On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, the Board of Immigration Appeals suspended Oklahoma attorney Michael Robert Abdoveis from practicing before immigration courts and the Department of Homeland Security.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Michael Robert Abdoveis.”
The BIA took this action in response to a joint petition filed on August 12, 2024, by the Disciplinary Counsel for the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Disciplinary Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security. The petition requested Abdoveis’ suspension based on the order issued on June 25, 2024, by the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma.
In that case, the Oklahoma Supreme Court suspended Abdoveis from practicing law for one year. This suspension came after the Oklahoma Bar Association filed a complaint against Abdoveis alleging misconduct in his immigration legal work between 2015 and 2021 at Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma.
Specifically, the complaint accused Abdoveis of neglecting 18 client immigration matters, failing to diligently pursue cases, and misrepresenting case statuses including fabricating a receipt. Additional allegations included inadequate client communication in two other cases. Abdoveis admitted to the allegations in the complaint.
In granting the immediate suspension sought by the joint petition, the Board of Immigration Appeals concluded this met the regulatory grounds warranting such a suspension. Abdoveis is now barred from practice before immigration courts and DHS until the final disposition of this proceeding.
The Disposition states:
“The petition is granted, and the respondent is hereby suspended from the practice of law before the Board of Immigration Appeals. the Immigration Courts, and DHS pending final disposition of this proceeding.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Abdoveis acquired his law license in Oklahoma in 2013.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
