San Diego Immigration Attorney Christopher Macaraeg Loses Law License

The State Bar of California determined Christopher Macaraeg failed to perform important legal work, putting his clients at immediate risk of deportation

San Diego immigration attorney Christopher Macaraeg has been disbarred after being accused of repeatedly missing court deadlines, prompting judges to dismiss his clients' cases, according to the State Bar of California.

Macaraeg has an office in San Diego’s Gaslamp District.

A Notice of Disciplinary Charges was filed three weeks after NBC 7 Investigates revealed several of Macaraeg’s former clients sued him in small claims court for mishandling their immigration cases.

Click here to see the complete investigation. 

The Notice of Disciplinary Charges lists 11 alleged victims. He was disbarred on August 14.

Macaraeg did not return phone calls or emails from NBC 7 Investigates. In his Sept. 21 response to the State Bar’s complaint, Macaraeg denied many of the allegations, saying he did meet court deadlines and tried to keep his clients informed, even though some owed him money.

Macaraeg also said he was not responsible for the alleged malpractice because he was " ... suffering from anxiety and family crisis due to severe financial problems."

In an email, Laura Ernde, Managing Director of Communications for the State Bar of California said anyone who may have lost money due to a lawyer’s dishonesty can apply for reimbursement through the Client Security Fund. 

Click here to learn more about that fund.

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