Board-Certified Immigration Attorney · Founding Partner
Vega & Associates, PLLC · Houston, Texas
Texas Board-Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law since 1985 · Practicing since 1979 · Member of AILA since 1982
About Adan G. Vega
Adan G. Vega is a Board-Certified Immigration Attorney and the founding partner of Vega & Associates, PLLC in Houston, Texas. He has practiced immigration and nationality law exclusively for more than 45 years, making him one of the longest-serving immigration attorneys in Houston. He earned a B.A. from Rice University in 1976 and a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 1979. In 1985 the Texas Board of Legal Specialization awarded him a Certificate of Special Competence in Immigration and Nationality Law, authorizing the title Board Certified Specialist. He is admitted to practice before the Texas state courts, the EOIR Immigration Courts, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court, and has presented oral argument in the Fifth Circuit on three occasions, including one published opinion.
On August 23, 1988, Vega testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law, on the effects of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. He has served as immigration legal counsel to foreign governments in the United States, including the governments of Mexico and El Salvador, and to multinational companies on employment-based immigration.
A member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1982, he co-chaired the AILA Texas Chapter Conference in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2004, and has lectured on immigration law at AILA conferences and at the University of Texas. He authored the Guide of United States History and Government in 1989. The Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Catholic Conference presented him with a special service award for outstanding commitment and dedicated service to newcomers.
Vega was a founder and initial director of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 1984, served as President of Consejo Hispano from 1987 to 1988, and has served as special immigration legal counsel, board director, vice president and president of the Cámara de Empresarios Latinos de Houston. He has provided pro bono immigration services to Texas's indigent community throughout his career. He has been recognized as a Top Texas Lawyer by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) since 2004. He represents individuals, families and businesses before USCIS, the Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Credentials
Board Certification
- Board-Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Texas (Certificate of Special Competence, 1985)
Bar and Court Admissions
- State Bar of Texas (1979)
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas (1980)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1980) — oral argument on three occasions, one published opinion
- U.S. Supreme Court (2004)
- EOIR Immigration Courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals
Education
- J.D., The University of Texas at Austin School of Law (1979)
- B.A., Rice University (1976)
Professional Memberships and Leadership
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), member since 1982
- AILA Texas Chapter Conference Co-Chair (1997, 1998, 1999, 2004)
- Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce — founder and initial director (1984)
- Consejo Hispano — President (1987–1988)
- Cámara de Empresarios Latinos de Houston — special immigration legal counsel, board director, vice president and president
Recognition
- Texas Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) — Top Texas Lawyer, selected numerous years since 2004
- Special Service Award — Migration and Refugee Services, United States Catholic Conference, for outstanding commitment and dedicated service to newcomers
Testimony, Lectures and Publications
- Testified before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law, on the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (August 23, 1988)
- Lecturer on immigration law at AILA conferences and The University of Texas
- Author, Guide of United States History and Government (1989)
- Immigration legal counsel to the governments of Mexico and El Salvador in the United States
Practice Areas
- Family immigration
- Employment-based immigration
- Green cards and adjustment of status
- Citizenship and naturalization
- Deportation and removal defense
- Asylum and refugee status
- Immigration appeals (BIA and Fifth Circuit)
- Inadmissibility and waivers
- National Interest Waivers
Work with Adan G. Vega
Vega & Associates has represented individuals, families and businesses in immigration matters from Houston since 1982. Consultations are available in English and Spanish.