Immigration Lawyers in California · Nationwide Firm · 24/7
Immigration Lawyers in CaliforniaDeportation. Asylum. Bond. Detention.
California has the largest immigrant population in the country and immigration courts to match: Los Angeles alone carries an estimated 95,000 pending cases. Santos Khoury LLC has an office in San Diego, attorneys admitted in California, and a practice that covers Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and the border region, in person and by video, in five languages.
Each page below is written for California: the courts, the facilities, and the offices your case will actually go through. Every one starts with a free conversation.
Green cards, marriage cases, work visas, citizenship, and appeals: see all immigration services.
California immigration facts
The Courts, Facilities, and Offices That Decide California Cases
We represent families from Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Iran, Armenia, Russia, and across the Middle East and Africa, in the languages they speak at home.
Immigration courts
San Francisco Immigration Court
100 Montgomery St, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94104
Est. wait 3.2 yrs · 12 judges · Pending 28,500
Los Angeles Immigration Court
606 S Olive St, 15th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Est. wait 4.1 yrs · 28 judges · Pending 95,000
San Diego Immigration Court
401 Mile of Cars Way, Suite 200, National City, CA 91950
Est. wait 2.8 yrs · 5 judges · Pending 13,000
Wait times and pending-case figures are estimates; confirm your hearing with your A-number through EOIR.
ICE detention facilities
Southern California arrests usually end up at Otay Mesa or Adelanto; Central Valley and Bay Area cases go to Mesa Verde or Golden State Annex. Transfers to Arizona and Texas happen when California beds fill up.
Otay Mesa Detention Center, San Diego, CA: minutes from our San Diego office
Adelanto ICE Processing Center, Adelanto, CA: the largest facility in Southern California
Imperial Regional Detention Facility, Calexico, CA
Affirmative asylum interviews for California residents are generally scheduled through the Los Angeles Asylum Office (Anaheim) and San Francisco Asylum Office (Anaheim and San Francisco, CA).
USCIS field offices serving California: San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Fresno, Imperial.
How we serve California
Our San Diego office sits ten miles from the Otay Mesa Detention Center and the San Diego Immigration Court. Our attorneys are admitted in California and appear in the Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco immigration courts.
Office: 3111 Camino Del Rio N, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92108
Languages: English · Español · Português · العربية · Français · Hours: 24/7
Free immigration tools
Free Immigration Tools for California
Check processing times, estimate a bond, screen an asylum claim, or find your California immigration court before you call. Everything runs in your browser.
01
USCIS Processing Time Tracker
Is your case on track, or overdue and worth escalating? Check I-130, I-485, I-765, N-400 and more.
02
Green Card Timeline Calculator
How long your green card is likely to take by category, country of birth, and filing path.
03
Visa Eligibility Checker
Two quick questions to see which U.S. visa options fit your goal, with the honest trade-offs.
04
Asylum Eligibility Screener
Five confidential questions on persecution, protected grounds, the one-year deadline, and common bars.
05
Immigration Bond Estimator
A typical bond range for an ICE detention case and the factors the judge will weigh.
06
Immigration Court Lookup
Find the immigration courts in your state and check your next hearing date with your A-number.
Watch: our attorneys explain
Immigration Questions, Answered by Our Attorneys
Short, straight answers on detention, court, asylum, and your rights. Tap a video to watch.
Is Your Family Member Detained by ICE?
First steps to take when a loved one is taken into ICE custody.
Will Anyone Find Out If You Apply for Asylum?
The truth about confidentiality when you file an asylum application.
Missed Your Immigration Court Date? You May Be Able to Reopen Your Case
Options for reopening a case after a missed hearing.
ICE at Your Door? Know What to Do
What your rights are if ICE comes to your home.
Received a Final Deportation Order? You May Still Have Options
What options may remain after a final order of removal.
What Happens If You Overstay Your Visa?
Overstaying a visa doesn't mean your options are gone, what to do next.
A client we represented tells the story in their own words. Every review on this page comes from our verified Google Business profile, and we share client stories only with permission.
K
Khalid KhanDecember 2025 · Google
★★★★★
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Attorney Fernando and Jad Essayli. Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout. I felt supported and confident, and ultimately we achieved a positive outcome.”
Positive outcome
H
Hatim YousifMay 2026 · Google
★★★★★
“I cannot thank Daniella at Santos Khoury enough for her professional and compassionate support. She was incredibly quick to respond, kept me fully informed, and showed genuine care for my case.”
Responsive, caring team
A
AlimaSeptember 2025 · Google
★★★★★
“Santos Khoury filed a mandamus petition that finally forced USCIS to act. When I was referred to Immigration Court, Attorney Jad Essayli represented me and my daughter, and we were granted asylum. This completely changed our lives.”
Asylum granted in immigration court
Reviews describe individual client experiences. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Why clients choose Santos Khoury
A Law Firm That Answers, in Your Language, Wherever You Are.
Most immigration problems come with a deadline and a lot of conflicting information. Our founders come from immigrant families, and that shapes how we work: fast answers, plain language, and a plan you can act on the same day.
A lawyer answers, 24/7
Phone, video, or WhatsApp, in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and French. You reach an attorney, not a call center.
Nationwide, three offices
San Diego, Miami, and Guaynabo, and video representation in all 50 states and every immigration court.
Immigrant-founded
Our founders come from immigrant families. That shapes how we work: fast, direct, and honest about what is realistic.
Flat fees and payment plans
Clear quotes before you commit, and installments on most cases. No hidden fees.
Offices & coverage
Three offices. Every state by video.
San Diego, CA 3111 Camino Del Rio N, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92108 Directions
Two founding partners, one nationwide practice. We cannot promise outcomes. We can promise honest guidance and a serious, fast evaluation.
Founding Partner
Matthew Khoury, Esq.
Leads the firm’s removal defense, detention, and immigration court practice. Comes from an immigrant family himself, which shapes his hands-on approach to every case.
State Bar of California
New York State Bar
Founding Partner
Fernando Santos, Esq.
Oversees asylum, humanitarian, family-based, and employment cases nationwide, from the first petition to the final interview.
New York State Bar
Massachusetts Bar Association
What happens after you reach out
From One Call to a Plan You Can Act On
Reaching out does not commit you to anything. It starts the review, and it starts the clock working in your favor.
01
Tell Us What Happened
Call, book online, or message us on WhatsApp. Send whatever documents you have; we start with what you have.
02
Free Consultation
An attorney reviews your situation and explains your options in plain language, in the language you prefer.
03
A Plan and a Flat-Fee Quote
You know the strategy, the timeline, and the cost before you commit. Payment plans on most cases.
04
We File, Appear, and Keep You Updated
Filings, interviews, and court appearances nationwide, with status updates at every step.
Our San Diego office sits ten miles from the Otay Mesa Detention Center and the San Diego Immigration Court. Our attorneys are admitted in California and appear in the Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco immigration courts. Immigration law is federal, so the same attorneys handle your case whether it is at USCIS, the asylum office, or the immigration court, and we meet by phone, video, or WhatsApp at any hour.
Which immigration court will hear my case in California?
Cases in California are heard at the San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego immigration courts, depending on where you live. Your Notice to Appear names the court, and the court lookup on our tools page confirms your hearing date with your A-number.
How much does an immigration lawyer cost?
We quote flat fees for defined work such as a bond hearing, an asylum application, or a court appearance, with payment plans on most cases. The first consultation is free and you receive the quote before you commit.
Someone was detained by ICE in California. What do I do first?
Call us. Southern California arrests usually end up at Otay Mesa or Adelanto; Central Valley and Bay Area cases go to Mesa Verde or Golden State Annex. Transfers to Arizona and Texas happen when California beds fill up. We locate the person, contact the deportation officer, and request a bond hearing with a complete bond packet.
Is there a deadline to apply for asylum?
Generally one year from your last arrival, with exceptions for changed or extraordinary circumstances. Interviews for California residents are scheduled through the Los Angeles Asylum Office (Anaheim) and San Francisco Asylum Office; use the asylum screener on our tools page, then talk to us before filing.
Do you speak my language?
We represent families from Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Iran, Armenia, Russia, and across the Middle East and Africa, in the languages they speak at home. Consultations are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and French.
Your Case Deserves a Real Answer. Start With One Conversation.
You do not need to understand immigration law before contacting us. Tell us what happened and we tell you what can be done, and what it costs. Same-day slots, 24/7, five languages.
