Immigration Law Attorney
Former U.S. Immigration Judge | Former DHS Trial Attorney | Former Air Force Judge Advocate
Justin M. Price has decided immigration cases from the bench, litigated them on behalf of the federal government, prosecuted cases in the military justice system, and defended individuals whose futures were at stake.
Before representing clients at National Security Law Firm, Justin served as an Immigration Judge with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. He previously spent more than 12 years as a Trial Attorney representing the Department of Homeland Security in immigration court and served as a Judge Advocate and military prosecutor in the United States Air Force.
Today, Justin draws on more than 25 years of legal experience to represent individuals and families in complex immigration matters nationwide. His experience as a former Immigration Judge, government trial attorney, military lawyer, prosecutor, and public defender provides an unusually comprehensive understanding of how immigration cases are investigated, litigated, evaluated, and decided.
Former Immigration Judge | 12+ Years Representing DHS | Former Air Force JAG | 25+ Years of Legal Experience
Schedule a Consultation With Justin
He Has Seen Immigration Cases From Every Side
Few immigration attorneys have served as the government’s advocate and the immigration court’s decision-maker. Justin has done both.
Throughout his career, Justin has:
- Presided over immigration court proceedings as an Immigration Judge;
- Represented the Department of Homeland Security in immigration court for more than 12 years;
- Evaluated testimony, credibility, documentary evidence, and applications for immigration relief;
- Litigated contested immigration matters on behalf of the federal government;
- Advised federal law enforcement personnel and government officials;
- Served as an Air Force Judge Advocate and military prosecutor;
- Prosecuted courts-martial and advised military commanders and investigators; and
- Defended individuals in criminal proceedings as an Assistant Public Defender.
This experience allows Justin to evaluate an immigration case from multiple perspectives: the client’s, the government’s, and the adjudicator’s.
He understands how government attorneys develop and challenge cases because he once represented the government. He understands how Immigration Judges assess credibility and evidence because he once made those decisions. He understands the consequences for the person facing the government because he has also served as a defense attorney.
That perspective now informs every case he handles for National Security Law Firm.
Experience as a U.S. Immigration Judge
Before joining National Security Law Firm, Justin served as an Immigration Judge with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for the nation’s immigration courts.
As an Immigration Judge, Justin presided over proceedings involving removability, asylum, and other forms of immigration relief. He managed a high-volume docket, ruled on contested motions, evaluated testimony and documentary evidence, assessed witness credibility, and issued written and oral decisions affecting the status and future of the individuals appearing before him.
An Immigration Judge must do more than identify the applicable law. The judge must determine whether testimony is credible, whether documents are reliable, whether the evidence satisfies the required legal standard, whether inconsistencies have been adequately explained, and whether a requested form of relief is legally available and factually supported.
Justin has personally made those determinations.
Today, he uses that experience to help clients identify the questions a government decision-maker is likely to ask, address weaknesses before they become reasons for denial, and present their facts and evidence in a clear, credible, and legally persuasive manner.
Why Experience as a Former Immigration Judge Matters
Immigration cases are not decided based on the quantity of documents submitted or the sincerity of an applicant’s belief that they deserve relief. They are decided based on the law, the evidentiary record, the applicant’s eligibility, and the credibility and persuasiveness of the case presented.
A former Immigration Judge understands how those factors come together in an actual adjudication.
Justin’s judicial experience helps him recognize:
- Facts that require explanation;
- Inconsistencies that may create credibility concerns;
- Evidence that is likely to carry persuasive value;
- Missing documents that could weaken an otherwise viable case;
- Legal issues that must be addressed before filing;
- Arguments the government may raise;
- Procedural mistakes that could affect review or appeal; and
- Issues that must be preserved in the record.
No attorney can guarantee how a government agency or court will decide a case. Justin’s experience does, however, allow him to approach immigration matters with firsthand knowledge of how evidence, testimony, credibility, and legal arguments are evaluated by the people responsible for making those decisions.
More Than 12 Years Representing the Department of Homeland Security
Before his appointment to the immigration bench, Justin spent more than 12 years as a Trial Attorney with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.
In that role, Justin represented the United States in immigration court proceedings. He developed litigation positions, drafted briefs and motions, presented legal arguments, evaluated evidence, and responded to requests for immigration relief.
His responsibilities also included:
- Advising federal law enforcement personnel on investigations and enforcement actions;
- Counseling government officials on compliance with federal immigration statutes and regulations;
- Drafting motions, briefs, and other litigation documents;
- Monitoring related federal-court litigation; and
- Evaluating the factual and legal strengths and weaknesses of immigration cases.
That work gave Justin an inside understanding of how the federal government investigates immigration matters, develops enforcement positions, evaluates applications for relief, identifies potential fraud or credibility concerns, and challenges cases in court.
His experience representing DHS complements his later service as an Immigration Judge. He understands how the government may approach a case—and how the adjudicator may ultimately evaluate it.
Immigration and Military Experience in One Attorney
Justin’s federal immigration experience is complemented by his service as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force.
As an Air Force attorney, Justin advised commanders on military justice, administrative law, and operational legal matters. He prosecuted courts-martial, worked with military investigators, and helped military decision-makers navigate complicated legal and evidentiary issues.
That combined background is particularly valuable when an immigration matter involves both military and immigration law, including:
- Naturalization through military service;
- Problems obtaining or correcting Form N-426;
- Questions concerning honorable service;
- Uncharacterized or adverse military discharges;
- Nonjudicial punishment or Article 15 proceedings;
- Court-martial charges or convictions;
- Administrative separation proceedings;
- Criminal or disciplinary history affecting naturalization;
- Military Parole in Place;
- Immigration issues affecting service members, veterans, or military families; and
- Discharge upgrades pursued for immigration or citizenship purposes.
Military and immigration systems use different procedures, terminology, records, and legal standards. An action taken in one system may create serious and sometimes unexpected consequences in the other.
Justin understands both systems from firsthand government experience.
Experience From the Defense Perspective
Justin has not spent his entire career representing or deciding cases for the government. He also served as an Assistant Public Defender, representing individuals facing criminal proceedings.
That experience gave him direct insight into the responsibilities of defense counsel and the personal consequences clients face when their freedom, status, family unity, employment, or future opportunities depend on a government decision.
Immigration cases involving arrests, criminal charges, convictions, military discipline, or allegations of fraud require careful coordination. A decision that appears beneficial in a criminal or military proceeding may produce severe immigration consequences.
Justin’s background allows him to identify these intersections and evaluate the case as a whole—not merely the immigration form immediately in front of him.
A Strategic Approach to Immigration Representation
Immigration representation should involve more than completing government forms.
Before deciding how to proceed, Justin works to understand the client’s complete history, including prior applications, immigration entries and exits, court proceedings, statements made to government officials, military service, criminal or disciplinary records, and any earlier agency decisions.
Depending on the matter, an effective strategy may require:
- Obtaining and reviewing the client’s A-File or Record of Proceedings;
- Comparing current facts against prior immigration filings;
- Identifying inconsistencies before the government does;
- Evaluating admissibility, removability, and eligibility for relief;
- Anticipating credibility questions;
- Developing corroborating evidence;
- Addressing criminal or military records;
- Preserving issues for administrative or judicial review; and
- Selecting the strongest legally available path rather than the fastest or most obvious filing.
Justin’s goal is to help clients understand both the legal requirements and how the government is likely to evaluate the particular facts, evidence, and arguments in their case.
Immigration Matters Justin Handles
Justin represents clients in immigration matters involving federal agencies and immigration courts, including:
Immigration Court and Removal Defense
- Removal proceedings;
- Immigration court motions;
- Defensive applications for immigration relief;
- Motions to reopen or reconsider;
- In absentia removal orders;
- Appeals from Immigration Judge decisions;
- Requests for stays and other emergency relief; and
- Matters involving prior immigration court proceedings.
Citizenship and Naturalization
- Naturalization applications;
- Preparation for USCIS naturalization interviews;
- Naturalization denials and Form N-336 hearings;
- Good moral character concerns;
- Military naturalization;
- Form N-426 certification problems;
- Naturalization following military discharge;
- Criminal or disciplinary history affecting naturalization; and
- Complicated prior immigration or citizenship claims.
Family and Humanitarian Immigration
- Family-based petitions;
- Adjustment of status;
- Consular processing;
- Military Parole in Place;
- Immigration waivers;
- Asylum and other humanitarian protections;
- Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny; and
- Cases involving complicated immigration histories or prior denials.
Military and Criminal Immigration Issues
- Immigration consequences of military discipline;
- NJP and court-martial issues affecting immigration status;
- Character-of-service and discharge concerns;
- Criminal arrests, charges, and convictions;
- False claims to U.S. citizenship;
- Immigration consequences of prior government statements or documents; and
- Immigration strategy involving military-record corrections or discharge upgrades.
The particular services available depend on the facts, procedural posture, deadlines, and location of the case.
Nationwide Immigration Representation
Immigration law is federal. Justin represents clients nationwide in appropriate matters before federal immigration agencies and tribunals.
National Security Law Firm is built to serve clients across the United States and abroad. The firm regularly handles federal and military matters remotely, allowing clients to obtain experienced representation regardless of where they live, work, serve, or are stationed.
Why Clients Choose Justin Price
Clients facing serious immigration problems often need more than someone who knows how to prepare an application. They need an attorney who understands how the government analyzes the case after it is filed.
Justin brings together:
- Firsthand experience deciding immigration cases;
- More than 12 years representing DHS in immigration court;
- Extensive federal-government litigation experience;
- Military legal and prosecutorial experience;
- Criminal-defense experience;
- Knowledge of immigration court procedure;
- Experience assessing evidence and credibility; and
- An understanding of how immigration, criminal, and military issues intersect.
Few attorneys have served as an Immigration Judge, represented DHS, prosecuted military cases, and defended individuals in criminal court.
Justin M. Price has done all four.
Professional Experience
- Immigration Judge
U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review - Trial Attorney — More Than 12 Years
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor - Judge Advocate and Military Prosecutor
United States Air Force - Assistant Public Defender
- Immigration Attorney
National Security Law Firm
Bar Admission
Maryland
Justin represents clients nationwide in appropriate federal immigration matters.
Education
Juris Doctor
West Virginia University College of Law
Bachelor of Arts
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Speak With Former Immigration Judge Justin M. Price
When your ability to remain in the United States, reunite with your family, obtain citizenship, or overcome an adverse immigration decision is at stake, the way your case is prepared and presented matters.
Justin brings the perspective of a former Immigration Judge, former DHS Trial Attorney, former Air Force Judge Advocate, military prosecutor, and defense attorney to every matter he accepts.
Schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your immigration history, the government’s likely concerns, and the strongest path available under the law.
Schedule a Consultation With Justin
Prior government and judicial service does not imply government endorsement, special access, or the ability to influence any agency, court, or adjudicator. Every immigration matter is decided on its individual facts, evidence, procedural history, and applicable law. No outcome can be guaranteed.