About Us

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Immigration Lawyer Pauline M. Schwartz has over 20 years of experience representing International and Domestic clients in United States Immigration Law Matters, including family and business visas, green cards, citizenship, asylum, Immigration Court removal proceedings, ICE detention and bond, appeals to the BIA, and advising on the immigration consequences of criminal arrests and convictions.

Ms. Schwartz has practiced immigration law exclusively since 1995, after she graduated with Honors from the George Washington University Law School.  Since 1995, Ms. Schwartz has successfully defended hundreds of clients against deportation and removal in the immigration courts.  She has handled appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and has filed and argued immigration cases in the United States Courts of Appeals for the First Circuit, the Fourth Circuit, and the Eleventh Circuit.  Ms. Schwartz has helped clients with very complex cases avoid removal, and she has experience in political asylum, criminal immigration defense, and motions to reopen and reconsider.  In addition, she represents both international businesses and individuals in employment and business-related visas.  She also represents international scholars and artists who qualify as "aliens of extraordinary ability".

 Ms. Schwartz is also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in both International Relations and Russian.  She has been a student of languages and international affairs since childhood, and this led to her interest in immigration law.
 

Ms. Schwartz's commitment to helping immigrants began when she served as a student attorney for the George Washington University Immigration Clinic.  In her first immigration court case, she won asylum for a man fleeing from the mass Rwandan genocide.  She also excelled in law school as an active member of the George Washington Journal of International Law and Economics and the Moot Court Board.  Ms. Schwartz participated for two years in the prestigious Jessup International Law Moot Court competition, first as a competitor, and then as coach of her law school's team.
 

Ms. Schwartz enjoys the intellectual and professional challenges inherent in being an immigration lawyer.  She has assisted clients in winning political asylum and deferral of removal from countries as diverse as Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, The Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan, Burma, Vietnam, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.  She has also secured permanent residence for clients who married abusive U.S. citizens.
 

Ms. Schwartz is a licensed and active member of the District of Columbia Bar and volunteers in leadership positions within the legal community.  She is currently serving an elected term as a Steering Committee Member of the International Law Community of the District of Columbia Bar.  She is also an active member of the Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia, and serves as Co-Chair of the WBA's Immigration Law Forum.