An iconic shot from my father’s defense of John Lennon against deportation—Lennon offering peace to the world from the steps of the federal courthouse.

In all the years since that landmark case, our families have remained close—and Yoko Ono Lennon has remained a favorite client.

Mamadou Soumare, center, who lost four children and his wife in a 2007 fire that killed ten people in the Bronx with me at Federal Plaza. Mr. Soumare was an illegal immigrant from Mali. I received formal permission from immigration officials for my client to re-enter the United States after travelling to West Africa to bury his family. Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times/Redux.

Rather than hide in the face of kidnap and assassination threats, we took Mohammed al-Khilewi’s case public—very public—flanked by armed bodyguards and wearing bulletproof vests with a press conference outside the Capitol building.

Meeting Hani al-Sayegh, the accused Khobar Towers bomber, I looked into the face of terror—and found a mild-mannered, almost confused client.

Media madness and large bulletproof glass separated me from the public in Federal court during a 1997 terrorism matter. Often I would feel safer in crowds and comforted by the lights of the cameras knowing the world was watching.

When Iftikhar Khan Chaudry defected with information on Pakistan’s involvement with nuclear proliferation, a well- orchestrated media campaign branded him a fraud. Yet, years later, the facts turned out to support his story.

Then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton joined our effort to help Kwame James when, after thwarting the infamous shoe bomber, James faced immigration problems.

An international child kidnapping case with a positive outcome. We worked with law enforcement agencies to rescue Mary Hamouda’s three children and ensure the father who absconded with them got prison time.

Beauty and the lawyer—I handled the immigration concerns for the Miss Universe contestants in 2010.

You’ve got to bring your best game when you’re dealing with a soccer legend like Pele.

No, that’s not me posing with a cardboard cutout. I had the honor and responsibility of clarifying Melania Trump’s immigration history during the runup to the 2016 election. Over the years I have also represented the First Lady’s parents and sister on immigration matters. Despite the political divide, we developed a close personal relationship.

The two loves of my life—family and public service—both on display for my swearing-in as mayor of Englewood, New Jersey, in 2007.

Sometimes you step into the public spotlight with famous icons . . .

. . . and sometimes you have to face the cameras alone.

The author and Master Chef Jean Georges.

Mayor Wildes at Englewood’s Memorial Day Parade, 2006.

The author chats with President Bill Clinton.

With Amalija and Viktor Knavs, parents of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, visiting the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City.

Attending private reception at the White House with President and Mrs. Trump, December 2017.

The author at a Bar-Ilan University ceremony with President George H. W. Bush.

In NYPD uniform.

President Obama and Michael Wildes.

With Congressman Tom Lantos discussing the defection case of Mohammed al-Khilewi.

Being sworn in in 2007 as mayor of Englewood, New Jersey. I am flanked by my wife, Amy, and our four children. Officiants were Rabbi Shmuel Goldin and Pastor Lester W. Taylor, while my father, Leon Wildes, held two Bibles (each used by my grandfathers Max Schoenwalter, who escaped Nazi Germany, and Harry Wildes).