Orlando Center for Justice, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Established in 2016, Orlando Center for Justice, Inc. is a non-profit legal services organization led by Florida-licensed immigration attorneys, providing affordable sliding-scale and pro bono representation in family immigration, asylum, deportation defense, and humanitarian relief across Central Florida.
Accessible Immigration and Community Legal Advocacy in Orlando, Florida
For thousands of immigrants and working families in Central Florida, accessing trustworthy legal counsel is often hindered by high private legal retainers or rigid legal aid income limits. Located on North Semoran Boulevard in East Orlando, Orlando Center for Justice, Inc. was created in 2016 to bridge this justice gap. Staffed by dedicated Florida-licensed attorneys and accredited legal representatives, this non-profit legal center delivers compassionate, high-caliber legal assistance to newcomers, mixed-status families, and vulnerable community members on an affordable sliding-scale and pro bono basis.
Family-Based Immigration, Petitions, and Adjustment of Status
Keeping families united is a central mission of the center legal team. Operating as dedicated family immigration lawyers, the attorneys assist United States citizens and lawful permanent residents with immigrant visa petitions (Form I-130), adjustment of status applications (Form I-485), consular processing, and removal of conditions on green cards. The team guides spouses, parents, and children through complex background evaluations, proving bona fide family relationships and overcoming statutory inadmissibility barriers.
Humanitarian Relief, Asylum, U Visas, and VAWA Protections
For individuals escaping persecution, violent crime, or domestic abuse, skilled legal representation can literally save lives. Acting as domestic violence lawyers and humanitarian relief advocates, the center assists survivors with Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions, U visas for victims of qualifying crimes, and T visas for human trafficking survivors. The firm attorneys also prepare persuasive affirmative and defensive asylum applications, documenting conditions of persecution and representing clients at asylum office interviews and federal hearings.
Removal Defense and Immigration Court Representation
Facing deportation before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is an intimidating ordeal where having counsel is paramount. As aggressive deportation defense lawyers, the advocates at Orlando Center for Justice defend respondents facing removal proceedings at the Orlando Immigration Court. The firm prepares bond redetermination motions, cancellation of removal applications for non-permanent residents, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) petitions for vulnerable unaccompanied minors, safeguarding their right to remain in the United States.
Citizenship, DACA, and Holistic Community Justice Initiatives
In addition to immigration defense, the organization serves as knowledgeable citizenship lawyers, preparing lawful permanent residents for the naturalization process, civics testing, and English interview requirements. The center also handles Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) registrations, simplified divorce representation, and basic wills for families. Core services provided by the organization include:
- Filing family-based immigration petitions, green card adjustments, and consular processing packages
- Representing asylum seekers in credible fear reviews, affirmative applications, and immigration court defense
- Providing aggressive deportation defense and bond hearings at the Orlando Immigration Court
- Filing humanitarian petitions for U visas, T visas, and VAWA domestic violence self-petitions
- Representing abandoned or neglected children in state court dependency and SIJS immigration proceedings
- Assisting eligible green card holders with naturalization, fee waiver applications, and DACA renewals
Bridging the Justice Gap with Multilingual Legal Services
Orlando Center for Justice is co-founded by Executive Director Melissa Marantes and Legal Director Gisselle Martinez, who bring personal immigrant heritage and active leadership in the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Supported by an attorney-led board of directors, the center provides services in Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese. Whether an immigrant family needs to find a lawyer for deportation defense, wishes to consult a lawyer about a green card petition, or needs a lawyer urgently to secure an immigration bond, Orlando Center for Justice delivers compassionate, dignified advocacy.
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Location & Access
Primary Address
Located in the eastern corridor of Orlando, within the commercial Baldwin East business area near the scenic Baldwin Park neighborhood.
Building Location
This office is situated inside the Baldwin East professional plaza, a two-story brick commercial office complex located near Orlando Neuro Physical Therapy and just north of the East Colonial Drive intersection.
Parking Details
Clients and visitors can utilize the ample free surface parking lot that surrounds the Baldwin East plaza.
Public Transit
Served by Lynx Route 436S (S.R. 436 / Orlando International Airport); nearest stop is at N Semoran Blvd & Claude Ave.
Accessibility / Suite Access
Enter the main lobby of the Baldwin East building. Suite 120 is located on the first floor and offers convenient, wheelchair-accessible access directly off the ground floor hallway.