Ortiz has been an integral part of the LAFLA team since 1982, handling complex immigration cases. He began his career at LAFLA in what was the East Los Angeles Branch Office at a time and when LAFLA was no longer providing immigration assistance. Ortiz was instrumental in re-starting this important legal area and began representing clients facing many immigration issues.
In 1984, LAFLA formally recognized the need to provide immigration services to its clients, which led to the formation of its Immigrants' Rights Office (IRO). Ortiz worked at the IRO where he represented immigrants in many types of immigration cases including asylum matters and major litigation affecting the rights of immigrants.
Ortiz obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Yale University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California.