Deepak Ahluwalia
Founder/Managing Partner
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
Publications
“Muslims Denied: How the USCIS Uses a Formerly Secret Program to Delay and Reject Naturalization Applications from Muslims and Other Minorities.”
Professional Associations and Memberships
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Member
California Change Lawyers
Board of Directors
Sikh Coalition
Legal Advisory Board Member
Sikh Family Center
Advisory Board
Immigrant and Residents Affairs Committee, City of Fresno
Member
Deepak Ahluwalia Bio
A native of Brampton, Ontario, Deepak Ahluwalia was recently awarded as one of the Top 40 under 40 lawyers by the American Bar Association. His expertise in working with immigrants of varied nationalities has led him to be interviewed by leading media outlets such as: The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Vice News, BBC and CNN.
Getting to this point wasn’t easy. Deepak’s father passed away when he was just 16-years old. To help support his family and save up for law school, he worked two jobs (full-time insurance broker, part-time call center representative) for an average of 60-80 hours a week. After six years of hard work and determination, he was finally able to enroll in law school in August 2011.
Since 2015, Deepak has practiced immigration law, working extensively in matters involving removal defense (including asylum), naturalization, family-based immigration, waivers and consular processing. Thousands of clients have been able to find success in their removal proceedings thanks to his representation.
Having represented individuals and a variety of large, mid-size and smaller companies in their immigration matters, Deepak understands the importance of putting the client’s interests first.
Deepak provides immigration advice and guidance on a pro bono basis to a number of organizations and individuals, including: The Sikh Coalition, The Sikh Family Center, Tahirih Justice Center, Jakara Movement, Catholic Charities, among others. Deepak, also previously served on the Immigrant Affairs Committee for the City of Fresno.
He is also on the Board for various organizations, including: Khalsa Aid, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, California ChangeLawyers, Sikh Coalition and the Sikh Family Center.
Previous work experience
Prior to attending law school, Deepak served as an insurance broker for over four years. The experience taught him the value of attentive client service, and he also learned how to navigate often-confounding bureaucratic processes. As part of serving clients in the insurance industry, he developed a passion for representing others that encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming a licensed attorney.
After achieving his J.D., Deepak worked for one of the top U.S. immigration law firms in Toronto, Ontario, advising clients on employment-based U.S. immigration matters, such as: E, L, H, O, P, and TN visas. Afterwards, he accepted a position from a mid-sized Texas immigration law firm, where he oversaw the removal and deportation department, managing the practice area in three offices located across South Texas.
Law school experience
Deepak Ahluwalia studied at the University of Toronto and Athabasca University, graduating with a B.A. majoring in political science and international relations. He obtained his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Deepak would have been unable to complete law school if not for the generous support of his cousin. Ineligible for financial aid (because he was an international student from Canada), Deepak’s tuition was paid for in full by a loan from his cousin, who also allowed him to live rent-free for three years during his time in law school. His cousin’s only condition: “pay me back when you become an attorney, but not just any attorney — one of the best!”
During law school, Deepak was selected to participate in the Immigration & Human Rights Clinic where he represented low-income immigrant clients in deportation proceedings. He served as staff writer with The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race & Social Justice. His piece titled, “Muslims Denied: How the USCIS Uses a Formerly Secret Program to Delay and Reject Naturalization Applications from Muslims and Other Minorities,” was selected for publication.
Deepak also worked as a law clerk for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Regional Counsel in San Antonio during his studies. As part of his duties, he conducted legal research under the Federal Tort Claims Act. He also drafted memorandums related to discovery, case law, depositions and medical history. With a focus on medical malpractice inquiry, he Interviewed claimants who are pursuing tort claims and completed investigation reports with recommendations on whether to accept or deny the claims. This work built out his early experience with injury law, encouraging him to stand up for the rights of injured clients as well as those seeking reprieve from immigration law.
Deepak was a participant in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition as a second and third-year law student. Also during law school, Deepak worked at the Office of International Student & Scholar Services at St. Mary’s University, where he facilitated the legal admission of international students in obtaining and maintaining lawful status and proper work authorization under the USCIS. During law school, Deepak was also the vice-president of the Asian-Pacific American Law Student Association.
St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D., 2014
- Immigration & Human Rights Clinic, Student Attorney
- The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race & Social Justice, Staff Writer
- Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, Participant
- Asian-Pacific American Law Student Association, Vice-President
- Office of International Student & Scholar Services, Senior International Advisor and Program Manager
Athabasca University, B.A., 2011
John W. Lawit
Of Counsel
Admissions
Texas
New Mexico
Pennsylvania
Publications
Author of “The New Mexico Immigration and Nationality Law Practice Act”
Professional Associations and Memberships
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Member
The Albuquerque Bar Association
Member
The El Paso Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers
Member
Bio
John has been practicing immigration law for over 40 years, Consulting individuals in need all over the world. He was once appointed by the United States Department of Justice to be a U.S Immigration Judge and was the youngest attorney to be selected. John has received the AV rating, the highest possible rating from the prestigious Martindale Hubble Law Directory, is listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, appears in Who’s Who in American Law and has also been listed in Best Lawyers in America for over twenty years.
Previous work experience
- Served on the board of directors of the New Mexico ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
- Volunteer attorney of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
- Foreign Legal Consultant under the Law Society of British Columbia since 2009
- Served as an adjunct professor of immigration law at Texas Tech. School of Law
- Professor of immigration law at the University of New Mexico’s School of Law
Education
University of New Mexico, B.A (1972)
University of New Hampshire School of Law, J.D (1977)
Staff
Deepak Ahluwalia
Founder & Managing Partner
John Lawit
Of Counsel
Timothy Greenberg
Senior Attorney
Amandeep Mangat
Senior Paralegal
Raisa Islam
Senior Paralegal
Kiran Sandhu
Paralegal
Jazmin Santos
Paralegal
Jugnu Bhandal
Legal Assistant
Noorjot Kaur
Legal Assistant
Aditi Kapoor
Administrative Support Manager
Ramneek Bhullar
Litigation Support Analyst
Akshay Motan
Administrative Analyst
Virender Singh
Administrative Analyst
Lovnish Mehra
Intake Specialist
Ashima Kapoor
Administrative Assistant
Isha Singh
Administrative Assistant
Job Opportunities
We seek to build a team that brings a variety of perspectives and backgrounds to our law firm. While we continuously receive inquiries, we operate with a small staff, and openings are infrequent.
We do not have any openings at this time but feel free to send us your resume to info@singhahluwalia.com.
About Our Pro-Bono Partnerships
Singh Ahluwalia Immigration Law Firm is committed to expanding the capacity of non-profit organizations by providing immigration legal services to those organizations at no cost. Listed below are some of the organizations our firm has provided pro-bono services to.