Robert Carpenter
Mr. Carpenter has represented individuals and various organizations before the Department of Homeland Security and the Departments of Labor and State. His thirty (30+) years of immigration experience includes representing professional athletes, Coaches and Managers (Major League Baseball and National Hockey League) in acquiring permanent residency. He frequently defends foreign nationals in removal proceedings, focusing on asylum, withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture Relief, cancellation of removal and adjustment of status applications in front of the Executive Office of Immigration Review and the Board of Immigration Appeals, as well as challenging US CIS denials in federal court. His work includes litigating dozens of federal court cases involving undue delays and unfair applications of the law by the government, and prevailed in the precedent-setting decision of Ming Wei Chen v. Sessions, 864 F.3d 536 (7th Cir. 2017). He has also prevailed in, successful efforts to prevent the US government from executing removal orders where changed country conditions exist, meriting reopening for fear-based claims. He is a member of multiple Federal District Courts and United States Courts of Appeals, and is a long-time Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, whose fellow members he often mentors. Mr. Carpenter spent significant time in 2021 assisting with Afghan evacuees on a pro bono basis. He believes in the super hero power of family and keeping families together. He is passionate about protecting human rights for all people, and assuring the rule of law is followed by all courts in the United States.
Patricia Capt
Patricia received her bachelor’s degree sum cum laude from Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and her J.D. from DePaul University in Chicago. She began her career as a lawyer with the Cook County Public Guardian’s office in Chicago, where she represented abused and neglected children in Juvenile Court, and adult individuals requiring a guardian over their persons and estates in Probate Court. She has been a partner with Carpenter & Capt, since 1995, managing their new locations in Michigan since 2010. She is a general practitioner in Berrien County, Michigan, focusing on real estate and probate matters. She also assists the firm with family-based immigration matters, including DACA and waiver applicants. She is passionate about her work with families in all respects, and enjoys helping families with legal issues in general.
Patricia handles real estate tax appeals in Michigan, and has an almost perfect success rate with the Michigan Tax Tribunal. In 2022, she won an appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals, appealing a Principal Residence Exemption denial on behalf of a client. The matter was remanded for a new hearing to the MTT, and the Tribunal granted the exemption. (JGP vs. Berrien County Treasurer, Court of Appeals No. 357370, May 19, 2022, unpublished opinion). Patricia is a member of the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce and the Berrien County Bar Association, and a volunteer with the Neighbor-by-Neighbor organization.