Maka leads the firm’s immigration practice. Maka has practiced immigration law for over 12 years, and she supervises counsel, associates and paralegals who have received training in immigration law and practice. She has been recognized as an Immigration Trailblazer by the National Law Journal and as an immigration law Super Lawyer Rising Star in Southern California and in Texas. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and is a frequent speaker at the association’s conferences.

Drawing on her litigation experience and knowledge of export controls and sanctions, Maka’s practice combines litigation capabilities with deep substantive knowledge in immigration and international trade law. Maka and her team defend clients in DOJ and DHS visa fraud and immigration fraud investigations, as well as in DOJ investigations of companies’ hiring practices. She commonly resolves clients’ issues where immigration and international trade law intersect. She leads immigration-related internal investigations and audits aimed at ensuring compliance with United States immigration laws, often in the context of corporate due diligence. Maka develops and implements immigration compliance programs for clients. She also provides detailed advice on employment, student and family visas, consular processing, complex inadmissibility issues, searches of electronic devices at ports of entry and legislative and regulatory immigration policy proposals.

Maka and her team regularly advise clients on various aspects of immigration and nationality law. She has significant experience in U.S. business immigration law and has handled the following types of cases:

• EB-1 (Individuals of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers and Multinational Managers and Executives)
• EB-2 / EB-3 (Employment-based PERM Labor Certification Green Cards)
• NIW (National Interest Waiver Green Cards)
• EB-5 (Immigrant Investors)
• A-1 and A-2 (Diplomatic Visas)
• B-1 and B-2 (Short-Term Visitors)
• E-1 and E-2 (Treaty-Based Investors and Traders)
• G-4 (International Organization Employees)
• H-1B (Specialty Occupations)
• J-1 (Exchange Visitors)
• L-1A and L-1B (Intracompany Transferees)
• O-1A and O-1B (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement)
• TN (Canadian and Mexican USMCA (NAFTA) Professional Workers)

Prior to joining Akin, Maka served as Program Coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin for 7 years, advising international students, scholars and faculty on immigration and tax matters.