About Andrew
300+ Dismissals. 3 Years. One Attorney Who Handles Your Case Personally.
Andrew J. Salinas is the founder of Salinas Defense Law Firm, PLLC, a Houston practice built for people whose criminal case puts more than their record at stake. Since opening the firm, Andrew has secured more than 300 dismissals for clients facing felony and misdemeanor charges across Texas.
His focus is crimmigration: the point where a criminal charge meets immigration law. For a non-citizen, a plea that looks like a good deal in criminal court can trigger detention, deportation, or a permanent bar to a green card or citizenship. Andrew builds every defense with both outcomes in view, so winning the criminal case doesn't mean losing your future in this country.
Criminal Defense and Immigration, Under One Roof
Most defense attorneys aren't trained in immigration law, and most immigration attorneys don't try criminal cases. Andrew does both. That matters because:
- The criminal outcome drives the immigration outcome. A deferred adjudication, a plea to the "wrong" offense, or even a dismissal handled carelessly can still show up in immigration proceedings.
- ICE doesn't wait for your case to end. Andrew moves early to protect clients from detainers and holds while the criminal case is pending.
- You get one strategy, not two lawyers working against each other. Every plea offer, dismissal, and record-clearing option is judged by what it means for your status.
Whether you're a green card holder, a visa holder, DACA recipient, or undocumented, Andrew gives you straight answers about your risk, in English or in Spanish.
From Prosecutor to Defender
Andrew began his career as an Assistant District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney's Office in Brooklyn. He knows how prosecutors evaluate cases, where they cut corners, and what makes them agree to dismiss. That inside view is now his clients' advantage.
He went on to serve as Managing Attorney at a boutique Brooklyn firm, then joined a prominent Austin criminal defense firm dedicated to crimmigration, where he handled hundreds of cases ranging from DWI and Assault Family Violence to Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Engaging in Organized Crime.
His commitment to immigrants started long before private practice. At Washington and Lee University School of Law, he won asylum for a client through the Immigrant Rights Clinic and helped file a federal appellate brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for a stateless client who had fought to remain in the United States for 20 years. He also clerked for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) in Washington, D.C.
Credentials
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers (2025, 2026)
- National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- Texas Trial College, 2025
- NHTSA-certified in standardized field sobriety testing
- Licensed in Texas and New York
- Co-Chair, HYLA Criminal Law Committee
- Editorial Board, The Houston Lawyer
- Member: HCCLA, TCDLA, AILA, HISBA, HYLA, HBA
- J.D., Washington and Lee University School of Law
- B.A. in History, minor in Rhetoric & Argumentation, Baylor University Interdisciplinary Honors Program
Courts: Harris, Montgomery, Galveston, Jefferson, Matagorda, Travis, Bastrop, Burnet, Bell, Bexar, Williamson, Lee, McLennan, and Hays counties, plus New York criminal courts.
Why Salinas Defense?
Over 300 in three years. Andrew attacks the evidence early and pushes for dismissal before a plea is ever on the table.
Every decision is checked against its immigration consequences. No surprises after the case closes.
No hand-offs to junior associates. The attorney you hire is the attorney in court.
Honest assessments in English or Spanish, and calls that get returned.
Andrew shows up. You will never sit in court wondering where your lawyer is.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and depends on its own facts and law.
Criminal Defense
If you’ve been charged with a crime, you need a skilled and aggressive legal team on your side. Salinas Defense is ready to fight for your rights and protect your future.
Charges Explained
Don’t let your past dictate your future. Whether you need to expunge a prior arrest or clear your record for employment, Salinas Defense provides the straightforward guidance needed to navigate the Texas legal system. We fight to ensure a single mistake doesn’t define the rest of your life.
Get In Touch Today - We're Open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM.
At Salinas Defense, your consultation request is confidential, and our team is here to help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.