Daniel Shanfield
Top rated Immigration attorney in San Jose, California
Law Offices of Daniel Shanfield - Immigration Defense. PC
Practice areas: Immigration; view more
Licensed in California since: 1997
Education: University of California Berkeley School of Law
Languages Spoken: English, French, Spanish
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2010, 2017 - 2025 Call today:
408-275-6565
Law Offices of Daniel Shanfield - Immigration Defense. PC
2107 N. 1st StSuite 360
San Jose, CA 95131 Visit website
Details
In over 25 years of practice, Daniel Shanfield has been admired by his peers for his commitment to helping his clients win the toughest immigration cases. As a former federal immigration prosecutor, Daniel Shanfield has unique insights into how USCIS and immigration courts work, and uses this understandinng to serve his clients. The founder and president of the Law Offices of Daniel Shanfield - Immigration Defense PC in San Jose, California, he is well-equipped to handle the most complicated immigration cases regarding family and marriage immigration visas, defense for immigration and crimes, waivers for fraud, smuggling and unlawful presence, marriage fraud and conditional residency issues, deportation defense, VAWA and U visas, immigrant visa processing and green cards, Adam Walsh Act cases, and complex naturalization and citizenship cases.
A pillar of leadership and high ethics within the immigration legal community and nationwide, Mr. Shanfield has brought forth a work ethic that is unrivaled in his field, a shrewd legal acumen to handle the toughest immigration cases, and an abiding enthusiasm to see his clients build their American Dream. He has been lauded by many prestigious organizations, including:
- Forbes Best Immigration Lawyers List for San Jose
- The National Advocates – Top 100 Lawyers
- The American Society of Legal Advocates – Top 100 Lawyers
- The American Immigration Lawyers Association – Recipient of the Berger Memorial Fellowship
- Avvo – Rated a perfect “10.0” and recipient of the site’s Client’s Choice Award
- The Consulate General of Mexico in San Jose – Awarded the Premio Tequio
Mr. Shanfield first forayed into law when he enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley – Boalt Hall School of Law, where he honed his legal talents and bolstered his strong legal foundations. Prior to receiving his Juris Doctor in 1996, he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1993. Daniel Shanfield is admitted to practice law in California, and before the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and the U.S. District Courts.
A passionate advocate for raising awareness of important aspects of immigration law, Mr. Shanfield has published articles in many journals and spoken on various platforms on topics ranging from immigration court removal proceedings to developments in crimes involving moral turpitude and admissibility. He holds close affiliations with the most prominent legal defense organizations, including the Bar Association of San Francisco (Pro Bono Immigration Court Panel), the American Immigration Lawyers Association – Santa Clara Valley Chapter (Past Chapter Chair), Santa Clara County Bar Association (Past Immigration Committe Chair), and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Asylum Mentor).
Practice areas
Immigration: ConsumerFocus areas
Asylum, Naturalization & Citizenship
- 100% Immigration: Consumer
First Admitted: 1997, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.immigration-defense.com/about-us/
- Immigration Court Liaison, Santa Clara Valley Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2008
- Consulate General of Mexico in San Jose Liaison, Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA SCV)
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Board of Governors (Ex Officio), 2007
- Santa Clara County Bar Association, Immigration Section, Chair, 2005
- American Bar Association, International Law Section, Member, 2016
- Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2004
- Federal District Court
- Immigration Attorney Liaison Legal Assistance Program - Consulate General of Mexico in San Jose, 2023
- U.S. District Court, 1997
- Pro Bono Liaison, American Immigration Lawyers Assocation Santa Clara Valley Chapter, 2024
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Santa Clara Valley Chapter, Vice-Chair, 2006
- Liaison, INS Liaison Committee, New York Immigration Coalition, 1998
- American Bar Association, Section on International Law, Immigration Committee, Member, 2017
- California Supreme Court
- State Bar of California, International Law Section, Member and MCLE Panelist, 2016
- California State Bar, International Law Committees, Member
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Santa Clara Valley Chapter, Chair, 2007
- Immigration Court Liaison, American Immigration Lawyers Association, New York Chapter, 1999
- State Bar of California, International Law Section
- Liaison to the Consulate of Mexico in San Jose, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Santa Clara Valley Chapter, 2008
- Designated Attorney, Legal Assistance Program (PALE), Immigration Law, Consulate General of Mexico in San Jose
- Legal Advisory Board, Stanford Law School Immigrants' Rights Clinic, 2008
- Pro Bono Immigration Court Panel, Bar Association of San Francisco, 2007-2010
- Coordinator, Consulate of Mexico in San Jose Immigration Law Advice Clinic, 2006 - Present
- Asylum Mentor, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, 2004 - Present
- The National Advocates – Top 100 Lawyers
- Avvo – Rated a perfect “10.0” and recipient of the site’s Client’s Choice Award
- The American Immigration Lawyers Association – Recipient of the Berger Memorial Fellowship
- The American Society of Legal Advocates – Top 100 Lawyers
- Daniel Shanfield has an extensive background in immigration law, both overseas and on U.S. soil. Shanfield was the legal services manager for the U.S. refugee program in Europe, worked as a migration and refugee advisor to the U.N. and was a federal immigration prosecutor., Forbes Best Immigration Lawyers (San Jose, California), Forbes Advisor Legal, 2024
- AILA Berger Memorial Scholarship, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2000
- Career Recognition of Special Service to the Immigrant Community in the Silicon Valley, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, 2018
- Daniel Shanfield founded the AILA immigration clinic in partnership with the Mexican Consulate that helps serve the Mexican community in the South Bay. He serves as the liaison between AILA and the Mexican Consulate in San Jose. He ensures that the immigration clinic is staffed by volunteer attorneys, and has overseen DACA Workshops at the Consulate. The AILA Immigration Clinic at the Mexican Consulate in San Jose takes place twice a month, and provides Mexican nationals with free immigration consultations with an AILA attorney. An individual attorney is expected to see up to five people at each clinic. During these free consultations, individuals are screened for any immigration remedy that may be available and are told how to obtain relief. Over the years, Daniel has consulted with the Mexican Consulate and worked with updating them and training them on changes in immigration law, such as DACA and I-601A provisional waivers, to ensure that all Mexican nationals receive proper immigration advice. Daniel has also been selected to participate in the PALE program that pairs low-income, Mexican nationals, with reputable attorneys to assist them with immigration, criminal or family law-related matters., Pro Bono Champion, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2018
- U.S. Attorney General's Honors Program, U.S. Department of Justice, 1997
- Premio Tequio Humanitarian Award, Consulate General of Mexico in San Jose, 2011
- University of California, Los Angeles – B.A. in Political Science, Honors: Magna cum laude, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Society, Member (1991 – 1993)
- University of California, San Diego – Political Science, Honors, La Raza Law Students Association, Member, Prosser Award for Research in International Human Rights Law, (1989 – 1991).
- CLE on case strategies for cancellation of removal and application of new regulations for motions to terminate and administratively close., Panel Presenter, Updates on Cancellation of Removal for Non-Lawful Permanent Residents and EOIR Termination Regulations, Santa Cruz County Public Defender's Office and Santa Cruz County Immigration Lawyers, Immigration Law And Criminal Defense, 2024
- CLE presentation on cutting-edge strategies in removal defense under new EOIR Regulations., Panelist Presenter, Hot Topics in Immigration Court Removal Defense, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Immigration Law, 2024
- Sacred Heart Community Panel Presentation: Obtaining Post-Conviction Relief for Immigration Benefits Eligibility, 2023, Sacred Heart Community Panel Presentation: Obtaining Post-Conviction Relief for Immigration Benefits Eligibility, 2023, 2023
- Consulate General of Mexico in San Jose Presentation: Legal Residency Options for Non-Citizens under In Absentia Removal and Deportation Orders, 2023, Consulate General of Mexico in San Jose Presentation: Legal Residency Options for Non-Citizens under In Absentia Removal and Deportation Orders, 2023, Immigration Law, 2023
- Litigation Skills for Non-Litigators: Removal Proceedings for Family-Based Practitioners, Speaker, American Immigration Lawyers Assoc. (AILA) Annual Conference: Litigation Skills for Non-Litigators: Removal Proceedings for Family-Based Practitioners, AILA 2020 Annual Conference, Immigration Law, 2020
- Associate Editor, International Tax and Business Law Journal, University of California, San Diego
- Panel speaker on successfully advising U.S. business and family immigration clients under California's Prop. 64 marijuana reform legislation., Panel Speaker, International Legalization Of Certain Drugs: Legal And Practical Immigration Effects, American Bar Association, 2017
- Panel presentation with analysis of immigration law developments and practice guidance for immigration attorneys, Panel Speaker, Immigration Law Hot Topics, American Immigration Lawyers Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2017
- Speaker, Immigration Executive Action: Election Year Updates on DACA and DAPA, State Bar Of California, 2016
- Relief Granted, Case Not Closed (AILA 2016 San Antonio Asylum Conference), Speaker, American Immigration Lawyers Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2016
- Thanks to I-601A Expansion, Employers Can Now Help Fix America's Broken Immigration System, One Worker at a Time, Author, ABA International Law Section, 2016
- Speaker, AILA NorCal Chapter 2016 Immigration Hot Topics, American Immigration Lawyers Association Northern California Chapter, 2016
- Speaker, Expanded I-601A Regulations, State Bar of California International Law Section, 2016
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Speaker, The Many Faces of Fraud, 2016
- Evidence of a Conviction and Authentication Issues in Immigration Court Proceedings, Author, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), 2014
- Author, Recent Developments on Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude and Inadmissibility, American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2013
- Speaker, Everything Family Lawyers Should Now About Immigration Law, But Were Afraid to Ask, Santa Clara County Bar Association, 2005
- Refugee Reports, Relief For Persecuted Religious Minorities In Iran, 2004
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2010, 2017 - 2025
