Who We Are.
Puerta Grande Law Firm was founded with the goal of seeking a legal immigration solution for each client. Puerta Grande, meaning “big door,” is a reference to the expression “entrar por la puerta grande.” The phrase literally translates to “come through the big door,” and is used through Mexico and Latin America in reference to being able to immigrate to the United States with documents. So many loved, valued, and needed immigrants in this country have no legal way to immigrate to the United States although this is their dream. Puerta Grande Law Firm strives to find a pathway for each client to obtain legal status in the United States.
Meet With Us.
Finding the right attorney to guide you on your immigration journey is a very important decision. We recommend scheduling a comprehensive intake with an attorney to explore your options.
Please call 612-808-9288 to schedule an appointment at a time that works for you.
Attorney
attorney, FIRM OWNER
Abigail C. Wahl, Attorney
Email: Abigail@puertagrandelaw.com
Phone: 612-808-9288
The firm owner, Abigail Clare Wahl, is committed to seeking justice and finding a legal solution for each one of her clients. Ms. Wahl was born and raised in Minnesota but lived in Mexico for two years after graduating high school. While living abroad in Tehuacan, Puebla, Ms. Wahl learned to speak Spanish and also developed a deep love for Mexico. Ms. Wahl returns to Mexico frequently and has also traveled to Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Spain, and Portugal.
Ms. Wahl has been an attorney for six years but has over thirteen years of legal experience. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Political Science, Ms. Wahl began her legal career as a legal assistant with Aronson & Associates in Minneapolis, MN. Ms. Wahl worked in this capacity for over four years and then decided to pursue her law degree. Ms. Wahl attended law school at William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law) where she received an 85% merit scholarship. During law school, Ms. Wahl co-founded the William Mitchell Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and also represented the school at the National Hispanic Bar Association Moot Court Competition in New Orleans, LA. Ms. Wahl served as judicial extern for The Honorable Donovan W. Frank, Federal Judge for the District of Minnesota. Ms. Wahl was also selected for clerkships with the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in the Child Protection Division.
Following graduation from law school, Ms. Wahl began practicing as an immigration attorney in Minneapolis, MN. Ms. Wahl has represented hundreds of clients in a variety of immigration cases including family-based immigrant petitions, naturalization applications, waivers for criminal issues and unlawful presence, removal defense, asylum, unaccompanied minor cases, U-visas, changes and extensions of non-immigrant status, criminal immigration matters, and a number of other cases. Ms. Wahl has also handled a number of criminal matters.
Ms. Wahl volunteers as a speaker on the topic of immigration and constitutional rights and represents a number of cases pro bono. Ms. Wahl also serves as a volunteer bone marrow courier for Be The Match Foundation. Today Ms. Wahl resides in Roseville, MN with her four children and partner.
Education
WILLIAM MITCHELL COLLEGE OF LAW
Juris Doctor, 2012
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science 2004
Activities & Affiliations
• American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member
• National Immigration Project, Member
• Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Member
Bar Admissions
•Minnesota
•United States District Court, District of Minnesota
CASE MANAGER
Fatima Mejia
Fatima Mejia was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She moved to Minnesota in 2012. Fatima obtained her B.A. in Political Science from St. Cloud State University in 2014. Coming from an immigrant family herself, Fatima understand the challenges immigrants face on a daily basis. Fatima considers the reunification of families the most rewarding part of her job. Fatima plans to attend law school and practice immigration law and criminal defense. Fatima enjoys spending time with her family and going to the movies.
Legal Assistant
Heidi Romanish
Heidi Romanish started working as a Legal Assistant at Puerta Grande in April of 2019. She has been an immigrant rights activist since she returned to Minnesota in 2014, after living and teaching in Costa Rica for 14 years. During her time in Costa Rica, she began to understand the impact of U.S. foreign policy on Central America. She assisted Costa Rican friends applying for tourist visas, and saw several of them be denied access to visit the U.S. When her daughter was born in Costa Rica in 2007, Heidi worked to obtain the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) so that her daughter could be both a Costa Rican and U.S. citizen.
Heidi was active with the Driver’s Licenses for All campaign in 2015-2017 and lobbied at the MN State Capitol. She worked at the Lyndale Neighborhood Association as a community organizer with the Latinas de Lyndale en Liderazgo program. In addition to her work at Puerta Grande, Heidi is also a Spanish interpreter at the Bridge World Language Center, and she dedicates her volunteer time with the Sanctuary and Resistance team at First Universalist Church. She has a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in Women’s Studies (1996), a Master’s in Education from Framingham State College (2005), and a Public Affairs Leadership Certificate from the University of MN Humphrey School of Public Affairs (2015). She is a single parent and finds her own sense of solace by walking along the Mississippi River and writing poetry.
Legal Assistant
Isabel Hansen
Isabel Hansen was born and raised in South Minneapolis. While in high school, Isabel volunteered at CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio) where she learned about the challenges which migrant families face everyday while living in the United States. She will be graduating from Grinnell College with a B.A. in Political Science and English in the spring of 2021. Isabel has worked as a Legal Assistant for Puerta Grande since May of 2019 and is planning on attending law school. Isabel loves trying new foods, hanging out with her cats, and going up north to visit her family.
Legal Assistant
Henry Wahl
Henry Wahl graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics. An eternal student, this brief stint of academic endeavor served to foster interest in foreign cultures and languages. Studying at the University also cemented his understanding of the world: that there is no large group of responsible adults that are ‘in charge,’ in fact, it is just regular adults, vying for power and proclaiming each one’s own superior knowledge.
It is his hope that during his lifetime, the United States realizes its life-long dream of being a nation that is welcoming to all people who desire freedom and a good life. The notion of a just country includes a system of government that recognizes each human as a person with dignity and deserving of respect. Henry seeks to incorporate these notions in his work and daily life, and to speak his mind about the importance of such virtues and stand his ground when these ideas encounter resistance. Someday, this righteous version of the United States so many of us have in our heads and hearts may pass into reality, and the first step is believing it is possible.
Legal Assistant
Liliana Celis
Liliana Celis has roots in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. She is a graduate of South St. Paul High School and continues to study at Century College. She hopes to eventually pursue a degree in law. Liliana has always had a strong interest in different cultures and languages and has started to teach herself Arabic. Liliana enjoys learning new ways to help people from all over the world while providing support to the immigration services at Puerta Grande Law Firm LLC.