Our dedicated team of immigration attorneys at Derres and Associates PLLC is committed to providing exceptional legal services and guiding clients through their immigration journey. With our experience, mastery, and personalized approach, we are here to help you achieve your immigration goals. Get to know our team of skilled professionals below:

Amha Derres

Attorney & Managing Member

Mr. Derres focuses his practice on detention and deportation defense, asylum, family-based immigration, nonimmigrant visas (including religious worker visas), waivers of inadmissibility, and naturalization. He also represents clients in appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth, and Ninth Circuits.

He has successfully represented hundreds of clients from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia before USCIS offices nationwide, immigration courts, the BIA, and federal appellate courts. His clients include business executives, religious leaders, artists, musicians, athletes, and graduate students.

Mr. Derres takes a personalized, strategic approach to every case—working closely with clients to develop practical solutions tailored to their goals.

He earned his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in U.S. Law, with a concentration in immigration law and human rights, from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, and completed an internship with the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court.

Before founding Derres and Associates, PLLC, Mr. Derres worked at the Law Offices of David Garfield and was a partner at Plenpovo Law PLLC. He also served as a Refugee Protection Assistant and Legal Advisor with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Eritrea, East Africa.

Mr. Derres is admitted to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia, and before multiple federal appellate courts. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition.

He is fluent in Tigrinya and Amharic.

Hiwot Tarkegn

Marketing Manager & Client Assistant

Hiwot Tarkegn serves as the Marketing Manager and Client Assistant at Derres Law LLC, where she leads marketing strategy, client communications, and community outreach initiatives. She manages the firm’s social media presence and digital campaigns, helping to engage and connect with communities across the United States.

Known for her strong community ties, Hiwot is a trusted resource for members of the Ethiopian and broader immigrant communities, often providing guidance and information. She is highly skilled in client relations, customer service, and active listening, ensuring every client feels supported and understood throughout their experience with the firm.

Hiwot holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts from Addis Ababa University. She brings a unique blend of creativity and practical expertise in marketing strategy, social media management, event coordination, and bilingual client relations in English and Amharic.

Contact:
Phone: (703) 997-8185
Email: hiwot@derreslaw.com

Meseret Tadesse Asrat

Senior Paralegal

Meseret Tadesse Asrat is a Senior Paralegal at Derres and Associates PLLC, specializing in asylum and immigration matters. He supports the firm by preparing and filing legal forms, affidavits, motions, and documentation for immigration courts and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Meseret is fluent in Amharic, Tigrinya, and English, and provides interpretation and translation services for clients. He also serves as a key liaison between attorneys, clients, courts, and government agencies to help ensure efficient and organized case management.

He has experience working with electronic filing systems, including the EOIR Courts & Appeals System (ECAS) and USCIS portals, and remains committed to staying current with evolving legal technologies.

Meseret earned his Bachelor’s degree in Law with distinction from Mekelle University in Ethiopia, and his Master’s degree in Public International Law with great distinction from Ethiopian Civil Service University.

Prior to joining the firm, Meseret served as a federal prosecutor in Ethiopia, where he gained extensive experience in both criminal and civil law. He also has a strong background in international legal cooperation, including matters related to extradition and cross-border evidence sharing—experience that informs his work in immigration and refugee law.

Contact:
Phone: (571) 771-3543
Email: meseret@derreslaw.com