mr. Angel was an Associate Editor of the Sports and Entertainment Law Journal. Mr. Angel interned at Salvatierra Law Group where he assisted in preparing U-Visa, VAWA, and adjustment of status applications.
During his free time, Mr. Angel enjoys staying active doing hikes, playing basketball, or golfing. He spends his time playing fantasy football with his South Florida friends, and being a proud black cat dad. He also enjoys listening to all types of music and prides himself on his growing vinyl collection.
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John Pope, In Memoriam
Education
- The John Marshall Law School, Juris Doctor, 1978
- University of Illinois, B. A. with University Honors, 1973
Bar Membership
- Admitted in Arizona and Illinois
- Admitted before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Professional Associations
- Member American Immigration Lawyers Association
- Member - Immigration Section of State Bar of Arizona
- Member - Chicago Bar Association
- Member - American Bar Association
Languages Spoken
- English
- Spanish
Mr. Pope is the founder and President of Pope & Associates, PC, a full service law firm specializing in immigration matters. Current practice includes deportation defense, appeals, bonds, family visas, all types of business visas, asylum and deferred actions.
Mr. Pope has been in practice since 1978. A graduate of the University of Illinois, with honors and The John Marshall Law School. Mr. Pope worked in the corporate world as counsel, until 1985.
In 1985, Mr. Pope founded Pope & Associates, working with banks and businesses doing workouts and turnarounds. From 1991 to 1995 he worked with the RummlerBrache consulting group, where he served as a senior consultant primarily working with the banking industry.
In 1995, Mr. Pope founded Pope Consulting, Inc., to work with banks and financial institutions on all manner of legal and operational projects.
Pope & Associates, PC became a full service immigration law firm in 2001 and Mr. Pope has served as its Managing Attorney since. From 2004 to 2006 Mr. Pope served as a founding partner in Stender and Pope, PC., an immigration law firm. In 2006, the firm reverted to Pope and Associates.
Pope & Associates works for its immigrant clients to obtain and protect their legal status in the United States. As a litigation firm, Pope & Associates handles over 1000 cases per year, in immigration court, with the Board of Immigration Appeals and at the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, with very favorable results.
Additionally, Pope & Associates handles numerous family cases and all types of business based visa cases and administrative appeals, including investor visas, labor certifications and other business or professional visas.
Mr. Pope passed away August 22, 2022. He is survived by his beloved wife Peggy, his children, step-children, and grandchildren.
