Escobosa Law

After 20 years as a civil rights attorney, Belinda Escobosa is now the principal counsel of Escobosa Law. A tenacious litigator, Belinda has established herself as one of the nation’s foremost lawyers and advocates for social justice by representing and amplifying the voices of the most marginalized communities. As Interim Legal Director for the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and later as National Senior Counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF), Belinda led and developed national impact litigation for employment, voting rights, and immigrants’ rights cases. Belinda’s achievements in impact litigation have led to: changes to the electoral systems in Anaheim and Fullerton, CA; the restoration of rights for immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, the incarcerated, and other marginalized communities; and the near erasure of the use of gang injunctions in the state of California.

Belinda began her career at MALDEF as a staff attorney before transitioning to the ACLU of Southern California, where she was recognized for her work in halting the spread of anti-immigrant laws in the state. While there, she spearheaded a first-of-its-kind advocacy initiative that led to improved relations between the immigrant community and law enforcement. Belinda was also the architect behind the organization’s Dignity for All Project, a multi-strategic endeavor aimed at ending homelessness in Southern California. Serving the ACLU for more than a decade, she eventually went on to become the Director of the Orange County office and founded and led the Inland Empire office of the organization.

Belinda is a sought-after consultant, strategist, mentor, and community leader known for her bold, innovative, and tireless advocacy in pursuit of the protection of human rights, social change, and the advancement of justice.

Notable Cases:

• Amador v. Mnuchin (Dist. of Maryland, 2020) (MALDEF): Constitutional challenge to the federal government’s denial of COVID-19 relief payments to U.S. citizens married to immigrants.
• C.O. v. United States (Middle Dist. of Georgia, 2020) (MALDEF): Challenge to United States’ treatment of a transgender man in immigration detention who was kept in solitary confinement for months and denied hormone treatment.
• Moreno v. City of Anaheim (Orange County Superior Court, 2014): Settled claim under the California Voting Rights Act, resulting in an expansion of the City council and a change to the City’s electoral system.
• Vasquez v. Rackauckas (Ninth Circuit, 2013): Successful due process challenge against Orange County for subjecting individuals to a civil gang injunction without providing pre-deprivation hearing.
• Acosta v. City of Costa Mesa (Ninth Circuit. 2013): Successful First Amendment facial challenge to a city ordinance that restricted the free speech rights of individuals at city council meetings.
• Hamdi v. USCIS (Central District of California. 2012): Successful challenge to USCIS’s delay and denial of a Muslim man’s application for naturalization.
• Khatib v. Orange County (Ninth Circuit 2012): Settled claims of violation of Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, changing policy to allow religious head coverings in county jails.
• Vietnamese Buddhism Study Temple in America v. City of Garden Grove (Central District of California, 2008): Settled claims against City for violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
• People v. Acosta (Orange County Superior Court, 2007): Successful dismissal of a vindictive criminal prosecution against an immigrant rights activist exercising his First Amendment rights
• La Asociación de Trabajadores de Lake Forest v. City of Lake Forest (Central District of California, 2010): Settled First Amendment challenge to custom and practice of harassing day laborers.
• Sturgeon v. Bratton (Los Angeles County Superior Court, 2009): Successful intervention to defend Special Order 40, an LAPD policy that prohibits officers from enforcing civil immigration laws.
• Rodriguez v. United States (Central District California, 2004): Successful constitutional and tort challenge to wrongful raid by INS officers.
• Vanegas v. Irving I. Moskowitz Found (Central District of California, 2004): Settled federal and state law challenge to denial of wages to immigrant workers.