Shahid Haque

Shahid Haque

Managing Partner, Border Crossing Law Firm, P.C. - A full service immigration law firm.
  • Immigration Law
  • Illinois, Montana
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Biography

Shahid Haque dedicates his practice to helping immigrants obtain legal status in the United States and pursue all that the country has to offer. Mr. Haque assists clients with a wide variety of immigration matters, including applications with the consulates abroad and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, representing clients arrested by the Department of Homeland Security, and defending immigrants in deportation proceedings in Immigration Court.

Mr. Haque represents well over a thousand immigrants and their families all across Montana, and has been in contact with over a thousand other immigrants in Montana through his advocacy efforts. He has internalized their stories, understands their feelings and anxieties, and is one of the few people in Montana who has a broad and clear picture of the diverse immigrant communities throughout Montana, from Glacier to Yellowstone — and in all the small communities all along the way.

Mr. Haque helps clients with a wide variety of family and employment based visas. He has won asylum for over twenty refugees who fled from their home countries to escape torture, persecution, and death on account of their political or religious beliefs. He has also won cancellation of removal for numerous clients in contested deportation proceedings — one of the most difficult forms of relief to win due to its high burden of proof.

In 2013, he filed a class action lawsuit against the Montana Highway Patrol to challenge its practice of detaining Latino drivers and passengers solely for the purpose of checking into their immigration status. In 2015, he prevailed with a judgment in his favor. Under a new policy, troopers cannot ask about immigration status based solely on a person’s race, ethnicity or language abilities. Nor can they demand drivers or passengers tell them their immigration status or detain people who choose not to answer. Montana is now one of the only states with a clear policy prohibiting this conduct.

Education
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
J.D
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Honors: High Honors; Order of the Coif; West Publishing Award for the highest GPA in the class, 2002-2003; Bar & Gavel Award for outstanding service to the community; CALI Award for highest grade in Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Federal Courts.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology Logo
Professional Experience
Managing Partner
Border Crossing Law Firm, P.C.
- Current
Representing immigrants in a wide variety of matters, including family and business related visa processing, adjustment of status, green cards, asylum, removal and deportation defense, and citizenship and naturalization services.
Director
Montana Immigrant Justice Alliance ("MIJA")
- Current
The Montana Immigrant Justice Alliance (MIJA) is a statewide organization focused on immigrant justice issues. The acronym for the organization, mija, is an affectionate abbreviation of mi hija which means my daughter in Spanish. We chose this name because we believe that family unity is an important and fundamental human right, and one that many migrants are denied. Over the last decade, the State of Montana has experienced growth in the numbers of migrants arriving here in search of work and a better life for their families. With the influx of migrants, we have witnessed a host of new challenges and injustices. Migrants are commonly confronted with financial, food and housing insecurity, racial prejudice, language barriers, cultural and political barriers, overt hostility to their presence, and inability to access services. Over the years, many groups and individuals have been doing impressive work on behalf of immigrants in Montana. The goal of this organization is to expand our power and influence by combining our efforts.
Associate Attorney
Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven, P.C.
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Practicing before administrative agencies in numerous public service, labor, and taxation proceedings. Practicing immigration law and representing immigrants in a wide variety of matters.
Associate Attorney
Howrey LLP
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Litigated class actions, complex commercial litigation, RICO and consumer fraud claims by taking depositions, conducting research, and drafting legal pleadings, memoranda and motions. Maintained active pro bono practice and represented a refugee in Immigration Court proceedings.
Associate Attorney
Jenner & Block, LLP
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Drafted legal pleadings, memoranda and motions, including numerous dispositive motions. Researched and analyzed a wide variety of legal issues, including the validity of putative class claims, civil RICO and consumer fraud claims. Maintained a lively pro bono practice: Won asylum for three refugees; defended two clients from removal in Immigration Court and represented one client in an application before the Chicago Asylum Office. Prepared immigration paperwork for clients, including applications for Legal Permanent Resident status and visa petitions for family members; reunited a Togolese refugee with her three children. Worked with the Tax Assistance Program to prepare federal and state tax returns for low-income individuals and families.
Publications
Articles & Publications
Business and Commercial Litigation in the Federal Courts: RICO (Contributing Editor)
Thomson West, 2d Edition
Beyond Hoffman Plastic: Reforming National Labor Relations Policy to Conform to the Immigration Reform and Control Act
Chicago-Kent Law Review
Certifications
Juris Doctor, with High Honors
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Awards
Bar & Gavel Award for outstanding service to the community.
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Awards for highest grade in Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Federal Courts classes in law school.
CALI
West Publishing Award for the highest GPA in the class of 2002-03.
West Publishing
Professional Associations
Immigration West, Inc.
Executive Director
- Current
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Border Crossing Law Firm, P.C.
Managing Partner
- Current
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Helena International Affairs Council
Appointed Member
- Current
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American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Member
- Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Illinois
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Montana
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Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Flat fees offered for many types of cases; affordable monthly payment plans can be arranged.
Practice Area
Immigration Law
Asylum, Citizenship, Deportation Defense, Family Visas, Green Cards, Immigration Appeals, Investment Visas, Marriage & Fiancé(e) Visas, Student Visas, Visitor Visas, Work Visas
Additional Practice Areas
  • Citizenship and Naturalization
  • Criminal Immigration Violations
  • Worksite Compliance with Immigration Laws
Websites & Blogs
Blog
Montana Immigrant Justice Alliance ("MIJA")
Contact & Map
Downtown Helena
7 W 6th Ave, Suite 2A
Helena, MT 59624
Toll-Free: (888) 595-2004
Telephone: (406) 594-2004
Fax: (888) 594-2179