Immigration, Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence, and Civil Litigation Throughout California
Pacifica Law Group APC is a full-service trial, litigation, and appellate firm. We appear in superior courts across California, in the immigration courts, and in the federal district courts — and we handle appeals in the California Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court, before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in the Ninth Circuit.
Immigration and Deportation Defense
Removal defense, asylum, adjustment of status, naturalization, U visas, VAWA, motions to reopen, and federal habeas corpus for people held in ICE detention anywhere in California.
Criminal Defense and Post-Conviction Relief
Felony and misdemeanor defense in California superior courts, and motions to vacate under Penal Code sections 1473.7 and 1016.5 for clients whose old convictions now threaten their status or their family.
Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders
A dedicated civil domestic violence team handling DVRO petitions, defense against false allegations, and the custody, criminal, and immigration consequences that follow.
Civil Litigation
Personal injury, employment and labor law, civil rights, and general business and contract litigation, with nearly four decades of California trial experience behind it.
Appeals
The California Courts of Appeal and petitions for review in the California Supreme Court, appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals, and petitions for review and appeals in the Ninth Circuit.
Cases That Cross Practice Lines
A single matter that is at once a family law case, a criminal case, and an immigration case — handled together, in one office, by attorneys who talk to each other.
A larger firm, and a wider practice
Pacifica Law Group began as an immigration and criminal defense practice built around a single idea: that for a non-citizen, a criminal case, a family law case, and an immigration case are not three separate problems. They are one problem, and they have to be handled together.
That principle now reaches further than it used to. Matthew Hidayat leads the firm’s civil domestic violence and contentious custody work, and is regularly brought in by other firms to handle the domestic violence portion of a case. Kevin W. Harris joined the firm in 2026 as a partner after nearly four decades of California litigation, bringing a personal injury, employment, civil rights, and appellate practice with him.
The result is a firm that can take on a client’s whole situation rather than the part of it that happens to fit one practice area — and can do it anywhere in the state.
Meet the attorneys
Consultations are confidential. We represent clients throughout California and in federal court.
Our Attorneys
Top-rated Pacifica Law Group APC
Eliminate your immigration problems with an experienced legal team providing you both immigration and criminal law expertise. Find out why you may be eligible to file motions to vacate, modify or dismiss criminal convictions.
Take advantage of our filing motions to terminate your removal proceedings in the Immigration Courts after we obtain post-conviction relief. Don’t face removability and deportation from the U.S. without consulting experienced immigration and criminal defense counsel.
If you are a non-citizen with a criminal record, then you will need counsel who practices both immigration and criminal law. Vacate and dismiss your criminal convictions in the California State superior courts. We then can file motions to terminate your removal proceedings in the immigration courts.
If you are a lawful permanent resident, then you will likely be eligible to file for your U.S. citizenship through Naturalization.
Representing non-citizens for more than 10 years
If you have a need for legal representation, then you need competent and aggressive lawyers who are skilled in both immigration and criminal defense law to represent you. Since January 2025, with the re-election of President Donald J. Trump, non-citizens have come under attack like never before seen in America.
Our proven track record for approved motions and cases won show why our clients say the Pacifica Law Group APC is the “best immigration and criminal defense law firm in California”
Rock Solid Representation
We are California immigration, criminal defense, domestic violence, and civil trial lawyers, and we practice across the state and in federal court. Our law office emphasizes representing non-citizen clients who require legal assistance in any of the following important areas of immigration and criminal law.
These areas are where we provide our expertise in making the critical difference as your immigration and criminal defense attorneys as to whether you will remain in the U.S. or be deported:
Post Conviction Relief
Criminal Defense
California State Superior Courts
Removal/Deportation Defense
Deferred Inspection
Naturalization and Citizenship
Adjustment of Status to
Lawful Permanent Residency
Asylum Relief
Motions to Reopen
Immigration News
Latest updates on U.S. immigration policy and law
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