Profile Image Placeholder

Alfonso Briz Otero

  • Immigration Law, Criminal Law, International Law
  • Texas
Badges
Claimed Lawyer Profile
Biography

Education

1995- J.D. in Law Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico ranked 8th.
1999- LLM Master in Laws American Legal Studies, St. Mary’s University School of Law
2001- Jurisprudence Doctorate St. Mary’s University School of Law

Employment

2016- Founded Afonso Otero Attorney at Law, P.C.
2001- Founded Gonzalez & Otero, P.C.
2001- Present Attorney Consultant for the Mexican General Consulate in San Antonio, Texas
Participated as an expert in Mexican and immigration law for the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas.

Memberships:

Texas Bar Association 2001 – Present

Western District of Texas

Southern District of Texas

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Admit to the practice of law in all 32 States of Mexico

Awards:

Santa Maria Award 2000

Green Award 2001

Advocacia sin Fronteras 2001

Named Best Lawyers in San Antonio, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2016

Named Top Criminal Attorney by San Antonio Scene Magazine in 2013

Honored for Excellence in Immigration Law in 2014

Cases

Mercado v. Lynch Docket: 14-60539
Opinion Date: May 4, 2016
Areas of Law: Immigration Law
Petitioner, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitioned for review of the BIA’s order of removal finding that his convictions for indecent exposure and making terroristic threats under Texas law are crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMT). The court concluded that the BIA incorrectly applied the realistic probability approach in analyzing whether petitioner’s convictions are CIMTs.
There has not been an intervening change of law that would permit this panel to overturn prior precedent and adopt the realistic probability approach as applied to CIMTs. The court has persistently applied the “minimum reading” approach in this context. Accordingly, the court reversed and remanded for the BIA to analyze petitioner’s convictions under the correct approach.

See Webpage for a complete list of relevant cases.

Practice Areas
Immigration Law
Asylum, Citizenship, Deportation Defense, Family Visas, Green Cards, Immigration Appeals, Investment Visas, Marriage & Fiancé(e) Visas, Student Visas, Visitor Visas, Work Visas
Criminal Law
Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
International Law
Human Rights, Imports & Exports
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Texas
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
5th Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
Languages
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
Education
St. Mary's University
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Placeholder image for education.
St. Mary's University
Master of Laws
Placeholder image for education.
Autonomous National University of Mexico
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Placeholder image for education.
Professional Associations
Texas State Bar  # 24009189
Member
- Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
Contact & Map
Main Office
8918 Tesoro
575
San Antonio, TX 78217
Toll-Free: (210) 587-4000
Telephone: (210) 587-4000
Fax: (210) 582-5303