Thomas Esparza, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Board Certified Specialist – Immigration and Nationality Law
I am the son of second generation immigrant parents; the late Dr. Thomas Esparza, Sr. and Esther LaMadrid Esparza to whom I dedicate my life’s work for raising and providing me with the tools for success.
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A sole practitioner for over 43 years, I thank the grace of God, and am especially thankful for the guidance and support of my mentors in the field; Laurier McDonald, Robert “Bob” Shivers, Harry Gee, Harry Joe, Charles Foster and Lionel Perez. Each, in his own way, contributed to my career. I am proud to be one of the first Hispanics in Texas Certified as a Specialist In Immigration and Nationality Law in 1985.
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Reflecting my upbringing, I am active in my community. I am on the Board of the South Austin Little League Baseball as their public safety officer, manager and umpire. I am a past Austin Community Education Volunteer of the Year, past President of Becker Community Schools’ Advisory Council, past Board Member of the Center for Battered Women, past president of the South Austin Neighborhood Council, past chairperson for Mayfest South, an annual fundraiser for non profit organizations and have served as Travis County Justice of the Peace. Being a judge gave me an insight into and an appreciation for the power that is the law. Lawyers hold the keys to justice. We should wary of those who abuse it.
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My professional accomplishments include: Past Chair of the Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico Chapter of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Within the Texas Chapter, I have held every position of the Executive Committee. I am the current editor for the chapter website ailatx.org a useful chapter website for our members. I also speak at a various legal seminars at the local, state and national levels for AILA, the State Bar of Texas and the University of Texas.
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I am the owner of Star Light Press, a bilingual education publishing company in Austin. Together with my mother, I publish children’s books, music, adult English as Second Language educational materials, citizenship education books, videos and educational software. Starlightpress.com. “Teach your children well.” I recently published my first learning software; Esther’s Playhouse.
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My priorities are my faith, my family, my community and immigration law.
Here are some things other people have to say:
“Thank you so much for speaking at the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas Quarterly Networking Luncheon. Your knowledgeable presentation of current immigration laws as well as your explanation of proposed federal legislation was eagerly received by our literacy providers. Your own personal history gave us the background to understand your path to this vital area of law. Your energy is apparent, and your devotion admirable.”
– Gail K. Miller Executive Director of Literacy Coalition of Central Texas
Services
The Law Office of Thomas Esparza, Jr., P.C. provides the following additional services at reasonable rates. To find out more, please contact our office during normal business hours at (512) 441-0062.
Notary Service
The law office has four commissioned notary publics. Each notary public is commissioned by the State of Texas to notarize certain documents. To find out if your document can be notarized, please contact our office at the telephone number listed above and ask to speak to a commissioned notary public. In order to have your documents notarized, you must present the following documentation:
1. Valid – State Issued Driver’s License or Photo ID
2. Valid – Military ID
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Translation Service
The law office offers translation services from English-to-Spanish and vice-versa. Each translated page will incur the $85 fee. To find out more about this service, please contact the office at the telephone number listed above
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Fax Service
Local Delivery – $1.00 per page
Long Distance Delivery – $2.00 per page
Payment Options
The law office accepts checks, money orders, and the following credit cards.
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Our Staff
April Alarcon
April supports Mr. Esparza processing removal and deportation cases, family based immigration, including adjustment of status and consular processing. However, it is in the area of deportation or removal proceedings April really shines. Mr. Esparza’s theory is that most clients have never testified in court with so much at stake. Together, April and Tom prepare witnesses and clients to testify in court in a case where their life is in the balance. April also maintains the office process/status database and the court calendar. During the Covid 19 pandemic April has continued to serve her clients by phone and Zoom. April is a second set of eyes on the Executive Office for Immigration Review and their ever changing rules during the pandemic. April has been with the law office since January 1997.
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Maria Gonzalez
Maria, is a veteran experienced paralegal who provides counseling and case processing for immigrants who are the victims of certain crimes. As such, she is in charge of all U Non Immigrant Visa as well as Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) applications. Maria brings a passion and a dedication to her work. Maria also handles family based adjustment of status and consular procession cases, waivers and naturalization applications. Maria also provides valuable administrative functions regarding payroll and benefit processing. During the Covid 19 pandemic Maria has continued to serve her clients by phone and Zoom. She is Mr. Esparza’s extra set of eyes on changes to U Non Immigrant Visas and Violence Against Women Act policies and procedures. Maria has been with the law office since April 1999.
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Virginia Villasana
Virginia is a veteran experienced paralegal who supports Mr. Esparza in the processing of employment and family based visas, naturalization and labor certifications. She handles all Non Immigrant Visa applications, complex citizenship questions and Administrative Hearings before the Bureau of Vital Statistics for contested birth certificate proceedings. She is also in charge of the Special Immigrant Visas for which Mr. Esparza provides his services at no charge to Travis County District Court. During the Covid 19 pandemic Virginia has continued to serve her clients by phone and Zoom. Virginia is in charge of the office cash control by processing all client payments and bookkeeping. Virginia has been with the law office since January 1996.
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Mayra Contreras
Mayra supports Mr. Esparza and the paralegals by researching client immigration and criminal histories. There is not a record that Mayra can not find. An avid student of the law and the processed involved, she also handles consular processing, waivers of excludability and complex citizenship and immigration cases. Mayra is cross training on removal proceedings. Mayra provides backup to April on the database and critical mail processing. During the Covid 19 pandemic Mayra has continued to serve her clients by phone and Zoom. Mayra has been with the law office since May 2008.
Nadia Escobedo
Receptionist. Nadia supports Mr. Esparza and four legal assistants by handling critical client communications, maintaining the calendar, scheduling appointments for clients, consultations and payments across multiple worksites. Nadia uses the office process/status database to assist the paralegals. She coordinates the office and the court calendar. Nadia provides client support and other support duties. During the Covid 19 pandemic Nadia answers the phone and coordinates the activities of the four paralegals and Mr. Esparza. Nadia has been with Mr. Esparza since the spring of 2019.
Robbie Miller
Robbie and Mr. Esparza have worked together for 23 years. During that time Mr. Esparza published children’s books and citizenship education materials. Robbie was the illustrator that took Mr. Esparza’s publications to the next level. A talented illustrator, Robbie is also in charge of the mail room. She processes all the mail and conducts the long distance daily staff meeting. Robbie is in charge of all the beautiful artwork present Mr. Esparza’s materials. During the Covid 19 pandemic Robbie has regularly traveled to the office to disinfect the mail, then read and coordinates the activities of the four paralegals and Mr. Esparza regarding it.. Robbie has been with Mr. Esparza since the beginning of time.
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Administrative Assistant On Adminsitrative Leave since spring of 2019 to celebrate the birth her third child. Her husband, Juan Carlos teams with Mr. Esparza to be the best pair in the office at cards.
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Full time translator for Mr. Esparza. Daniel verifies the translations that Mr. Esparza posts. He provides translations for all four paralegals as well as customers off the street. During the Covid 19 pandemic Daniel has contributed insights and articles to Mr. Esparza’s website, AVVO, Facebook while working remotely from Dallas. Daniel has been with Mr. Esparza since 2000.
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