Meet the Team

Pikes Peak Immigration LLC

ALEXANDER MCSHIRAS

Attorney

Alex McShiras represents individuals, families, and businesses regarding their immigration matters. He also does criminal defense in traffic matters and other misdemeanors (including DUI cases). Most of the criminal defense work he does relates directly to immigration cases.

Bar and Court Admissions

He is licensed to practice at U.S. Supreme Court, 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Federal District Court for the District of Colorado, the BIA, all immigration courts, and all courts in Colorado.

Experience

Alex has experience in all types of immigration cases, including business immigration, family immigration, consular processing, and removal (deportation) defense. In addition, he specializes in victim-based cases such as U-Visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and VAWA. Also, we have substantial experience representing criminal defendants who are not citizens. We do post-conviction relief cases, advisements to criminal defense attorneys, and appeals related to the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. He has experience regarding immigration business visas such as R, H1-B, H2-B, EB-1, E-2, TN, L-1, EB-2, EB-3, and O-1 visas.


He is one of a handful of immigration attorneys in Colorado who litigates immigration cases in the federal district courts and at Circuit Courts of Appeals, such as the Tenth Circuit and Fifth Circuit. He is admitted to practice at the U.S. Supreme Court as well. He is considered an expert in immigration law in Colorado and has been cited by or mentioned in the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Colorado Springs ABC affiliate KRDO, the Denver Post, and Colorado Public Radio.


He has public speaking experience and has taught a number of Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) presentations that fellow lawyers take for credit to continue their education. These presentations include a wide array of topics, including Federal Litigation, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, the intersection of family law and immigration law, the immigration consequences of certain criminal convictions, motions to reopen, motions to suppress, and motions to terminate.

Education

  • University of Denver Sturm College of Law
  • J.D., 2012
  • Marquette University
  • M.A. in International Relations (2008)
  • Boston College
  • B.A., 2005
  • Magna cum laude
  • Major in International Studies
  • Major in History
  • Minor in Hispanic Studies

Recognition

  • 2023 Super Lawyer
  • 2022 Rising Star From Super Lawyers
  • 2021 Rising Star From Super Lawyers
  • 2020 Rising Star from Super Lawyers
  • A Top Attorney in Colorado Springs per Colorado Springs Style Magazine
  • A Superb 10.0 rating from Avvo
  • An A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish
Alex McShiras

Meet Our Team

We speak English and Spanish

Vanessa Blankenhorn

VANESSA BLANKENHORN

Managing Paralegal

Vanessa Blankenhorn works as a paralegal at Pikes Peak Immigration. She is originally from Colombia. She graduated from the University of El Rosario in Bogota, Colombia, with a B.A. in International Affairs and Political Science. She worked for the Colombian government, helping the victims of violence. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, in 2011 to continue with her second degree in communications at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She met her husband in 2015 and moved to Denver. As an immigrant, Vanessa knows the importance and meaning of helping other immigrants. She is determined to help fellow immigrants with their immigration situation. Vanessa enjoys volunteering, reading, watching movies, and traveling.

STEPHANIE GARCIA

Asst. Office Manager

Stephanie works as an assistant office manager at Pikes Peak Immigration. Stephanie is originally from Mexico. She came to the US at the age of five and has resided here in Colorado ever since. Stephanie is fluent in English and Spanish. She enjoys being a part of our team because we work hard every day to help clients with their immigration cases and we make a big difference in people's lives. Stephanie is in charge of coordinating that the entire work team has the necessary tools to carry out the tasks. She is usually the first to arrive at the office and the last to leave. She loves sharing her free time with her family and her pets.

Stephanie Garcia
ALEJANDRA SCHATZ

ALEJANDRA SCHATZ

Paralegal

 Aleja joined Pikes Peak Immigration in 2024, initially supporting the team with social media and working part-time as a receptionist. She later became an administrative assistant and is currently transitioning into the role of legal assistant at our immigration law firm.


Originally from Colombia, Aleja earned her degree in Communications from the University of Antioquia. She spent several years developing communication strategies for university departments and political campaigns in Colombia. Her interest in the legal field began while serving as Secretary General of a municipal council, where she gained valuable experience with legal and governmental procedures.


Now based in Colorado with her husband, a U.S. citizen, Aleja remains deeply connected to her Colombian roots while embracing her life in the United States. She is passionate about helping immigrants navigate the complexities of the legal system.

DAYANA AYALA

Admin assistant

Dayana works as our admin assistant and is transitioning to a legal assistant at Pikes Peak Immigration. She was born and raised in Colorado. Dayana graduated from Pikes Peak State College with her Associate's in Pre-Nursing in 2021. She is fluent in Spanish and English. Dayana joined our team to help our community since she has experienced first-hand struggles with our immigration system with her family. She cares about our community and is willing to work hard to help families stay together. Dayana also has her cosmetology license and loves doing hair and nails as a hobby when she isn't spending time reading, watching new movies, and being with her son.

Dayana Ayala