Veteran Federal Immigration Litigation Attorney, Robert Carpenter, Joins Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C.

It is with genuine pride that we welcome Robert Carpenter — one of the most accomplished federal immigration litigators in the country — to Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan this May. Rob, by any measure, has had a significant impact in federal court for his clients, often changing outcomes. He brings nearly thirty years of federal court litigation, a record that speaks for itself, and a reputation in the immigration bar built not just on outcomes but on how he practices and who he is as a colleague and advocate. We have been fortunate to attract exceptional attorneys to this firm over the years, and Rob’s arrival continues that proud legacy. 

A Career Built in Federal Court 

Rob’s practice has been defined by federal litigation at every level. He has argued cases in the Second, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits, secured numerous favorable decisions before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in unlawful no-bond detention matters litigated across seven states. He prevailed in the precedent-setting Seventh Circuit decision Ming Wei Chen v. Sessions, 864 F.3d 536 (7th Cir. 2017), and in recent years has obtained multiple remands in Ninth Circuit asylum appeals. His work spans removal defense, asylum, withholding of removal, Convention Against Torture claims, adjustment of status, and federal court challenges to USCIS denials — the full range of what federal immigration litigation demands. 

What people in the immigration bar will tell you, though, is that Rob’s record is only part of the story. He is genuinely well-liked and deeply respected — an attorney who fights hard for his clients and treats everyone around him, colleagues and opposing counsel alike, with the kind of professionalism that makes the bar a better place to practice. 

Understanding How the Immigration System Works 

Most people are surprised to learn that immigration court is not actually part of the federal judicial branch. Immigration judges work for the Department of Justice (DOJ), which means immigration court is an administrative proceeding, not a court of law in the traditional sense. Decisions from immigration court can be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which is also an administrative body housed within the DOJ. 

Federal court is different. When an immigration case reaches the U.S. District Court or a Federal Court of Appeals, it enters the independent judicial branch — judges with lifetime appointments, bound by the Constitution, with the authority to review whether immigration agencies have followed the law. That is where mandamus actions are filed to compel unreasonable agency delays, where Administrative Procedure Act claims challenge unlawful denials, and where removal orders can be reviewed for legal error. It is a fundamentally different arena, and it requires attorneys who know how to operate there. 

That is precisely what Rob Carpenter does. 

The Case That Says Everything 

If you want to understand what Rob is made of, look at the case of Ibrahim Parlak — a Kurdish man who fled torture in Turkey, was granted asylum in the United States in the early 1990s, built a life and a business in Harbert, Michigan, and then spent twenty years fighting deportation after the post-9/11 security environment retroactively recast his history as a basis for removal. 

Rob represented Parlak for the much of that fight.  He filed motions to reopen, built Convention Against Torture claims across changing country conditions, survived round after round of government appeals, and in 2024 — after an immigration judge reaffirmed her 2018 ruling that Parlak would more likely than not face torture if returned to Turkey — the government declined to appeal, finally ending the deportation threat. Rob described the outcome as a victory for the rule of law.  

Rob has also given generously to the broader immigration community — working with area non-profits including NIJC, and providing pro bono assistance to Afghan evacuees at a U.S. Army base in 2021. He will be joining DePaul University College of Law’s Asylum Clinic this fall as a Mentor, and he has mentored fellow practitioners throughout his career through AILA. He brings that same spirit of service to MMH. 

What Rob’s Arrival Means for Our Clients 

Federal courts have become an essential venue in immigration matters — not as a last resort, but as a first-line strategy when agencies delay unreasonably, deny incorrectly, or fail to follow the law. With Rob joining our team, MMH now has the depth to serve clients who need that level of representation, including: 

• Individuals and families in removal proceedings who need circuit court or district court review 

• Asylum seekers with viable grounds for appeal after an adverse decision 

• Employers and foreign national employees facing unreasonable USCIS delays or denials who need mandamus or APA litigation 

• Anyone with a denial that does not reflect a correct application of the law and who wants experienced federal court counsel to evaluate the record 

Schedule a Consultation with Rob 

As Rob settles into the firm, he will be opening his calendar for consultations on a limited basis. If you have a matter you believe may benefit from federal litigation — or if you are simply not sure and want an experienced set of eyes on it — we encourage you to reach out early. 

You can schedule directly through Rob’s consultation link HERE, or call our office at (312) 427-6163 and we will be happy to assist you. We look forward to introducing Rob to the clients and colleagues who make up the MMH community.