Law Offices of Michael Ponder PLLC

08/07/2026

Congratulations to our client Guillermo, who just became a lawful permanent resident of the United States! 🇺🇸🎉
Guillermo's case involved one of the more challenging paths to a green card. It takes patience, persistence, and careful preparation, and today all of that paid off. We could not be happier for him and his family.
If you or someone you love is trying to fix their immigration status, the Law Offices of Michael Ponder is here to help. We have guided families through cases like this one for over 20 years.
📞 (512) 300-0810
🌐 ponderimmigration.com

05/23/2026

What the May 21, 2026 USCIS Memo Means for Your Green Card Application

What the May 21, 2026 USCIS Memo Means for Your Green Card Application On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a new policy memorandum, PM-602-0199, that changes how the agency will evaluate adjustment of status applications. Adjustment of status is the process by which a

05/18/2026

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction blocking critical parts of Texas Senate Bill 4, the law that gave state magistrate judges the power to order people convicted of illegal entry to leave the country. However, a provision allowing state and local police to arrest people suspected of crossing the border illegally did take effect on May 15. Civil rights groups argued the blocked sections were unconstitutional because immigration enforcement falls under the federal government's sole authority, and the court agreed enough to halt them while litigation continues.

A U.S. judge on Thursday granted a preliminary injunction against critical sections of Senate Bill 4, but a provision allowing police to arrest people suspected of illegal entry did activate.

04/05/2026

Wishing a happy and peaceful Easter to all the families we've had the privilege of serving over the years. This holiday is a reminder of renewal, hope, and new beginnings. Those are values at the heart of every immigration journey we've been honored to be part of.
From our family to yours. ¡Felices Pascuas!

02/20/2026

Good news in immigration: A federal judge in California ruled the government can’t use a sweeping “mandatory detention/no bond” policy as a shortcut, and reaffirmed a basic principle: people deserve due process, including the chance to ask for release while their case is pending. For families, that can mean the difference between a parent coming home or not.

If you’ve been feeling discouraged lately, let this be a reminder: the law still has guardrails, and it’s not all bad news. We’re seeing deserving people get approved every week—and with the right strategy and preparation, it can still be done.

Source: Reuters (Feb 19, 2026):

A federal judge threw out on Wednesday an administrative board's decision endorsing the Trump administration's policy of subjecting thousands of people arrested during its immigration crackdown to mandatory detention.

02/03/2026

I want to answer a question I hear constantly:

“My child is a U.S. citizen and over 21 — can they help me get my green card?”

Sometimes, yes. But there isn’t one simple answer because immigration law depends heavily on how you entered the U.S. and your history.

If you entered with a visa, there is a good chance that you may be eligible to apply for your green card in the U.S. through adjustment of status.

If you entered without permission, you may still qualify through other paths—like Military Parole in Place (for military families), 245(i) (older filings), DACA advance parole (for some), a U visa (certain crime victims), or consular processing with a waiver when you have a qualifying relative (often a U.S. citizen or green card holder spouse or parent) to support that waiver approach.

If you’re not sure which category you fit into—this is exactly where good legal advice helps. Call us if you'd like help.

01/04/2026

Today we’re celebrating a wonderful outcome: a green card approval.

In these challenging times, it matters to share good news—family-based immigration cases are still being approved, and with the right legal guidance, it is generally safe to attend your local USCIS interview as scheduled.

This family’s future is more secure, and we are honored to have helped them reach this milestone.

12/30/2025

Preparar una petición VAWA sólida requiere pruebas claras y bien organizadas.

Aquí tienes cuatro consejos esenciales para fortalecer tu solicitud:
1️⃣ Reúne cualquier documento que muestre el abuso como informes policiales, registros médicos, fotos o mensajes.
2️⃣ Escribe una declaración personal detallada explicando tu relación y el abuso que experimentaste.
3️⃣ Recopila declaraciones de apoyo de amigos, familiares, consejeros u otras personas que hayan presenciado lo ocurrido.
4️⃣ Organiza tus pruebas por categorías para que USCIS pueda entender fácilmente cada requisito.

Un expediente completo y bien estructurado puede mejorar significativamente tus posibilidades de aprobación.
📩 Tu consulta es totalmente confidencial.