Pikes Peak Immigration LLC

Bios

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  Alex McShiras

  Attorney

  Alex McShiras represents individuals, families and businesses regarding their immigration matters. He also does criminal defense in traffic matters and other misdemeanors (including DUI cases). Most of the criminal defense work he does relates directly to immigration cases. A graduate of University of Denver Law, Alex has more than 12 years of experience in immigration law (9 years as an attorney and 3 + as a paralegal). He is licensed to practice at U.S. Supreme Court, 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Federal District Court for the District of Colorado, the BIA, all immigration courts, and all courts in Colorado. Alex McShiras represents individuals, families and businesses regarding their immigration matters. He also does criminal defense in traffic matters and other misdemeanors (including DUI cases). Most of the criminal defense work he does relates directly to immigration cases. Alex has experience in all types of immigration cases including business immigration, family immigration, consular processing, and removal (deportation) defense. In addition, he specializes in victim-based cases such as U-Visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, VAWA, and asylum. Also, we have substantial experience representing criminal defendants who are not citizens. We do post-conviction relief cases, advisements to criminal defense attorneys, and appeals related to the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. He has experience regarding immigration business visas such as R, H1-B, H2-B, EB-1, E-2, TN, L-1, EB-2, EB-3, and O-1 visas. He is one of a handful of immigration attorneys in Colorado who litigates immigration cases in the federal district courts and at Circuit Courts of Appeals, such as the Tenth Circuit and Fifth Circuit. He is admitted to practice at the U.S. Supreme Court as well. He is considered an expert in immigration law in Colorado and has been cited by or mentioned in the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Colorado Springs ABC affiliate KRDO, the Denver Post, and Colorado Public Radio. He has public speaking experience and has taught a number of Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) presentations that fellow lawyers take for credit to continue their education. These presentations include a wide array of topics including Federal Litigation, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, asylum, the intersection of family law and immigration law, the immigration consequences of certain criminal convictions, motions to reopen, motions to suppress, and motions to terminate.

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  Link: Alex McShiras

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  Vanessa Blankenhorn

  Managing Paralegal

  Vanessa Blankenhorn works as a paralegal at Pikes Peak Immigration. She is originally from Colombia. She graduated from the University of El Rosario, in Bogota, Colombia with a B.A. in International Affairs and Political Science. She worked for the Colombian government helping the victims of violence. She moved to Boulder, Colorado in 2011 to continue with her second degree in Communications at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She met her husband in 2015 and moved to Denver. As an Immigrant, Vanessa knows the importance and meaning of helping other immigrants. She is determined to help fellow immigrants with their immigration situation. Vanessa enjoys volunteering, reading, watching movies, and traveling.

  Link: Vanessa Blankenhorn

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  Paula Kohouteck

  Paralegal

  Paula Kohoutek works as a legal assistant at Pikes Peak Immigration. She is originally from Colombia. She moved to Idaho in 2002 and married a military service member in 2014. Paula and her husband have three children together. The Army brought her and her husband to Fort Carson, Colorado in 2014. Paula graduated from the University of Colorado Denver in 2020 with a BA in Criminal Justice. She is passionate about helping our community members. Paula is fluent in both English and Spanish. She has experienced first-hand the struggles of our immigration system. This has inspired her to work to help immigrants here in Colorado. Paula cares about immigrants and she understands the challenges of U.S. immigration because she immigrated to the United States. She has a great rapport with our clients, and she works hard to help families stay together. Paula enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, trying new foods, and helping others.

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  Link: Paula Kohouteck

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  Stephanie Garcia

  Assistant Office Manager

  Stephanie is our Assistant Office Manager. Her role is related to being in charge of administrative matters, accounting matters and everything related to contracts. She is the one in charge of making administrative decisions and coordinating that the entire work team has the necessary tools to carry out the tasks. She is usually the first to arrive at the office and the last to leave. She was born in Mexico and from the age of 5, she and her parents came to the United States. She is currently married and has a son. She loves sharing her free time with her family and her pets. She speaks perfect English and Spanish. Stephanie knows the immigration struggles that people go through. She used to have DACA. Became a permanent resident (green card) holder and then eventually became a US citizen. Stephanie is currently working towards a Bachelors Degree in Business at MSU Denver. She enjoys camping, road trips, and watching movies in her free time.

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  Link: Stephanie Garcia

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  Aileen Quinteros

  Receptionist

  In her role, Aileen maintains our telecommunications systems, provides information to clients by answering or redirecting their inquiries, and offers administrative support within the company. She handles ongoing and incoming mail and is great at keeping client files safe and organized. She is also bilingual in Spanish, so she translates for our Spanish-speaking clients and is always happy to help. In her free time Aileen likes to spend time with her 2-year-old son and husband exploring nature and trying new foods.

  Link: Aileen Quinteros