Immigration Law Firm Closes Amid Legal Troubles

A prominent immigration law firm that catered to thousands is now out of business, facing multiple lawsuits and allegations of fraud. Reports suggest it even shared its controversial methods with other firms nationwide.

The Seattle-based firm, known as “Luz Legal” or “La Luz del Camino Legal,” founded by attorney Alexandra Lozano, has shut its doors this month. This closure followed Lozano’s decision to give up her law license to avoid a disciplinary hearing by the Washington State Bar Association.

A federal lawsuit emerged around the same time as the firm’s closure. It was filed in Ohio against another firm accused of replicating the questionable practices of Lozano’s operation. The suit claims that within her firm, there was a component that trained lawyers across the country to duplicate her alleged misconduct.

Robert Anthony Alvarez, the attorney representing the plaintiff in Ohio, stated, “She had an educational arm in her practice that traveled the country selling the system to immigration attorneys, particularly to female attorneys.”

This closure comes on the heels of a lawsuit from former clients who described the firm’s services as “illusory, negligent, and even fraudulent.” Lozano responded by portraying herself as a victim, asserting that the scrutiny faced by her company was unwarranted.

“As you know, our company has faced increasing challenges and unwarranted scrutiny in recent years. After careful consideration, we have decided that closing our office is the best course of action,” Lozano mentioned in a statement. “This decision was not taken lightly. Our customers are always at the heart of everything we do, and this announcement marks one of the most difficult moments in our company’s history.”

The firm handled numerous visa cases under the Violence Against Women Act, including U visas for crime victims and T visas for human trafficking victims. Yet, they are now accused of a range of fraudulent practices, such as fabricating claims, advising clients to apply for improperly obtained benefits, and having clients sign blank forms that were later filled without their consent.

The federal lawsuit in question was lodged last month in Seattle District Court by nine former clients who alleged misleading practices. The filing includes claims that Lozano encouraged clients to falsely apply for federal immigration benefits and misled them about the reasons for their applications.

One particularly striking allegation involves a document submitted to the government that falsely claimed an immigrant couple’s daughter had been abused, enabling a visa application that was, in fact, ineligible. The firm charged the client $32,000 for these services.

Interestingly, despite the shutdown of Luz Legal, messages left at its Portland office suggest it’s still being presented as the home base for operations, implying that Lozano might still be planning to practice as an immigration attorney.