Ray Lahoud Speaks to Moravian Academy ‘Latinos in the Lehigh Valley’ Students
Raymond G. Lahoud, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its Immigration Law Practice Group, was a virtual guest speaker for the Moravian Academy “Latinos in the Lehigh Valley” class taught by Professor Gonzalo F. del Real, M.A., Tuesday, September 22.
“I always enjoy speaking to the younger generation about immigration and seeing their passion on the topic. To be able to help educate them on the immigration system and immigration law, as well as speak to them as a child of immigrants reminds me of why I got into this profession and why I love what I do,” said Lahoud.
About the Moravian Academy “Latinos in the Lehigh Valley” Class
The purpose of the class is to provide students with information to help dispel any erroneous stereotypes and misconceptions they may have about the immigration process and those who are part of it. Lahoud visited the class last year to speak to students about imperialism and immigration, discussing his experience working with the immigration process, student and work visas, and the residency/citizenship process, as well as his personal journey as a child of Lebanese immigrants.
This year, Lahoud discussed Lehigh Valley’s immigrant population and communities; and the “underground” world that takes advantage of the undocumented immigrant community through “notario” fraud, fraud, human trafficking, and smuggling; and the impact of issues such as document, benefit, and identity fraud on those in the United States lawfully. He also spoke of the need for comprehensive immigration reform, noting that it may be difficult, if not impossible, to see such reform in the near future.
About Ray Lahoud
Lahoud focuses exclusively on the area of immigration law and deportation defense for individuals, families, small to large domestic and multinational businesses and corporations, employers, international employees, investors, students, professors, researchers, skilled professionals, athletes, and entertainers, in every type of immigration or deportation defense matter—whether domestic or foreign. While his immigration practice is global, serving individuals and organizations across the United States and beyond, he is located primarily at the firm’s three globally-linked offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey; New York, New York; and Allentown, Pennsylvania. As Chair of the firm’s Immigration Law Practice Group, Lahoud oversees a leading team of experienced and highly-trained immigration attorneys, immigration review compliance experts, employer immigration auditors, and paralegals and legal assistants.
Lahoud’s immigration practice is broad, ranging from corporate and employment immigration and related compliance to immigration litigation before agencies and courts across the United States, for corporations and individuals alike. He represents businesses of all sizes, in all corporate immigration and employer compliance matters, serving nearly every industry. His compliance practice includes all non-immigrant and immigrant visas, recruitment of international talent and students, and consular processing, as well as Form I-9 and Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division compliance. Further, he has litigated corporate immigration matters before the Department of Labor’s Wage & Hour Division, the Department of Homeland Security’s investigative bodies and agencies, the State Department, the United States Court of Appeals for International Trade, the Customs & Border Protection review board, and federal appellate courts.
Lahoud’s immigration litigation practice includes deportation defense of thousands of individuals at the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Administrative Appeals Office, and federal district and circuit courts. In state and federal trial and appellate courts, he seeks post-conviction relief for the underlying crime that led to the removal proceedings and serves as immigration counsel to non-citizens accused of removable crimes. Lahoud’s ability to understand each interaction of criminal law with immigration law has made him a leading expert on issues of “crimmigration.”
Lahoud has received numerous accolades. He has been awarded the “Empire State Pro Bono Counsel Award” each year since 2012, has been selected as “Lead Counsel,” received the Martindale-Hubbell “Platinum Client Champion Award,” and has been named a Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” ranked as a “Top Rated Immigration Attorney” in the New York Metro Area. EB5 Investors, the leading online portal, conference series, and magazine for investors, developers, and EB-5 professionals, has named Lahoud one of the “Top 5 Rising Stars” nationally. He was also named one of the 40 young professionals from the Greater Lehigh Valley as the Lehigh Valley Business 2017 “Forty Under 40” for his commitment to business growth, professional excellence, and the community. Lahoud received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2009 and his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Lehigh University in 2006.
