Barre Law Founder’s Immigration Journey Comes Full Circle

Abadir Barre once navigated the U.S. immigration system as a child seeking asylum after his family fled civil war in Somalia.

Now, decades later, the New York immigration attorney and founding attorney of Barre Law helps others pursue legal status and citizenship through the same complex and increasingly politicized system that shaped his own life.

Barre’s connection to his work is deeply personal.

In the 1990s, Barre came to the United States at 8 years old after his family fled civil war in Somalia and sought asylum in America. Years later, he now helps his clients navigate the same immigration legal system his family once faced.

“I have empathy for the clients because there was a time where I was on the other side of the desk,” Barre said. “Now I’m the lawyer when clients are on the other side of the desk seeking help from me.”

As Barre walked through Federal Plaza pointing out immigration court, federal court and appeals court buildings, he described an immigration system he says has grown increasingly complex.

“Immigration law is very layered,” Barre said. “It’s enforced by the executive branch, which makes it both complex and political.”

Barre said the political climate surrounding immigration has intensified in recent years, something he believes can overshadow the human impact many cases carry.

“With this administration, it’s highly politicized,” he said. “All the policies don’t take into consideration the human impact on people.”

Still, Barre says most of his clients arrive focused on something much simpler: opportunity.

“Most immigrants are highly motivated,” Barre said. “They want to come to America and take advantage of all the opportunities, and what’s holding them back is legal status.”

At Barre’s New York law firm, many attorneys share immigration experiences of their own. One lawyer from Colombia said her background inspired her to pursue immigration law after working with teenagers facing similar circumstances while she was in law school.

Barre says the impact of immigration work can stretch far beyond a single case or client.

“There’ll be grandkids who will talk about Barre Law that helped out their grandparent get legal status and is the reason why the family’s here in America to this day,” he said.

During The Click’s interview with Barre, that impact became visible in real time.

Abadir Barre, New York

In the middle of the conversation, Barre answered a phone call informing him that a detained client had just been released following federal litigation.

“They just released him,” Barre said moments later, smiling.

For Barre, moments like that represent more than legal victories. They represent another family getting the opportunity to continue building a life in America — much like his own family once did years earlier.