Mission Statement

Attorney Brenda Montes has been an immigration attorney for the past seven (7) years.  She opened her immigration law practice Montes Law Firm in 2018, her office is currently located in Pasadena, California. Ms. Montes practices in numerous areas of immigration law: deportation and removal defense in Immigration Court, immigration bond hearings, asylum, family petitions, consular processing, family petitions, naturalization, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), humanitarian requests, U-Visas and several other forms of relief.

Ms. Montes’ passion to service the immigrant community comes from her background; seeing her immigrant parents struggle through trials and challenges to successfully settle in the U.S. Ms. Montes’ family was blessed to be in the U.S. during Reagan’s amnesty, as such, Ms. Montes understands that immigration laws are arbitrary and complex.  

Ms. Montes’ is proud that clients characterize her practice as aggressive towards fighting their case and caring for their individual well-being. It is her passion to educate and empower the immigrant community so they can succeed.

Ms. Montes’ commitment to the immigrant community began as a student at the CSU, Fullerton where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Latin American Studies and Women’s Studies. As a student, Attorney Montes was a nationally competitive varsity debater where she and her debate partner were ranked 13th best in the nation and was awarded the prestigious “Debater of the Year” accolade. Her passion for crafting and presenting an argument have served Attorney Montes’ clients well as she brings her debating experience to the fore in court. 

Further, Ms. Montes’ strong passion for immigration law began early in her education. Also as a student, Attorney Montes wrote her Honors Thesis on “Empathy and the Law: A Case Study on Proposition 187,” in which she examined how negative media representations of immigrants and legislative politics work hand in hand to push inhumane immigration policies. 

Ms. Montes continued her work on behalf of her community as a law student at UCLA School of Law where she was an active member of the student body. Ms. Montes served as the Co-President of La Raza Law Students Association and as a mentor for the UCLA Law Fellows Program. Ms. Montes was also the Policy Director for the National Latina/o Law Students Association where her primary goal was to expand national support and awareness for the DACA program when it first began in 2012. 

Attorney Montes dedication to advocating for the immigrant community has continued after her graduation from law school. Attorney Montes has worked with several organizations throughout California in immigration law, impact litigation and telecommunications policy. Ms. Montes has successfully led campaigns against media personalities who aim to vilify immigrants and thwart humane immigration reform. 

Attorney Montes’ reflections on practicing rebelliously was shared in her article, A For-Profit Rebellious Immigration Practice in East Los Angeles.  Ms. Montes enjoys being an adjunct professor at CSU, Northridge teaching Constitutional Issues in the Chicana/o Department. 

Publications:

• A For-Profit Rebellious Immigration Practice in East Los Angeles, 23 CLIN. L. REV. 707 (2017).