LAFLA bids a heartfelt farewell to a true champion of justice, Special Counsel on Immigration Michael Ortiz, who is retiring after more than 45 years of transformative service to the immigrant community.
Michael joined LAFLA in the late 1970s as a student law clerk. He returned as a staff attorney in 1982, just as changing federal laws promised a path to legal protections for people seeking safety in the United States. Very quickly, Michael launched LAFLA’s Immigrants’ Rights Office, taking as many applications for asylum, naturalization, and family reunification as possible.
Michael Ortiz (second from left) with clients and colleagues at a 2010 exhibition featuring the art of refugees and asylum seekers served by LAFLA’s Torture Survivors Project.
Today, LAFLA’s Immigration Access Workgroup continues to support clients who have survived unimaginable cruelty—from torture and persecution to abuse and human trafficking. Their cases are often matters of life and death. In these communities, trust is critical—and Michael earned it many times over with the fierce integrity and deep humanity he brought to all his cases.
In his commitment to centering the most impacted, Michael became an expert advocate for clients with trauma and disabilities, ensuring equal opportunity to seek relief. And with his passion for guiding former foster youth through the immigration system, he changed the trajectory of hundreds of young lives—creating stability and security for generations to come.
For decades, Michael has helped LAFLA magnify our mission of equal justice through strategic advocacy and litigation. His advocacy on behalf of 15,000 immigrants helped ensure that asylum seekers in Los Angeles have the right to tell their stories in their native languages to this day. His countless wins continue to protect the promise of equal justice for communities across California and beyond.
Last year, Michael was awarded the Award of Merit by the Legal Aid Association of California. In her nomination letter, Immigration Access Managing Attorney Dominique Quevedo wrote:
“The impact of Michael’s work will resound for generations to come.
We see it in the lives of immigrants who now have status and safety from horrific abuse.
We see it in their stories of healing and advancement.
We see it in the eyes of our clients’ children and grandchildren, who have gone on to carve out meaningful lives in safety.
We see it in the many legal aid attorneys, in California and beyond, who are fortunate enough to be guided by him.”
LAFLA is endlessly grateful for Michael’s vision, brilliance, and unwavering heart. As he steps into retirement, his legacy remains a constant in LAFLA’s work. Our dedicated advocates provide free, compassionate legal services for survivors of violence and crime seeking help with asylum, naturalization, U Visa/VAWA, legal permanent residency and other immigration matters. To apply for legal services, please visit www.lafla.org/get-help.
