Kerry Bretz - Profile

Kerry Bretz is a former INS trial attorney and partner at Bretz & Coven. With a strong commitment to advocating for progressive and equitable immigration laws that recognize the valuable contributions immigrants make to the United States, Kerry Bretz embodies the core principles of this nation as a land of opportunity where individuals can pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Kerry Bretz has been actively involved in challenging the retroactive enforcement of new immigration statutes and the imposition of mandatory detention. His pivotal victories in deportation cases such as Henderson v INS and Calcano-Martinez v INS have significantly impacted the national landscape regarding relief options for individuals with prior criminal convictions. Notably, in the case of St John v McElroy, Kerry Bretz successfully secured the release of a mentally disabled woman from INS custody and obtained approximately $88,000 in attorney's fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act from a federal court judge. Furthermore, he secured an additional settlement for Ms. St John under the Federal Tort Claims Act for alleged mistreatment she endured while detained by the INS. Prior to entering private practice, Kerry Bretz served as a Trial Attorney for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, enriching his legal acumen with a unique perspective that informs his strategic approach to each client's case. A sought-after authority in the legal community, Kerry Bretz is frequently consulted by criminal defense attorneys, quoted in the media, and featured on esteemed television and radio programs. An active member of the American Immigration Lawyer's Association, Kerry Bretz is a respected speaker at the organization's annual conference and serves as a Commissioner for the Archdiocese's Commission for the Dignity of Immigrants. Kerry Bretz has been recognized with the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Rated® distinction, the highest peer-reviewed rating attainable for legal excellence.