Reuben S. Kerben, Esq., is the Managing Attorney of Kerben Law Firm, P.C., where he leads a national practice focused on immigration litigation, including removal defense, federal
appeals, and a full range of family-, humanitarian-, and employment-based matters.

Mr. Kerben has represented thousands of immigrants across the United States, including asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, victims of crimes, survivors of human trafficking, individuals with criminal convictions or fraud allegations, immigrants subjected to immigration detention in high-risk removal proceedings, as well as athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, foreign investors, and highly skilled professionals pursuing permanent residence through employment-based pathways.

Known for handling legally and factually complex cases—including those involving prior removal orders, criminal histories, detention, and significant procedural or due process issues—Mr. Kerben has secured life-changing results for his clients, including reopening decades-old removal orders, securing release for individuals unlawfully arrested or detained by ICE, and overturning adverse decisions on appeal.

Mr. Kerben regularly appears before immigration courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and federal trial and appellate courts. His federal litigation practice includes habeas corpus petitions, mandamus actions, and constitutional challenges to unlawful detention and enforcement practices, with a particular emphasis on appellate advocacy and the development of governing legal standards in immigration adjudication.

That work is exemplified by Mr. Kerben’s representation of the petitioner in Pomavilla-Zaruma v. Garland, 78 F.4th 62 (2d Cir. 2023), in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a published decision granting the petition for review, vacating the agency’s adverse credibility determination, and remanding for further proceedings. The Court held that an immigration judge may not rely on statements from a border interview to support an adverse credibility finding without first assessing the reliability of that interview under the factors articulated in Ramsameachire v. Ashcroft, thereby clarifying governing standards for credibility determinations in asylum adjudications.

In the wake of renewed immigration enforcement, Mr. Kerben has secured multiple federal court victories ordering the release of individuals who were unlawfully arrested or detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in violation of statutory and constitutional safeguards, including:

• Gopie v. Lyons, No. 2:25-cv-05229 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 13, 2025) (granting habeas relief where ICE lacked authority to arrest prior to issuance of a Notice to Appear; holding that an NTA must precede or be contemporaneous with arrest; and recognizing an independent due-process violation based on the absence of a contemporaneous custody determination).
• Rodriguez-Acurio v. Almodovar, No. 25-cv-6065, 2025 WL 3314420 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 28, 2025) (granting habeas relief and rejecting DHS’s overbroad interpretation of INA §
  1225(b); holding that § 1225 applies only to individuals actually seeking admission and that noncitizens already residing in the United States are governed by § 1226(a))
• Guzman Cardenas v. Almodovar, No. 25 Civ. 9169 (JMF) (S.D.N.Y. 2025) (addressing DHS’s selective citation practices and emphasizing the government’s duty of candor to the tribunal)

Mr. Kerben is also deeply committed to pro bono practice and has helped many children and unaccompanied minors obtain Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), both through his private practice and in conjunction with the Safe Passage Project. He has also provided court-appointed pro bono representation to families impacted by family-separation policies, including class members in Ms. L. v. U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, 310 F. Supp. 3d 1133 (S.D. Cal. 2018).

Alongside his immigration practice, Mr. Kerben serves as of counsel to Bernstein Liebhard LLP, where he participates in national mass-tort litigation focused on identifying and advocating for individuals harmed by unsafe pharmaceuticals and medical devices. He also operates 347-ABOGADO, a New York-based legal referral platform dedicated to connecting Spanish-speaking injury victims with experienced legal representation.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Kerben co-founded and served as CEO of Spiral Universe Inc., a pioneering cloud-based education-technology platform adopted by schools in over 100 countries prior to its acquisition by Software Technology, Inc. His entrepreneurial background informs his work with entrepreneurs, foreign investors, businesses, and startups navigating U.S. immigration pathways.

Outside the courtroom, Mr. Kerben is an avid triathlete, scuba diver, and global traveler.