The resignation permanently ends Lozano’s ability to practice law in Washington as a federal lawsuit and years of complaints mount against her.
TUKWILA, Wash. — Tukwila-based immigration attorney Alexandra Lozano has permanently resigned from the Washington State Bar Association in lieu of discipline, effectively ending her ability to practice law in Washington and represent clients in immigration cases.
The resignation, filed Tuesday, comes just days after a federal lawsuit accused Lozano and her law firm of steering immigrants into abuse-based immigration claims they allegedly did not qualify for, mishandling applications and submitting filings clients said they did not fully understand.
In a statement provided to KING 5, the Washington State Bar Association said a resignation in lieu of discipline is permanent and carries consequences more severe than a standard disbarment.
“A lawyer who has resigned in lieu of discipline will never be eligible to apply for admission or readmission to the practice of law in Washington state,” WSBA Spokesperson said.
The Bar said Lozano is no longer authorized to practice law in Washington or appear in federal tribunals, including immigration courts, because attorneys appearing in federal immigration proceedings must maintain a state law license in good standing.
The WSBA also said attorneys who resign in lieu of discipline must acknowledge they are aware of alleged misconduct raised by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and choose to resign rather than contest those allegations.
“Bringing Alexandra Lozano’s conduct to the attention of the public was a high priority for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel,” the WSBA statement said.
The resignation document, including the allegations underlying the disciplinary matter, is expected to become public.
Lawsuit accused firm of steering clients into abuse-based claims
The resignation follows a sweeping federal civil lawsuit filed earlier this month by nine former clients.
The lawsuit accused Lozano and her law firm of malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, consumer protection violations and other claims. Plaintiffs alleged they were encouraged to pursue immigration protections tied to domestic abuse or human trafficking even when those allegations did not fit their situations.
Some plaintiffs also alleged they signed documents they did not fully understand or discovered inaccurate information in immigration filings submitted on their behalf.
Lozano previously denied wrongdoing in statements to KING 5 and said her firm had helped thousands of immigrant families.
KING 5 investigation uncovered years of complaints
Prior to the lawsuit being filed, KING 5 obtained complaint records from the Washington Attorney General’s Office showing similar allegations dating back years.
In one 2021 complaint, a woman alleged she and her husband were encouraged to apply for an I-360 petition, an application specifically reserved for survivors of domestic violence, “even though we never mentioned anything about abuse or any kind of problem in our relationship.”
Another complaint filed in 2024 alleged an attorney instructed a client to accuse his wife of abuse “so that it would be easier to apply for VAWA.”
VAWA. the Violence Against Women Act, provides an immigration pathway for certain survivors of domestic abuse.
Additional Attorney General complaints reviewed by KING 5 involved allegations of unauthorized signatures, refund disputes and clients claiming they did not understand the immigration applications filed in their names.
Former clients say they now fear deportation
Several former clients who spoke publicly to KING 5 said they are now trying to repair immigration cases they believe were mishandled.
Gabriel Martinez Garcia, a plaintiff in the federal suit against her, said he qualified for a legitimate VAWA claim tied to abuse by a former spouse, but alleged Lozano never fully explained the process to him.
“She didn’t explain to me what was VAWA,” Garcia told KING 5. “She didn’t explain me the documents. I had to find my own way to Google it.”
Garcia said his application was later denied over signature-related issues, leaving him in deportation proceedings.
Attorneys representing plaintiffs in the lawsuit told KING 5 they have since received hundreds of additional inquiries from immigrants worried their own cases may have been mishandled.
They said they are now reviewing more than 800 intake forms from former Lozano clients.
It is unclear what will happen to Lozano’s current clients who have open cases with her.
