BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A Mexican grandmother, who first entered the United States as a small child, stands among a group of Alabamians who have fallen victim to the actions of a former attorney now disbarred and criminally convicted. This issue has led to a significant number of immigrants finding hope for legal status thanks to the efforts of a dedicated lawyer willing to help them navigate a complex legal system.
Attorney Danny Upton has taken on the challenge of securing U visas for approximately 100 immigrants victimized by Douglas Cooner, the discredited lawyer. Cooner was found to have mismanaged their cases, putting them at risk of deportation while falsely charging for services he was not qualified to provide. Upton has already assisted around 50 individuals in obtaining these vital visas, which grant immigrant victims of crimes legal standing in the U.S. and a pathway to eventual permanent residency after three years.
Cooner became known within the immigrant community in Alabama a decade ago for seemingly expediting green card applications. However, his methods not only jeopardized clients’ legal status but his lack of licensing meant he was operating unlawfully. In 2013, he was disbarred, and many of his clients remained unaware of the risk they faced until it was too late.
One of those clients, who entered the U.S. as a toddler in the early 1980s, later faced deportation after a traffic citation led to her detention. In her affidavit, she expressed profound fear of being separated from her three grandchildren, emphasizing her responsibility to care for her family.
Initially, many clients were drawn to Cooner’s promises of quick results. But over time, he began neglecting court appearances, leaving clients to fend for themselves while his unethical practices became evident. Court records show that Cooner made false claims in asylum applications, fabricating threats of gang violence that his clients had never faced. These administration errors left many respondents without the protection they desperately needed.
In the wake of Cooner’s legal troubles, Upton began representing clients from the list of over 300 affected individuals still in the country. He quickly recognized he could utilize Cooner’s actions as a basis for applying for U visas, underscoring that these immigrants were victims of a crime rather than perpetrators. The program, which awards 10,000 visas annually, has encountered substantial backlogs, but Upton’s persistence has started to yield results.
Upton’s work has been particularly crucial in Alabama, where a Syracuse University analysis indicates only 24% of immigrants facing deportation have access to legal representation. As such, many have become victims of unscrupulous individuals posing as legal advisors, known colloquially as “notarios,” who exploit vulnerable populations by misleading them about their legal standing.
As Upton continues his fight for justice on behalf of fellow immigrants, he hopes more victims of Cooner will come forward to seek the support they need. “She was in my office yesterday signing her green card application,” he remarked about one of his clients, demonstrating the transformative impacts of dedicated legal assistance in a challenging immigration landscape.
The situation highlights both the importance of competent legal advocacy and the vulnerabilities present within immigrant communities. Those who seek help often do so in moments of desperation, and it is vital for them to connect with trustworthy representatives who can guide them through the complexities of immigration law.
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