Attorney Michael R. Jarecki practices U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law throughout the United States and with U.S. consular posts worldwide. Michael has been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer® “Rising Star” for immigration from 2012 – 2018, placing Michael among the top 2 ½ percent of up-and-coming attorneys selected. Michael was named one of the Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40, Class of 2012, by the National LGBT Bar Association, an affiliate of the American Bar Association.
Michael is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), a professional immigration bar of more than 15,000 attorneys and law professors. He currently serves as Chair of the AILA Chicago Chapter.
Due to Michael’s knowledge of the complex and changing area of immigration law, he is a frequent speaker on business and family immigration law with community groups, lawyer peers, students, and news media.
Previous service to AILA has included:
- Chair of AILA’s National Working Group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) immigration issues.
- Vice Chair of the AILA Chicago Chapter’s Liaison Committee to the Chicago District Office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Vice Chair to the AILA Chicago Chapter’s Liaison Committee to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), whose jurisdiction covers admissions issues at Chicago’s O’Hare & Midway International Airports.
- Program Chair, AILA Midwest Regional Conference CLE, March 13, 2017.
Michael is admitted to practice law in Illinois and New York and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Michael’s bar admissions authorize him to practice federal immigration law throughout the U.S. and he currently represents clients throughout the country.
Speaking Engagements 2013 - Present
2017
- Discussion Leader, “Travel Bans, New Legislation, Administrative Changes, and Sanctuary Cities ‘Pan’s Labyrinth,’” presented at the AILA California Chapters CLE Conference, Los Angeles, CA, November 2017.
- Discussion Leader, “Call Me Old Fashioned: Refresher on K-1 Rules of Engagement and K-3 Marriages,” presented at the American Immigration Lawyers Association National Conference, New Orleans, LA, June 2017.
2016
- Discussion Leader, “Intro to Business Law,” presented at the Federal Bar Association Immigration Law Conference, New Orleans, LA, May 2016.
- Discussion Leader, “Primer Basics: Applications before the USCIS Asylum Office and the Immigration Court,” presented at the AILA Chicago Midwest Regional Conference, Chicago, IL, March 2016.
2015
- Panelist, “NIVs Outside the Box: W_at the _ell am I going to do wit_out an H?,” presented at the Rocky Mountain Immigration Law Conference, Denver, CO, October 2015.
- Panelist, “LGBT or Q? Prove It: Bias in the Adjudication of Immigration Claims Based on Sexual Orientation,” presented at the Lavender Law Conference, Chicago, IL, August 2015.
- Panelist, “Mock Interviews—Advanced Marriage-Based Waiver and Naturalization Strategies,” presented at the American Immigration Lawyers Association National Conference, Washington, DC, June 2015.
- Panelist, “Meeting the Challenges of Non-Immigrant Visas (B, F, H, L, O, P and R),” presented at the Federal Bar Association Immigration Law Conference, Memphis, TN, May 2015.
2014
- Panelist, “Discretionary Alternatives to CIR,” presented at the Rocky Mountain Regional Immigration Law Conference, Denver, CO, October 2014.
- Moderator, “A New Urgency in Asylum Law,” presented at the Lavender Law Conference, New York, NY, August 2014.
- Discussion Leader, “What Employment-Based Attorneys Should Know When Working with Same-Sex Couples,” presented at the American Immigration Lawyers Association National Conference, Boston, MA, June 2014.
- Panelist, “Update on Immigration Issues at the State Level & for LGBT Immigrants post-Windsor,” presented to Chicago Young Public Interest Lawyers Network, Chicago, IL, January 2014.
2013
- Speaker, “DOMA and its Implications on Immigration,” presented at Chicago Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL, November 2013.
- Panelist, “Advanced Issues in Adjustment of Status,” presented at the Rocky Mountain Regional Immigration Law Conference, Blackhawk, CO, October 2013.
- Panelist, the Illinois State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights Hearing on the Immigration Reform Bill’s Civil Rights Implications, Chicago, IL, September 2013.
- Moderator, “Immigration Options for Chemists,” presented at the American Chemical Society Career Fair, Indianapolis, IN, September 2013.
- Panelist, “The Future of LGBT Immigration: A Discussion of Immigration Issues in Light of Comprehensive Immigration Reform & Judicial Action on DOMA,” presented at the Lavender Law Conference, San Francisco, CA, August 2013.
- Panelist, “‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg:’ USCIS District Office Practice,” presented at the American Immigration Lawyers Association National Conference, San Francisco, CA, June 2013.
- Panelist, “Comprehensive Immigration Reform and You: The New Bill and the LGBTQ Community,” presented at the Center on Halsted, Chicago, IL, May 2013.
- Panelist, “Still in the Shadows?: A Community Forum on Immigration,” presented at Lincoln United Methodist Church, Chicago, IL, May 2013.
- Panelist, “Conflicts of Interest Involving Dual Representation of Clients,” presented at the AILA Chicago Seminar on Ethics and Client Relations in Immigration, Chicago, IL, May 2013.
- Panelist, “Why the LGBTQ Voice Matters in the Immigration Debate,” presented at DePauw University, Greencastle, IN, April 2013.
- Panelist, “The LGBT Undocumented: Who They Are and What’s At Stake in the Immigration Reform Battle,” presented at the Center for American Progress, Washington, DC, March 2013.
- Speaker, “Federal Court Case Experience from the Business-Based Immigration Case Perspective,” presented at the AILA Chicago Chapter Meeting, Chicago, IL, February 2013.
Speaking Engagements 2007 - 2012
2012
- Speaker, “DOMA and Immigration Law in Chicago,” presented at DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, IL, November 2012.
- Panelist, “Beyond the Fence,” presented at Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL, November 2012.
- Presenter, “LGBTQ Immigration Issues,” presented as part of an advocacy workshop hosted by the LGBTQ Immigrant Rights Coalition of Chicago, Chicago, IL, June 2012.
- Presenter, “Recent Developments in Immigration Law & the LGBT Community,” presented at the Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL, June 2012.
- Panelist, “´Friending´ Your Law Practice: How to Put Social Media to Work for You,” presented at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) National Conference, Nashville, TN, June 2012.
2011
- Panelist, “Bs, ESTA, Co-Habiting Partners and Everything in Between: Issues in Visitor Visa Admission,” presented at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, June 2011.
- Presenter, “Overview of E-1, E-2 and E-3 Nonimmigrant Visas, ” presented at the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association’s Immigration Seminar, Chicago, IL, May 2011.
- Presenter, “Update on Court Challenges to DOMA and Future Immigration Effects for Gay and Lesbians in Binantional Same-Sex Relationships,” presented at AILA Chicago Chapter Monthly Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2011.
2010
- Presenter, “Immigration Challenges Faced by Bi-National Couples,” presented at Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL, November 2010.
- Presenter, “Immigration Law Basics and the Role of the Paralegal,” presented at the Illinois Paralegal Association, Fall Education Conference, Chicago, IL, November 2010.
- Presenter, “An Overview of Immigration & Hot Topics,” presented at Dominican University, Chicago, IL, October 2010; October 2011; November 2011 & March 2013.
- Discussion Leader/Panelist, “Hot Topics in LGBT Cases” presented at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., June 2010.
- Panelist, “Attorney Speech in Social Media” presented at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Chicago Ethics CLE for Attorneys, Chicago, IL, May 2010.
- Panelist, “Elimination of Bias Against LGBT Clients in the Practice of Law,” presented at the American Immigration Association (AILA) Minnesota/Dakotas CLE Conference, Minneapolis, MN, May 2010.
2009
- Attorney Witness, Chicago City Council’s Committee on Human Relations Hearing on the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and the Discrimination Faced by Binational Same-Sex Couples in the Immigration Context, Chicago, IL, December 2009.
- Panelist, “How to Keep Your Foreign National in Status,” presented at AILA Chicago Chapter Employment Immigration Advanced Seminar Workshop, Chicago, IL, October 2009.
- Presenter, “Strategies for Responding to Requests for Evidence in Family and Employment-Based Cases,” presented at AILA Chicago Chapter New Member Division Meeting, Chicago, IL, August 2009.
- Panelist, “Immigration Waivers,” presented at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Minnesota/Dakotas CLE Conference, Minneapolis, MN, May 2009.
2008
- Panelist, “Immigration Options for the LGBT Community,” presented at the Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL, November 2008.
- Presenter, “Update on New Procedures for Immigrant Medical Examinations,” presented at AILA Chicago Chapter, Chicago, IL, August 2008.
- Presenter, “Immigration Hot Topics,” presented in conjunction with Capital Forum and Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council & the Illinois Secretary of State, Springfield, IL (2006, 2008, & 2009).
- Panelist, “Asylum Issues and Waivers,” presented at AILA’s Midwest Regional Conference, Chicago, IL, April 2008.
2007
- Presenter, “Immigration Options for the Latino Community,” presented at Programa Cielo, in Association with St. Anthony’s Hospital, Chicago, IL, July 2007.
Professional Associations / Committees
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- Member, 2005 to Present
- Chicago Chapter Executive Committee, 2013 – Present
- Chair, AILA LGBT National Working Group, 2008-12; Member 2007 to Present
- Member, AILA LGBT Affinity Group (GLIG), 2005 to Present
- Member, AILA Chicago Liaison Committee to USCIS Chicago District Office, 2011-13
- Member, AILA Chicago Media Committee, 2011-13
- Vice Chair, AILA Chicago Liaison Committee to Chicago CBP, 2011-12
- Co-Chair, New Member’s Division, AILA Chicago Chapter, 2009-11
- Founding Member, LGBT Committee, AILA Chicago Chapter, 2007
National Immigrant Justice Center
- Leadership Board, 2012 to Present
Advisory Council to Honorable Mike Quigley (IL 5th Congressional District)
- Member, LGBT & Immigration Issues Committee, 2009 to Present
LGBTQ Immigrant Rights Coalition of Chicago
- Member, 2009 to Present
American Immigration Council (AIC)
- Ambassador to AILA Chicago Chapter, 2010-12
Loyola University Chicago LGBTQ Alumni Network
- Co-Chair & Founding Member, 2009-12
Lesbian & Gay Bar Association of Chicago
- Member, 2006 to 2015
AIDS Legal Council of Chicago
Board of Ambassadors Member, 2012 to 2014
Bar Admissions
- Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 2013
- District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2005
- State of Illinois, 2004; State of New York, 2016
Distinctions / Honors
Super Lawyers, Rising Star
- Selected for Immigration Law Practice in Illinois, 2012 – 2018
Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40
- National LGBT Bar Association, Affiliate of the American Bar Association, 2012
Education
- University of Illinois College of Law – Juris Doctor, 2004
- University of Illinois Law Review, Member, 2003-04
- CALI Excellence Award for Top Academic Performer in Immigration Law Class, Fall 2002
- Civil Litigation Clinic
- Loyola University Chicago – Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Loyola Rome Center – Fall 2000
Language / Interests
Michael speaks Spanish and has studied abroad in Cuernavaca and Guadalajara, Mexico; and, Madrid, Spain.
Michael is an avid runner, having run five (5) marathons (Chicago, 3 times; Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC; and, the New York Marathon) as well as countless half-marathons. Michael also enjoys tennis.
