Christine M. Hernandez

experience with consular processing, U Visas, VAWA, and SIJS.

Regardless of the status of their citizenship, Christine M. Hernández has successfully guided her clients through the complicated process of standing before immigration courts and administrative agencies. She has represented individuals all over the country and from all over the world, in matters involving the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. She has also argued before the 9th and 10th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals. Christine's immigration litigation practice is results-oriented and focused on keeping individuals and families lawfully in the United States.

Crimmigration Law Practice

Christine M. Hernández is at the forefront of the developing area of law known as "crimmigration." Individuals that face both immigration and criminal charges rely on her experience to tactically navigate through their simultaneous cases. The consequences are high in crimmigration matters for the accused individual, as a criminal conviction can trigger the initiation of removal proceedings. In some instances, an individual wanting to enter the United States may face higher scrutiny by the immigration courts because of crimes committed in the past or overseas. Regardless of the circumstances or the gravity of the charges, Christine provides a top-notch holistic crimmigration defense to secure the best possible outcome for her client.

Background

Christine M. Hernández is a prominent Colorado immigration attorney, lecturer, and author. She is often asked to share her expertise with the bench and bar. She has lectured and authored articles on a variety of issues surrounding immigration litigation including asylum, removal proceedings, and the consequences of criminal convictions in immigration matters.

Christine is bilingual in English and Spanish. She is dedicated to serving immigrant populations and is a member of many impactful legal organizations and community committees. Christine earned her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and graduated magna cum laude with a B.S.B.A. from American University. She began her legal career as a judicial clerk with the Denver Immigration Court and the Supremo Tribunal de Justicia in Guanajuato, Mexico.

Expert Endorsements

2011 - Morgan County District Court, CO

2011 - Weld County District Court, CO

2012 - Denver County District Court, CO

2015 - Adams County District Court, CO

2016 - Douglas County District Court, CO

2016 - Denver County District Court, CO

2017 - Jefferson County District Court, CO

Classes & Seminars

• Introduction to SIJS – How You Can Get Involved, Hispanic National Bar Association, 2017

• Immigration 101: Immigration Defense Under the New Administration, Hispanic National Bar Association, 2017

• HR & Legal Considerations Impacting International Talent Management, Hispanic National Bar Association, 2016

• Beyond the Safety Pin: How To Be An Active Ally, Speaker, Colorado Bar Association on behalf of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, 2016

• Legal Developments on US Immigration Law, Speaker, Hispanic National Bar Association, 2015

• Demonstrating Exceptional and Extremely Unusual Hardship, Speaker, American Immigration Lawyers Association – Colorado Chapter, 2013

• Best Practices – DACA, Speaker, American Immigration Lawyers Association – Colorado Chapter, 2013

• Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions, Aurora Public Defender’s Office, 2012

• Immigration Court Practice Manual, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Colorado Chapter Colorado, 2011

• Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions, Speaker, Aurora Public Defender’s Office, 2011

• Reject Me Not: New Practitioner’s & Paralegals Guide to the Immigration Court Manual, Speaker, American Immigration Lawyers Association, National Web Seminar, 2011

• Deportation Defense: Representation Before the Immigration Court, Speaker, Rocky Mountain Immigration Advocacy Network, 2010

• When Should I Consult an Immigration Attorney – for Criminal Defense Attorneys, Rhone Brackett Inn of Courts, 2009

• When Should I Consult an Immigration Attorney – for Criminal Defense Attorneys, Speaker, Rhone Brackett Inn of Courts, 2007

Pro-Bono Activities

• AILA Access to Justice Campaign Mentor, 2017 to Present

• Legal Nights, 2008 to Present

• RMAIN, 2008 to Present

Past Positions

• Lau & Choi, P.C., Associate Attorney

• Colorado Legal Services, Legal Externship

• Denver Immigration Court, Clerk

• Supremo Tribunal de Justicia in Guanajuato, Mexico, Clerk

Published Works

• In Their Defense, American Magazine, American University, 2019

• Colorado Hispanic Bar Association: Christine Hernandez Discusses Community in Colorado, Law Week Colorado, 2019

• Tales from the Trenches: Celebrating Diversity, CWBA Blog: The 1891, 2019

• Practicing Crimmigration is in the Details, Law Week Colorado, 2016

• Unaccompanied Alien Children: A Crisis in Our Immigration Courts, The Colorado Lawyer, Vol. 45 No. 10, 2016

• Immigration Court Practice Manual, American Immigration Lawyers Association - Colorado Chapter Colorado, 2011

• Are Unaccompanied Alien Children Really Getting a Fair Trial? An Overview of Asylum Law and Children, Denver Journal of International Law & Policy, Vol 33 No.4 Fall, 2005

Fraternities or Sororities

• Alpha Kappa Psi

Honors

• Top Latino Lawyers, Latino Leaders Magazine, 2017 - 2019

• Colorado Super Lawyers, 2019

• 10/10 Superb, AVVO, 2016 - Present

• 40 Under 40 Award, Hispanic National Bar Association, 2018

• Most Powerful Latinas in Law Business, Latino Leaders Magazine, 2018

• Rising Star, Colorado Super Lawyers

Professional Associations

• Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, President, 2019 to 2019

• Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, President Elect (for Presidency in 2019)

• CHBA Education Committee, Chair, 2016

• American Bar Association, 2016

• Colorado Women’s Bar Association, 2016

• HNBA 2016 Advocacy Day Planning Committee, Member, 2015 - 2016

• AILA Colorado ICE Liaison Committee, Member, 2015 to 2016

• HNBA Finance Development Committee, Member, 2015 - 2016

• HNBA Immigration Committee, Co-Chair, 2015

• DU Latino Alumni Committee, 2015 - Present

• Hispanic National Bar Association, 2015 - Present

• AILA Colorado GEO Liaison Committee, Mentor, 2014 to 2015

• Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, 2014 - Present

• AILA Colorado GEO Liaison Committee, Chair, 2013 to 2014

• AILA National's Removal Issues Committee, Vice-Chair, 2012 to 2013

• AILA National Annual Conference Committee, Member, 2012 to 2013

• AILA Colorado Member Services Committee, Chair, 2011 to 2013

• AILA National EOIR Liaison Committee, Member, 2010 to 2012

• AILA Colorado EOIR Liaison Committee, Member, 2010 to 2011

• Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2010

• American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2005

• Colorado Bar Association, 2003

• Denver Bar Association, 2003

• Rhone-Brackett Chapter of the American Inns of Court, 2003