We know what it is like to not have lawful status in the United States. Juan Rocha entered the United States as a child. When he was four years old, his parents were deported to Mexico after Border Patrol conducted a raid at a car wash in Scottsdale, Arizona (the car wash is still there), leaving him in the care of his maternal aunt. His mother was afraid to enroll him in kindergarten because the State of Texas felt it had no obligation to provide a public-school education to undocumented children. (The Supreme Court disagreed with Texas). After he and his family were granted amnesty in 1987, Juan Rocha’s father took his family to Disneyland, a landmark of Americana, to celebrate the freedom of no longer having to live in fear. This is why our clients’ stories and circumstances are personal to us, because we know what it feels to be separated from our loved ones, live in uncertainty, and understand the sacrifices our parents make to leave their homelands for a better life.
We use our resources to contribute to the community. In 2017, Juan was recognized by the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Immigration Rights Project and the Arizona State Bar for his pro bono work representing clients in immigration court. We believe this is an important part of our professional responsibility.