David Asser

Biography: David has worked in the field of immigration law since 1996. He has helped many clients in complex immigration situations. His case record includes deportation matters, asylum, labor certifications, temporary visas, family based immigration and international mobility.

Born in Amsterdam, David lived in The Netherlands until 1986 and traveled to the US that same year. He moved back to The Netherlands in 1990 to pursue a career in the Theatre, Film and Television Industry as a writer, producer, actor and director. He developed several drama series for the Dutch networks, including the first environmental crime story “A trace of blue sand”, produced television shows, had guest appearances in various tv-comedy series, movies and a starring role in the English language production of “Speed-the-Plow”, a David Mamet play that toured Holland in 1995.

From 1996 until 1999 he served as the Press Secretary and Spokesperson of the Justice Department of The Netherlands in The Hague and as an International Policy Advisor for the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization service. In this capacity he was involved in many high profile cases. David was the press secretary in a time when immigration law was the hottest issue in the European debate and the laws were challenged on a daily basis: Iranian asylum seekers went into a highly publicized hunger strike; Somalia nationals, out of protest, set themselves on fire in front of government buildings; anti-immigrant sentiments were rampant; planes loaded with illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka landed in Holland and all but a few of the “illegals” disappeared; corruption and fraud was discovered within the Service; Amsterdam revolted against the immigration laws of the country.

David wrote several articles on the issue of illegal immigration, asylum and refugee law, which were published throughout Europe. In 1999, he helped an international study group draft a framework for the new immigration laws of Croatia.

In 1999, David immigrated to the US permanently. He worked with the Law Offices of John Alcorn in Irvine until 2000. John taught David the principles of immigration litigation. From 2000 until 2004, David was an associate attorney with Fragomen, handling business immigration matters.

David attended the Free University of Amsterdam, Law School (J.D., 1986). He graduated with a degree in Media and Copyright Law. David Asser is a member of the State Bar of California. He handles complex litigation cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

David studied Film, Television and Theatre at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles from 1986 – 1988.

David lectures nationwide at CLE conferences on Immigration Law and has been an Associate Professor at California State University and Yavapai College, where he taught Immigration and Nationality Law. He provided services as an independent advisor to the International Organization for Migration, a Non-Governmental Organization. He served on the Congressional Committee of the Northern California Chapter of AILA. He received an award for his outstanding pro bono work from the Contra Costa County Bar Association for his services as a pro bono attorney with the Pacheco Immigration Project, a joint venture of the Catholic Charities and the Contra Costa Bar Association. He also provided pro bono services to the Immigration Hearing Project of the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR).

Rebilas v. Keisler, 506 F.3d 1161, 1164 (9th Cir. Nov. 2, 2007). Successful Appeal arguing that an Arizona conviction for attempted public sexual indecency to a minor is not a categorical aggravated felony because the statute does not require actual touching, the minor does not need to be aware of the perpetrator’s conduct.

Ortiz v. Napolitano, US District Court for Arizona (Oct. 19, 2009). Successful Writ of Habeas Corpus arguing that the client was eligible for bond, when the US Department of Homeland unlawfully detained the client for 14 months. Client was released 10 days later on $10,000 bond.