Michael Ortiz has been an integral part of the LAFLA team since 1982, handling complex immigration cases. Michael was instrumental in restarting LAFLA’s immigration work and in the early ’80s began representing clients facing many immigration issues.

In 1984, LAFLA formally recognized the need to provide immigration services to its clients, which led to the formation of its Immigrants’ Rights Office (IRO). Ortiz worked at the IRO where he represented immigrants in many types of immigration cases including asylum matters and major litigation affecting the rights of immigrants.

Ortiz obtained his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his JD from USC.