Maria E. Andrade
EMAIL:
mandrade@andradelegal.com
PHONE:
(208) 342-5100
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Federal Immigration Litigation, Deportation (Removal) Defense, Bond Hearings, Immigration Consequences Of Crimes, Employer Sanctions, Employment Visas, Complex Family Matters, Motions To Reopen, Board of Immigration Appeals.
EDUCATION
University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1995
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, B.A., 1990
Admitted to practice law in Idaho, Oregon and California.
Admitted to practice before the federal Courts of Appeals for the 5th, 9th and 10th Circuits.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE & AFFILIATIONS
Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Defender Service of Idaho.
Steering Committee of Federal Litigation Section of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and on mentor sub-committee.
Advisory committee member of American Immigration Law Foundation’s Legal Action Center to advise the LAC about its ongoing litigation.
Member of Board of Directors of the National Immigration Project of National Lawyers Guild, a respected national advocate for non-citizens in removal proceedings, detention and a frequent plaintiff in important immigration litigation across the country.
Idaho AILA Chapter, Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) Liaison
Idaho Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Member
Formerly served as on American Immigration Lawyers Association national liaison committee to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the enforcement arm of DHS and the association’s national amicus committee.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-e-andrade-33b81434
FB: IdahoDreamers
LANGUAGES
Spanish
BACKGROUND
Ms. Andrade was first employed as an attorney by the Legal Aid Services of Oregon in Pendleton, Oregon to represent farm workers in employment and immigration law claims followed by three years as staff attorney with Public Advocates, Inc. representing national non-profits such as National Council of La Raza, Consumers Union and World Institute on Disability in cases of state-wide impact. In 2001, Ms. Andrade became the Managing Attorney for the Oregon Law Center in Ontario, Oregon overseeing the office and handling a variety of poverty law and immigration matters.
Ms. Andrade opened the Andrade Legal in 2001 as a single attorney which grew to become Idaho’s largest immigration law firm.
In 2018, Ms. Andrade launched Immigrant Justice Idaho to serve low-income individuals needing representation and educate attorneys and public audiences about immigration law and policy. She served as its first Executive Director and Senior Legal and Policy Advisor through June of 2023. Ms. Andrade previously served as an adjunct professor for the University of Idaho College of Law Immigration Law Clinic and served as the first consulting attorney in Idaho to the Mexican Consulate in Boise, Idaho in immigration, civil and labor matters.
As a member of committees and the board of directors of national immigration associations, Ms. Andrade is aware of cutting edge immigration law and policy trends on a national scale. She is a frequent speaker for immigration, criminal defense law and business audiences across the country.
Ms. Andrade volunteers her time to develop and mentor attorneys to handle immigration matters on a pro bono basis and creating a comprehensive community response to immigration raids in Idaho.
When not working, Ms. Andrade is often riding around town on her bike, walking her dog, tending to young seedlings in the greenhouse, packing for adventures south of the border and making lists of things to do on Monday.