For immigrant families navigating the maze of deportation defense, visa applications, and complex status issues, trust is everything. A lawyer becomes more than a service provider—they become a lifeline. Someone who holds your future, your freedom, and often your entire savings in their hands.
But what happens when that trust is betrayed?
In recent months, a growing number of former clients have come forward with troubling allegations against attorney Otis Landerholm and Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. Their stories—if verified—reveal a pattern of steep fees, broken promises, and abandoned cases that many believe has devastated vulnerable immigrant communities.
This isn’t just dissatisfaction. These are allegations that speak to fear, financial loss, emotional collapse, and irreversible immigration consequences.
And now, people are demanding answers.
A Pattern That Can No Longer Be Ignored
The allegations shared by former clients are deeply serious. Individually, each case is heartbreaking. Together, they paint a picture that advocates say warrants immediate regulatory review.
Here are some of the stories that have ignited public concern:
1. A $20,000 Bill and Silence Behind Bars
One former client says he was charged over $20,000 for a case typically quoted at a fraction of that cost. While detained—terrified and isolated—he claims his attorney never sent him a single update or letter. Critical legal strategies were allegedly overlooked, leaving him transferred hundreds of miles away from his family.
To this day, he describes the experience as “paying five figures for fear and abandonment.”
2. A Refund Promise That Allegedly Disappeared
Another former client recounts paying $3,000 toward an I-751 petition. After what he describes as a sudden change in strategy and then abandonment, he says the firm promised a full refund. Instead, he received only $1,750 and no explanation for why the remaining funds were kept.
For him, it felt like “paying for nothing but humiliation.”
3. A $14,000 Commitment—And Years of Confusion
A couple claims they paid $14,000 for help with a petition and were told future detention-related assistance was included. When detention occurred, they allege the promise went unfulfilled. Worse, they say the case was dropped without notice—twice.
When they asked for a refund, they say they were handed only $4,000 back and spoken to “condescendingly.”
4. A Contract, a $22,500 Fee, and an Alleged Threat
Mr. Nelson Jimenez reports paying a flat fee of $22,500 for U visa and removal defense. According to him, the contract prohibited additional charges. Nevertheless, he alleges the firm demanded up to $35,000 more.
After his attorney left, Mr. Jimenez says the firm stopped assigning counsel altogether, leading to missed filings and a reactivated deportation case. When he refused the extra fees—believing them to violate the contract—he reports being threatened with escalated immigration consequences.
He also states that despite repeated requests, he still has not received a refund, an invoice breakdown, or his full case file.
5. A Simple Case—Until It Was Too Late
Mr. Mauricio Vélez Tobón alleges he paid over $8,000 under the assurance that his case was straightforward. After more than a year of delays, he says he was told the firm had overlooked critical elements and could no longer file his case.
He received only a partial refund and fears he may have missed his eligibility window entirely.
Why These Stories Matter
These are allegations—not conclusions. But the sheer volume and consistency of the reports have raised serious questions.
Questions about:
- Whether immigrant families are being overcharged for work not performed
- Whether critical cases are being abandoned mid-process
- Whether clients are being pressured into paying more than their contracts require
- Whether negligence or mismanagement is causing irreversible immigration harm
The communities affected by these allegations include asylum seekers, domestic violence survivors, long-term residents, and families already traumatized by the immigration system.
They deserve to be heard.
And most importantly—they deserve oversight.
A Call for an Independent Investigation
Advocates and affected families are now urging authorities to intervene. They want:
- A full civil and criminal investigation into the practices of the firm
- A review of attorney licenses if misconduct is found
- Full restitution for clients whose allegations are substantiated
No assumptions. No premature conclusions.
Just a fair, transparent inquiry into serious, life-altering claims.
Why Community Voices Matter Now
Immigration law is one of the least protected professional arenas in the United States. Many families lack the language, resources, or legal knowledge to advocate for themselves when something goes wrong.
That’s why collective visibility—and public pressure—matter.
Every signature on the related petition represents a demand for accountability.
A refusal to let vulnerable families be silenced.
A commitment to protecting immigrant communities from potential exploitation.
Standing With Those Who Stand to Lose Everything
This is not about vilifying attorneys.
It’s about protecting people who place their trust—and often their entire future—in the hands of professionals bound by ethical duties.
The allegations raised must be investigated.
The families affected must be heard.
And the immigrant community must be protected.
To read the full petition and add your voice, visit Change.org and search for “Bring Otis Carl Landerholm to Justice:”
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