Christopher & De León Law Office

06/05/2026

🚨 FEDERAL JUDGE STRIKES DOWN USCIS POLICIES TARGETING IMMIGRANTS FROM 39 COUNTRIES 🚨

A federal judge has ruled that USCIS unlawfully placed immigration applications into prolonged limbo based largely on an applicant's nationality or country of birth. The court found that USCIS lacked the legal authority to freeze or delay cases in this manner.

This ruling may affect pending applications involving:

✅ Permanent Residence (Green Cards / Adjustment of Status)
✅ Employment Authorization (Work Permits)
✅ Naturalization (Citizenship)
✅ Asylum Applications and Related Benefits
✅ Other USCIS Immigration Benefits

Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean reportedly affected by these policies include:

🇭🇹 Haiti
🇻🇪 Venezuela
🇨🇺 Cuba

Before anyone gets too excited, it is important to understand what this decision does and does not do.

❌ It does NOT automatically approve any immigration application.

❌ It does NOT eliminate background checks, security screening, or eligibility requirements.

✅ What it does mean is that USCIS cannot place applicants into indefinite administrative limbo solely because of their nationality without a lawful basis to do so. Immigration cases must be adjudicated under the law and based on the individual facts of each case.

This is a significant ruling for many families who have been waiting months or years for decisions on applications that appeared to be stalled for reasons unrelated to their individual eligibility.

As always, every case is different. If you believe your application has been delayed for an unusual amount of time, consult with a qualified immigration attorney to determine whether this decision may impact your case. In addition, the government may continue litigation on this matter, which may change this federal ruling.

*This post is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.*

The judge invalidated policies the Trump administration enacted last year that halted asylum grants, as well as the processing of immigration benefits for people from 39 countries.

06/02/2026

If you listen carefully to these mothers, you will notice something important.

They are not asking for handouts or special treatment. They are asking for the opportunity to care for their families and to have their cases decided fairly under the law.

They have shown up. They have followed the process. They have endured separation, detention, and uncertainty. And yet, after everything they have been through, they still speak with gratitude for this country. That is what strikes me most, pure gratitude.

And if you listen carefully to Marc's words, he is not speaking simply as an attorney. He is speaking as a father and as the father of a daughter.

There is a famous scene in one of my favorite films, A Time to Kill, where attorney Jake Brigance, played by Matthew McConaughey, asks the jury to close their eyes and imagine that the victim was their daughter. His point was simple: before you judge, put yourself in someone else's shoes. That is all we are asking here.

There seems to be a misconception that strength and empathy are opposites. They are not. In my experience, the strongest people are often the most empathetic. It takes very little effort to judge from a distance. It takes real strength to place yourself in another person's shoes and imagine their pain, their fear, and their hopes.

I have read some of the comments. Many are thoughtful and supportive. Some are not. Some are filled with anger, assumptions, and hostility toward our clients and my husband. The truth is, I do not feel anger when I read those comments. I feel sadness.

I feel sad when people refuse to understand the law before judging someone. I feel sad when empathy is dismissed as weakness. I feel sad when a human being's worth is reduced to a headline, a political talking bit, or an immigration status.

Because that is not a solution. That is not justice. That is not civility. Marc and I are a small mom-and-pop law firm. We do this work because we care. We meet families. We know their children. We hear their stories. We see the fear, the hope, the sacrifice, and the love that exists behind every case file.

And when we look at these amazing women like Elvira and Yessenia, we cannot help but think about our own daughter. If our daughter were ever in danger, ever needed refuge, ever needed someone to see her humanity before judging her circumstances, we would pray that someone would step forward and help her. That perspective does not make us weak. It makes us human.

Today, I am choosing to focus on the success stories. Two mothers will reunite with their families, as they should and as the law allowed. They have been through the unimaginable.

Welcome Home, Elvira and Yessenia!

— Attorney Eloisa De Leon

Elvira Benitez-Suarez of Sheboygan Falls was released from ICE custody last week, while a federal judge ordered former MPS teacher's aide Yessenia Ruano be allowed to return to the U.S.

05/29/2026

We are thrilled for Yessenia and her family!!! ❤️

Yessenia Ruano self-deported to El Salvador last year after immigration officials denied her request to stay in the country. Now, a federal judge says she must be allowed to return to the U.S.

05/27/2026

Attorney Marc Christopher shares the emotional toll Elvira’s detention took on her family and the overwhelming relief of seeing her finally reunited with her loved ones after nearly three months in ICE custody with TMJ4. Elvira is finally home!

Sheboygan Falls mother Elvira Benitez-Suarez has been released from ICE detention after being held for nearly 3 months in Kentucky. Read more at the link in the comments.

05/27/2026

****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****

Today, Elvira Benitez finally came home.

After months of fear, uncertainty, and separation, a mother is finally back where she belongs, with her family.

For decades, Elvira built a life here, raised her children, worked hard, and followed the legal process. Yet even after winning her case, she was still taken away from the people who love her most.

Tonight, her family gets to hold her again.

And that is everything.

05/13/2026

Did you know our office provides limited representation support to immigration law firms with clients in Wisconsin and the Chicago area?

Attorneys Marc E. Christopher and Eloisa De Leon regularly assist firms by attending asylum interviews on behalf of clients and providing detailed post-interview summaries and observations to retained counsel.

We understand that immigration attorneys across the country may need trusted local counsel to assist with interviews when travel, scheduling, or logistics become difficult. Our office works closely with referring law firms to ensure professional communication, thorough preparation, and strong client support throughout the process.

With extensive experience in asylum law and immigration interviews, we are committed to providing reliable, collaborative representation tailored to your firm’s needs.

If your firm is looking for experienced local counsel support in Wisconsin or Chicago, feel free to contact our office to discuss how we can assist.

Call now to connect with business.

05/11/2026

People do not see the emotional, financial, and legal reality families face when a loved one is detained.

Immigration cases like Elvira’s are not only emotionally devastating for families, but they are also incredibly expensive and urgent. There are filing fees, travel costs, document gathering, detention-related expenses, and extensive legal work that must happen quickly and continuously. We've done everything possible to keep costs low for this family because we advocate for people, not profit from their pain. DHS's dreadful and unnecessary decision to re-detain her despite winning her case in immigration court and obtaining a pathway to her lawful permanent residency has created another legal hurdle for her and her family. Elvira had to file a federal claim in federal court, requiring the retention of out-of-state legal counsel, as she is currently detained in Kentucky.

The reality is that these cases still place an enormous burden on families already living through fear and separation. Their families have to survive too.

Elvira’s family is fighting every day to bring her home to Wisconsin. They need community support now more than ever. Even sharing this post can make a difference.

Please consider donating to Elvira if you are able, and help spread the word.

Elvira’s family is fighting to bring her back home to Wisconsin, but legal defense is expensive, urgent, and ongoing.

The family fundraiser is only at 5% of its goal, and community support is needed now more than ever. Please donate if you can and share widely: https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-elvira-help-free-our-mom
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La familia de Elvira está luchando para traerla de regreso a casa en Wisconsin, pero la defensa legal es costosa y urgente.

Su recaudación apenas ha alcanzado el 5% de la meta, y el apoyo de la comunidad es más necesario que nunca. Si puedes, dona y comparte: https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-elvira-help-free-our-mom

05/11/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCos3CPpN9Q So sickening and cruel. There is no point (either practical or legal) to these detentions other than to be cruel to people who look and sound different. We are so beneath this as a country.

In an exclusive interview, a court translator and single mom of four talks about spending more than six weeks in ICE custody. Meenu Batra, who was recently r...

04/24/2026

The recent case involving this individual has sparked a lot of discussion, now especially around the use of a deferred prosecution agreement. This person isn't our client, but we've worked with others who entered similar agreements and achieved positive outcomes, including rehabilitation and success in their lives. This post is not meant to excuse the conduct at issue. What is alleged here, based on the reported facts, is serious and inexcusable. But it is important to provide context on such agreements.

Deferred prosecution agreements are not a “slap on the wrist.” Based on the news report, the charge can be dismissed only if the individual remains crime-free for a set period. Meaning, a dismissal is conditioned on compliance over time and not automatic forgiveness. Oftentimes, there is already out/inpatient treatment and heavy evidence to demonstrate efforts to rehabilitate, hence the 1-year compliance, among other requirements.

As former prosecutors, we can say this: deferred prosecution agreements are often structured with very real consequences. If a person violates the terms, they can face not only the original charge but sometimes additional penalties. These agreements are designed to hold individuals accountable while also creating a strong incentive for compliance and rehabilitation. And here is where context matters. As mentioned above, the underlying allegations here, drug use in a school setting, are serious and, based on the reported facts, inexcusable.

But the criminal justice system is not built on punishment alone. Its purpose is threefold:

Accountability
Deterrence
Rehabilitation

Deferred prosecution agreements sit at that intersection. They are not giveaways; they are conditional second chances with significant risk attached if violated. And those agreements are no longer offered if future violations occur beyond the 1-year period.

While reasonable minds can differ on outcomes in specific cases, I trust that prosecutors weighed the gravity of the facts, the available evidence, and the broader goals of justice when reaching this resolution. The defense is doing the work on their end to meet compliance. These decisions are rarely simple, and they are almost never as lenient as they appear at first glance.

A review date was set for April 27, 2027.

04/18/2026

Kudos to Franklin High School students John Akgun and Nolan Gertz for their outstanding work on “Roar Short: The Cost of Silence”. We appreciate the opportunity to participate on this documentary, which highlights the importance of youth advocacy and exercising the First Amendment.

This Short Documentary was produced by John Akgun and Nolan Gertz