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Benach Collopy is proud to announce that Dree K. Collopy has joined the firm as a Partner. By adding Dree, the firm enhances its focus on innovative and creative removal defense and litigation.  In addition, Dree’s arrival at the firm is a bit of a family reunion, as Benach and Thomas Ragland worked with her during the first years of her career.  Though we separated for a time, our common resolve to provide high quality representation and compassionate service to our clients has brought us together again.

Dree has seven years of experience handling challenging removal defense, immigration litigation, and resolving complex procedural and factual problems on behalf of her clients.  Dree was counsel in Crespo v. Holder, 631 F.3d 130 (4th Cir. 2011) a published opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, where the Court of Appeals reversed a decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals that found her client had been “convicted” under the immigration law.  The decision brought a large measure of common sense into the immigration act and gave effect to the intent of Congress.  In addition, she was counsel on several successful federal court actions challenging lengthy delays in the adjudication of applications for citizenship and residence.

Dree has also been a formidable presence in Immigration Court.  She has handled cases involving criminal removability issues, battered spouses, abandoned children, victims of crime, and waivers of removal for long-term permanent residents who have been convicted of crimes.  She has also obtained asylum or other humanitarian protection for victims of persecution from a wide array of countries and circumstances, including political opinion, sexual orientation, domestic violence, and gang violence.

Finally, Dree shares our commitment to education and to advancing the law.  Dree is a prolific author, offering solutions to vexing immigration problems and shining a spotlight on the harsh injustices often caused by our immigration laws and their erroneous application by the government.

We could not be happier for Dree to join us and look forward to the successes she will achieve on behalf of our clients and immigrants nationwide.  Welcome home Dree!