HOUSTON – A former employee of Houston immigration attorney Hugo Balderas-Ibarra is raising concerns about his handling of client cases as he faces pending felony charges in Texas and Florida.
Balderas-Ibarra represents Víctor Hugo Salgado Araujo and Daniel Tirado Pantoja, the two men who were inside the van with Lorenzo Salgado Araujo when an ICE agent shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston.
Paralegal Tinamari Hernandez told KPRC 2 she initially admired Balderas-Ibarra’s social media presence and believed they shared a commitment to helping immigrant communities.
“I was excited because I thought he and I had the same passion for our immigrant community,” Hernandez said. “I aligned with a lot of his beliefs or what he was putting out there.”
Hernandez, who said she has worked in immigration for nearly 20 years, said some clients appeared unfamiliar with information contained in their immigration petitions when she helped prepare them for interviews and hearings.
“When I started seeing the confusion and reading the petitions back to them, their reaction was a huge red flag to me,” Hernandez said.
According to Hernandez, some clients responded by saying they had not provided certain information or did not know a specific petition had been filed.
Hernandez claimed Balderas-Ibarra relied heavily on his employees to prepare cases and would avoid clients who were upset, had difficult cases or wanted answers he could not provide.
“He would avoid them if he knew they were upset or difficult, and he would ask his staff to handle them,” Hernandez said.
KPRC 2 called and emailed Balderas-Ibarra about the workers’ claims but did not hear back. His cell phone number went to an automated voice message which stated the user was not accepting any calls.
Hernandez said she became particularly concerned after learning Balderas-Ibarra was representing the two men who were with Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during the deadly ICE encounter.
“I really thought, ‘Oh Lord, help him,’ because he doesn’t have the knowledge to help them,” Hernandez said.
If Balderas-Ibarra is convicted on felony charges, he could be disbarred. Hernandez said she is concerned about the men in ICE custody.
“They’re going to be left abandoned,” Hernandez said. “They’re going to be left in limbo.”
Hernandez said she has filed bar complaints against Balderas-Ibarra in both Texas and New Mexico. The filing of a grievance does not establish misconduct, and disciplinary complaints are generally subject to a separate review process.
Balderas-Ibarra faces criminal cases in Texas and Florida
KPRC 2 previously reported that Balderas-Ibarra is facing felony criminal charges in Harris County and Seminole County, Florida.
In Harris County, he is charged in a felony assault case and is expected to appear in court next week.
In Florida, Balderas-Ibarra is charged with false imprisonment and domestic battery following a December 2025 incident involving a woman with whom he had been in a relationship.
Florida court records also accuse Balderas-Ibarra of violating a condition of his bond by emailing the woman while he was subject to a no-contact order.
Balderas-Ibarra has also filed civil litigation against the woman, accusing her of fraud, theft, defamation and other wrongdoing. She has denied his allegations in court filings and submitted exhibits she says show disputed financial transactions were authorized and governed by written agreements.
Under State Bar of Texas disciplinary rules, a lawyer convicted of certain serious or intentional crimes may face compulsory discipline. If the sentence includes incarceration beyond a condition of probation, the attorney must be disbarred. If the sentence is fully probated, the Board of Disciplinary Appeals may either suspend the attorney’s license for the period of probation or order disbarment.
Licensing and professional organization membership
State Bar of Texas records show Balderas-Ibarra has held a probationary law license in Texas since January 2025. He has also been licensed in New Mexico since 2019.
Balderas-Ibarra does not appear in the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s public attorney search. Membership in the private professional organization is not required to practice immigration law.
Hernandez said most immigration attorneys she has worked with belonged to the organization because it provides continuing education, professional resources and access to other immigration practitioners.
People searching for immigration counsel can use the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s attorney directory and confirm an attorney’s license and disciplinary history through the applicable state bar.
Hernandez has also created a Facebook advocacy group that she says is intended to help immigrants identify resources and connect with legal assistance.
Balderas-Ibarra was scheduled for sentencing for charges in Florida on Wednesday but it is now set to be a status hearing.
He is also expected to be in Harris County court next week for a felony assault charge.