Brian Murray is the original founding partner of Murray Osorio PLLC. Brian is a tireless advocate for individuals in immigration proceedings, with particular focus and experience in complex waiver issues and legal challenges to charges and prospective charges of inadmissibility or removability including the immigration consequences of criminal convictions (“crimmigration”). He is looked to as an authority by criminal defense counsel and their clients in the DC area and across the country, to provide immigration counsel and immigration-safe disposition options in criminal proceedings.
Brian has represented a range of individuals with various backgrounds, complications, and needs. He has represented former heads of state, prominent diplomats from a range of countries, multinational executives, and others with seemingly intractable immigration problems including denial of immigrant and non-immigrant visas, waivers, problems at the port of entry, customs issues including seizures, and removal defense.
Brian has been listed as a Rising Star in immigration law by SuperLawyers Magazine for Virginia and D.C. since 2016. Brian has also been an appointed Member of the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Citizens’ Advisory Council since 2008. Brian’s publications include “SCOTUS: Drug Paraphernalia Not A Deportable Offense.”
Bar Admissions
- Virginia
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Fourth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals
- Fifth Circuit, U.S Court of Appeals
- Eastern District of Virginia, U.S. District Court
Representative Matters
Board of Immigration Appeals
- Won Protection under the Convention Against Torture in removal proceedings in York, Pennsylvania for a Honduran woman who had assisted a federal drug trafficking prosecution. Successfully defended the Immigration Judge’s grant of protection against DHS appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
- Won an appeal and remand from the Board of Immigration Appeals after denial of Convention Against Torture claim of former MS-13 member who had renounced the gang and feared assassination by the gang.
Immigration Courts
- Won withholding of removal for Honduran man with prominent facial scars. (Arlington)
- Obtained new grant of Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for Salvadoran client after TPS had been withdrawn by USCIS. (El Paso)
- Advised Criminal Defense Counsel on crafting a plea deal for man from Trinidad and Tobago for a criminal matter which involved multiple felony charges to ensure continued eligibility for relief in removal proceedings, despite original charges constituting bars to relief. Once removal proceedings were commenced, obtained, cancellation of removal for certain lawful permanent residents despite a criminal record that included four convictions for obtaining money by false pretenses, a conviction for marijuana possession, and a conviction for receiving stolen property. (Arlington)
- Convinced Immigration Judge to grant bond for Salvadoran client whose criminal convictions rendered him ineligible for TPS but whose TPS had not yet been withdrawn.
- Obtained cancellation of removal for certain non-permanent residents for Salvadoran man with two U.S. Citizen children and criminal convictions for several misdemeanors including two DUI convictions and three convictions for driving without a license. (Arlington)
- Obtained adjustment of status with waiver of criminal grounds of inadmissibility for Honduran man with numerous old convictions for theft and destruction of property who had shown rehabilitation and had a US Citizen wife and children who would suffer if waiver was not granted. (Arlington)
- Obtained deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture for young Honduran man that feared his tattoos would wrongly associate him with gang membership. Client had marijuana possession, petit larceny, and DUI convictions.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Assisted Ghanaian man in obtaining naturalization despite having more than 50 international trips and multiple felony criminal charges. (Dallas)
- Obtained reversal of naturalization denial for Somali woman in complex case involving multiple issues including mistaken criminal record and dispute about whether she had originally been “lawfully admitted for permanent residence.” (Washington, D.C.)
- Won complex motion to reopen application for adjustment of status for Colombian man. Application had been filed by prior counsel and been denied on fraud grounds. (Washington, D.C.)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Persuaded ICE to join Motion to reopen Removal Proceedings where Immigration Judge had wrongly ordered a permanent resident from Portugal removed on two aggravated felony grounds. (Phoenix)
- Convinced ICE to grant bond and prosecutorial discretion for Honduran evangelical Christian man afraid of persecution by gangs. Removal proceedings were administratively closed.
- Convinced ICE to administratively close removal proceedings against a Salvadoran man with dozens of arrests but only a handful of convictions for minor traffic matters.
- Convinced ICE to join Motion to reopen 20 year old removal order after re-entry so that he may seek provisional waiver and avoid permanent inadmissibility ground.
U.S. Department of State
- Negotiated approval of immigrant visa for Jordanian mother and wife of U.S. citizen with outstanding felony warrant in the United Stated. Also defended client in criminal case in the United States, resulting in dismissal of the criminal charge.
Speaking Engagements
Brian is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education seminars, especially for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), on topics such as criminal grounds of inadmissibility and removability and waivers of those grounds. Brian has spoken at immigration law conferences in Germany, Belgium, Hong Kong, Austria, Vietnam, South Africa, and India. Selected speaking engagements include:
- “Executing Immigration: A Look at Trump’s Executive Orders,” Immigration Law Association at George Washington University Law School 2017
- “Preparing for an Individual Calendar Hearing,” AILA Annual Conference 2017
- “The Wonderful World of Waivers,” AILA Rome 2017
- “Waiver Updates,” AILA Rome 2017
- “Do I Need a Waiver?” AILA Rome 2016
- “Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity,” AILA DC 2016
- “Criminal Grounds of Inadmissibility,” AILA Bangkok 2016
- Various public information sessions on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals 2012
Media Appearances
While Murray Osorio is proud of its past accomplishments, every case is different and past success is no guarantee of future results.
