Congratulations to Katelyn Wade, who was recently featured in the Oklahoma Bar Journal (October 2025) for an article she wrote about immigration law. In her article entitled, “Duarte-Gonzalez: Overcoming Unlawful Presence Under §212(a)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act from Inside the United States,” Kate explores the impact of the Board of Immigration Appeals decision in Duarte-Gonzalez, which clarified that certain individuals may apply for adjustment of status from within the U.S. despite having triggered the unlawful presence bar—if they do not depart the country.

Additionally, she explains how immigration attorneys can use this precedent to help clients who would otherwise be barred from re-entry if they left the U.S. to process their visa abroad. The decision opens a pathway for adjustment of status for those who qualify under specific family-based or employment-based categories.

Kate is an immigration attorney at Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson LLP with experience in employment-based petitions, work visas, family petitions, citizenship applications, work authorization cards, deportation defense, waivers and appeals. She is registered to practice before the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and has experience working with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Labor. Ms. Wade has also successfully represented clients in cases involving L1-A visas, EB-1 visas, national interest waivers and cancellation of removal.

To read the full article here.