Derek A. DeCosmo

Biography

Derek A. DeCosmo is the founding and managing Partner of DeCosmo Law. Since 2005, Derek has guided clients through the maze of immigration law. Derek is experienced, responsive and driven by results. Derek has successfully represented thousands of immigrant clients, whether they’ve been in deportation proceedings or in their applications for immigration benefits. Derek has handled every type of immigration case. Derek has extensive experience advising clients on the immigration consequences of criminal convictions and in defending immigrant clients charged with crimes.

Derek created and developed a course on the interplay between criminal and immigration law, which he has been teaching at Rutgers School of Law since 2016. Derek is the lead author of the Guide to Immigration Consequences for Criminal Defendants in New Jersey. Derek previously served as Chair of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and he currently serves as Co-Chair of the Immigration Section of the Camden County Bar Association. Derek has offices in Camden, Haddonfield and Mount Holly, New Jersey.

When not in a courtroom or teaching other lawyers and law students, Derek is passionate about donating his time to charitable causes and giving back to the community. He hosts lectures at various churches and organizations to inform the community of their legal rights. As a native of Burlington County, Derek knew from the start that serving the communities of South Jersey would be central to his practice.

Education

• Rutgers School of Law - Camden, Camden, New Jersey

  • J.D. - 2005

• Albright College

  • B.A. - 2001
  • Major: Communications, History

Practice Areas

• Immigration Law
• Criminal Defense

Professional Associations

• American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”) – New Jersey Chapter, Past Chairman, Pennsylvania Chapter of AILA
• Camden County Bar Association, Immigration Committee, Co-Chair, 2017 - Present
• Camden County Bar Association Board of Trustees, 2023 - 2026)
• Burlington County Bar Association
• Gloucester County Bar Association
• Third Circuit Bar Association
• Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
• Federal Bar Association ~ Immigration Section
• New Jersey State Bar Association ~ Immigration Section

Bar Admission

• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court ~ Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Seminars & Published Works

• Co-Author, Understanding the Immigration Impact of Your Client’s Case Before You Resolve It, The Barrister, 2011
• Author, New Hope in Deportation Defense During a Time of Otherwise Great Uncertainty, The Barrister, 2016
• Co-Author, Impact of Marijuana Legalization in Criminal and Immigration Law, The Barrister, March 2021
• CLE course Presenter, Camden County Bar Assoc. —“Everything a criminal defense attorney needs to know when representing a noncitizen client.” 2015-2026
• CLE course Presenter, Camden County Bar Association’s Black Letter Blast on Criminal Law on – “Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity.” 2015 – 2026
• CLE course Presenter, Camden County Bar & Burlington County Bar – “Avoiding Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims, a New Jersey Defense Attorney’s Guide to Representing Non-Citizen Clients.” 2014 – 2026
• CLE course Presenter, Hot Topics in Immigration Law for Camden County Bar, Burlington County Bar & Mercer County Bar, 2018 – 2026
• Presenter, Immigration Law Civics Class – History, Key Concepts, Case Studies & Pathways to Citizenship, a community teaching series sponsored by the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, 2025
• CLE Presenter to the Office of Attorney Ethics on “Immigration and How to Investigate Immigration Cases as a DEC Investigator, 2025
• CLE Presenter, Burlington County Bar Association, “Immigration CLE for Hispanic Heritage Month,” 2025
• CLE Presenter, Mercer County Bar Association on Immigration Law Basic, 2025
• CLE Presenter, NJ Chapter of the Federal Bar Association on - “Immigration Executive Orders and Deferred Action.” 2015
• CLE Presenter, Mercer County Bar & Camden County Bar Association on “Immigration Issues in Family Law.” 2012 – 2026
• Presenter, Rutgers School of Law on “Immigration Law and Politics”, 2010 & 2026
• CLE Presenter, Crimmigration Seminar, Rutgers Newark Law Building, 2019
• CLE Presenter, Burlington County Bar Association CLE Municipal Court Marijuana, 2019
• Immigration Law: What Every Attorney Should Know, New Jersey State Bar Association, 2017
• CLE Presenter, Rutgers School of Law on “Impact of SB 1070, Arizona’s Anti-Immigration Law”, 2011

Honors

• Selected to New Jersey Best of the Best Top 10, Immigration Law Attorney, 2026
• Selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers list, 2021 - 2026
• Selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2015 - 2018
• Selected to New Jersey Monthly’s Top Attorneys, 2021 - 2026
• Selected to South Jersey Magazine’s Top Attorneys
• AV-Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubbell
• Top Attorney Rated by AVVO

Significant Cases

• Rosa v. Attorney General United States, No. 18-1765 (3d Cir. 2020) (Published)
• Calle v. Bondi, No. 24-1565 (2nd. Cir. 2025)
• Tubon Guangatal v. Attorney General United States, No. 18-2025 (3d Cir. 2025)
• Tokpah v. Attorney General United States, No. 18-3225 (3d. Cir. 2021)
• Casamalhuapa v. Attorney General United States, No. 23-2426 (3d. Cir. 2024)
• Stokes et al v. Mayorkas et a, No. 2:2021cv01473 (E.D. Pa. 2022)

Languages

• Spanish