2011 Honoree: Michael J. Ortiz – LexisNexis Matthew Bender Daniel Levy Memorial Award

FROM BENDER’S IMMIGRATION BULLETIN:  2011 Honoree — Michael J. Ortiz has been honored with the LexisNexis Matthew Bender Daniel Levy Memorial Award.

Michael J. Ortiz, Directing Attorney, Immigration Unit, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), supervises and handles matters in areas of naturalization law, and supervises staff and directly assists clients in cases arising under VAWA, asylees and refugees and victims of human trafficking and torture. Members of LAFLA’s Immigration Unit have worked alongside Mr. Ortiz on behalf of low-income immigrants on various projects: from drafting comments to published USCIS Memoranda that will impact portions of the immigrant community at large, and LAFLA clients in particular, to naturalization workshops serving anywhere from a handful to hundreds of people; from receiving technical assistance from him on writing motions and appeals to co-writing them. His commitment and focus never wavers. This quiet, consistent commitment to low-income immigrants and their struggles is inspiring to others and has changed the lives of many in Los Angeles and beyond.

Award Presentation Reception AILA Annual Meeting Wednesday, June 15th, 2011, 8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. America’s Cup, B-D, Fourth Level, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego Refreshments Served

A member of the Editorial Board of Bender’s Immigration Bulletin, Daniel Levy died at the age of 48on September 14, 2001, in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Levy was a prolific author, litigator, and scholar, and was widely known and loved by many in the immigration bar. With this annual award Matthew Bender® seeks to honor an individual who emulates the values that informed Mr. Levy’s life and work:

– enthusiastic advocacy on behalf of immigrant clients;

– deep scholarship in immigration law; and

– an expansive vision of justice.

KJ