Joseph Caraccio

Bar & Court Admissions

Because immigration law is governed exclusively by federal statute, Joseph Caraccio is licensed and authorized to represent clients across all 50 U.S. states and overseas consulates:

Practice Focus & Legal Experience

Joseph Caraccio has been practicing immigration law since 2012. His legal practice is focused on helping immigrants obtain legal status in the United States and defending individuals who face removal (deportation). The majority of his caseload involves the complex representation of individuals in removal and deportation proceedings before Immigration Courts nationwide.

Caraccio frequently represents clients who have lived in the United States for the majority of their lives but have been convicted of, or are currently facing, criminal charges. Clients find themselves in immigration court facing removal charges ranging from minor traffic infractions to serious federal offenses. He brings meticulous statutory analysis to navigate the nuanced intersection of criminal law and immigration ("crimmigration"), preserving green cards and preventing deportation.

Equally central to his practice is the representation of individuals seeking asylum in the United States after fleeing countries where they suffered persecution on account of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Having welcomed refugees who escaped severe human rights violations, Joseph approaches each asylum trial with deep evidentiary preparation and aggressive legal defense.

Appellate & Federal Court Litigation

For years, Joseph operated his own practice handling administrative appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), motions to reopen, and petitions for review in Federal Courts of Appeals. His extensive litigation background enables him to preserve errors for appellate review and pursue federal court intervention when government agencies unlawfully delay or deny relief.

Community Leadership & Non-Profit Advocacy

In 2022, Joseph joined the non-profit agency Immigration Legal Services of Long Island, where he serves as the supervising attorney of their Brentwood, New York office. In this role, he leads community legal defense initiatives and mentors legal staff defending immigrant families across Suffolk and Nassau counties.

Pro Bono Representation & Volunteer Work

A passionate proponent of equal access to justice, Joseph volunteers substantial time to protect vulnerable populations:

• Safe Passage Project — Pro Bono Attorney: Representing unaccompanied immigrant children (ages 8–18) detained entering the U.S. and placed into removal proceedings without guaranteed counsel. Joseph appears in New York Family Courts to secure guardianship and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) predicate findings required to safeguard these children from deportation.
• Street Law — Teacher & Mentor: Teaching sixth-grade students at MS 22 in the Bronx about the U.S. Constitution, government structures, and their fundamental civil rights during encounters with law enforcement, school officials, or immigration officers.
• Unemployment Action Center — Legal Advocate: Representing workers unlawfully denied unemployment insurance benefits during formal administrative hearings.
• Educational Outreach & Public Resources: Publishing free immigration legal information, court hearing directories, and tools for immigrants and practitioners online through publications at nyvisalawyer.com.

Honors, Speaking & Education