'Lawyer of Miracles' accused of defrauding immigrants seeking legal status

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Immigrants across the United States - including some in California - are registering for a lawsuit accusing Washington state immigration attorney Alexandra Lozano of fraud, according to the Seattle-based law firm Barraza Law.

Lozano, who allegedly promoted herself as the "Lawyer of Miracles," resigned from the Washington State Bar Association "in lieu of discipline," a move that permanently bars her from practicing law in the state. The resignation comes as former clients organize what attorneys describe as one of the largest mass legal actions of its kind.

Until recently, one suite inside a Commerce business building served as the Southern California office for the La Luz del Camino legal team, the firm Lozano operated. The firm's website now states that, due to "increasing challenges and unjust scrutiny," closing the practice "is the best course of action."

A lawsuit filed against Lozano includes allegations that she misled immigrants seeking legal status.

"Ms. Lozano created a humanitarian immigration mill in which she took cases she probably should not have taken," said Seattle attorney Vicente Barraza, who is leading the case.

The complaint alleges Lozano used images of the Virgin of Guadalupe "in her marketing materials to convey the impression she is capable of miracles." It also claims she submitted "fraudulent" paperwork for some clients, asserting they were victims of abuse or trafficking "often without their knowledge or their consent."

Barraza said the fallout has been devastating for many.

"They will be under suspicion as long as they are involved with the immigration system," he said. "Some of the folks have been deported, not allowed back into the country, or currently in deportation proceedings because they paid good money to an attorney to steer them in the right direction, and now it's turned into a nightmare."

An amended complaint further alleges Lozano "controls a multimillion-dollar domestic real estate portfolio purchased with the proceeds" and traveled on a pink private airplane valued at approximately $25 million.

Lozano's attorney Angelo J. Calfo says Lozano has helped thousands of clients obtain legal status.

"Alexandra denies the allegations that have been raised by a small number of the thousands of individuals she has represented. She will address those allegations fully in court," he said in part of a statement he sent to 7 On Your Side.

Los Angeles immigration attorney Joan De Valle said she has received about 25 calls from Lozano's former clients who believed they were on track for green cards but now fear deportation.

"They're panicking," she said, adding that "some of them didn't know what was going on in the application because some people blindly trust attorneys."

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice to Lozano's former clients, instructing them to update their mailing addresses so their immigration cases can continue to be processed.