The Barrera Legal Group Team Experienced and Professional Representation

Barrera Legal Group is always ready to help in working towards your goal whether it's to visit, study, work or permanently live in the United States

John Barrera

Founder and Managing Attorney of Barrera Legal Group

Mountain States

New York

Email: jbarrera@barreralegal.com

John C. Barrera is an immigration attorney who is the owner and founder of the Barrera Legal Group and head of the firm’s Immigration and Criminal Defense practice.
John has obtained not guilty verdicts and dismissal in numerous complex criminal cases involving Drug Trafficking, Homicide, Theft Offenses and cases involving Traffic Offenses including Driving Under the Influence charges. John has also obtained countless grants and approvals in complex removal defense proceedings in immigration courts around the United States. As a Barrera Legal Group immigration attorney, John has had numerous victories keeping families together in the United States and has also has successfully represented clients in employment based immigration matters, Green Card matters such as adjustment of status and immigrant visas processes, non immigrant visitor visas, asylum applications and U-visa applications.
John is regularly consulted by the criminal defense bar and has co-hosted a weekly hour long radio show taking immigration criminal questions.
John has over twenty years of combined legal experience. John is admitted to practice in the States of New York, and Idaho, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Ninth and Tenth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. John is fluent in Spanish and he is Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, (AILA), the National Immigration Project, the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Nassau County Bar Association.
John’s desire to practice Immigration Law was developed through his Hispanic upbringing being born to Colombian parents, being married to his wife from Colombia and by being raised in the multicultural neighborhood of Jackson Heights in Queens, New York. His everyday life allowed John to interact and become part of the lives of people from many different countries and cultures and inspired John to help immigrants fight through the many challenges they face in realizing their dreams to live and prosper in the United States.
John has served as an AILA chapter liaison to the office of Immigration Customs Enforcement, (ICE).

Rolando N. Ruano

Of Counsel Immigration and Criminal Defense Attorney

Email: rruano@barreralegal.com

Rolando N. Ruano is an associate attorney at Barrera Legal Group. Rolando was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, but moved to Salt Lake City, Utah at age seven. He graduated from Kearns High School in Kearns Utah in 1998. Rolando worked in sales, customer service, and held various management corporate positions where he gained important life experience in his field of work. Rolando decided to return to school in the fall of 2013 and fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a licensed attorney. Rolando earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from the University of Utah in 2016, and a Juris Doctorate from Concordia University School of law in 2019.
As a first-generation immigrant, Rolando understands what it means to live the immigrant experience in a foreign land, and the value of helping others succeed in this country. While in law school, Rolando interned at Andrade Legal, (currently Immigrant Justice Idaho) Where he solidified his passion for helping the Immigrant community navigate through the immigration legal system. Rolando participated in the Concordia Law School Immigration clinic that specialized in helping asylum seekers present their cases before the immigration courts. In 2018, Rolando was selected to become a summer intern at the ACLU of Idaho where he worked on numerous cases that deeply impact the people of Idaho.
His desire to help others, and his passion to help the immigrant community makes him a great fit at Barrera Legal Group. Rolando enjoys spending time with his family, helping coach his sons’ wrestling team, and Latin dancing with his wife.

Email:
ybarrera@barreralegal.com

Yanita Barrera

Head Paralegal & Office Manager

Yanita is the head paralegal and office manager at Barrera Legal Group, bringing unmatched experience and insight to every immigration case the firm handles. As a native of Bogotá, Colombia, she personally understands the legal and emotional challenges immigrants face. Her journey—from studying law at the University of La Gran Colombia, to adjusting her own status to Lawful Permanent Resident, and ultimately becoming a United States Citizen—inspires her dedication to helping others achieve the same stability and opportunity.

With extensive experience preparing Removal Proceedings filings, assisting with applications before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and coordinating Non-Immigrant and Immigrant Visa processes through consulates around the world, Yanita plays a leading role in guiding clients through complex immigration pathways. Her deep knowledge, professionalism, and compassion make her a trusted resource for families seeking immigration legal services, waiver support, deportation defense preparation, and global consular processing assistance.

Yanita’s leadership ensures that our office operates efficiently, with every client receiving the attention, respect, and care they deserve. Her personal and professional experience reflects the heart of our firm’s mission—helping individuals and families build secure futures in the United States.

Tamara Zaragoza

Barrera Legal Group Paralegal

Tamara was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and brings a strong personal and professional commitment to immigration law. Married to an immigrant herself, she is passionate about helping families achieve the American dream just as her own family has. With an associate degree in Criminal Justice from CWI and more than ten years of experience working on Immigration Removal Defense and Criminal Defense cases, Tamara is dedicated to supporting clients through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

Tamara works closely with our legal team to guide clients through complex immigration processes with compassion and clarity. Her background and firsthand understanding of the immigrant experience make her a trusted advocate for families seeking deportation defense support, family-based immigration help, and guidance through USCIS procedures.

Outside of work, Tamara enjoys spending time with her husband, four children, and four grandchildren. Family is at the heart of everything she does, and that same commitment shines through in the care she provides to every client.

Email: tzaragoza@barreralegal.com

Melanie Lopez

Barrera Legal Group Paralegal

Melanie, a fluent Spanish-speaking immigration specialist, was born in California and raised in Idaho. Having been with our firm from the beginning, she brings both professional knowledge and personal experience to every case. She went through the immigration process herself at a young age when adjusting her husband’s status, giving her a unique understanding of the stress and uncertainty immigrant families face. Today, she uses that experience to support clients seeking family-based immigration services, green card help, waivers, and consular processing throughout the U.S. and worldwide.

With extensive background in Removal Defense, Criminal Defense, and immigration case preparation, Melanie works closely with our attorneys to guide clients step-by-step through USCIS and consular requirements. As a mother of four, she understands the challenges working families face and is passionate about helping others keep their families together and secure a stable future.

Outside of work, Melanie enjoys camping, traveling, movie nights, and spending time with her family—values that reflect the heart of our firm and the compassion she brings to every client.