Blog: Think Immigration
We believe that immigration law is an integral part of America’s past, present and future. We also know that immigration law is complicated. Here you’ll find experts writing in an accessible way about immigration issues, from big, broad ideas down to specific cases. Our members bring knowledge they’ve gleaned from the daily practice of immigration law to this space and offer their expertise to readers.
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Action at Last
I watched with bated breath. I listened to President Obama make his last case for why administrative action was not just the right thing to do, it was the only thing to do. And I heard from him what his plans entailed. I read, amazed, the barrage of news reports and opinion pieces before, during, [&
Who Are We Turning Away?
A pregnant woman, separated from her husband in a time of regional conflict and instability, flees the central region of her country with a single suitcase and her 2 year old daughter and 1 year old son. The goal is to travel by train to the closest major southern land border in the hopes of […
National Inaction Leads to Local Legislation
On Friday, New York City's (NYC) Mayor Bill de Blasio signed local legislation, Introductions 486-A and 487-A, which will significantly restrict the city's cooperation with inappropriately broad federal immigration enforcement practices, except in instances where there are public safety concerns, i.
Administrative Action Wish List, Part 3
As immigration advocates we generally find ourselves in the position of trying to rationally explain rules and regulations that we personally find maddening. Maddening how? Well, come with me for a few moments as I sit down with “Muresh“ and discuss immigration rules with him. He's not real bu
Administrative Action Wish List, Part 2
During the past several presidential election cycles, politicians of all stripes have acknowledged that our immigration laws are antiquated and need reform. Unfortunately, for all of their bluster, nothing has been accomplished through Congress. Lacking Congressional action, the President announced
Administrative Action Wish List, Part 1
It's post-election time. Do you know what that means? It's time for some broad administrative action on immigration! No more broken promises. The more than decade-long delay in passing comprehensive immigration reform into law has had a significant and damaging toll on families, businesses, comm
What It Boils Down To
Well, pundits are hashing over what happened on Tuesday but here's what it boils down to: Republicans will have control of the Senate in the next Congress (at least 52-43), as well as strengthening their majority in the House (at least 243-175). A new Congress offers possibilities, offers the hope o
Latinos: History Proves Your Votes Can Make a Difference
Elections are just around the corner and given the likelihood that Republicans will take control of the Senate the Latino vote is more crucial than ever. But why would Latinos pass on voting this year? The answer: most are dissatisfied with President Obama's broken promises on immigration reform. I
Artesia: A Day in the Tour of Duty, Part 4
This is what you need to know: The due process violations are still going on in Artesia. While the nation's attention is on other concerns like Ebola and the mid-term elections, mothers and children are still being detained in Artesia and other facilities. The work of the Artesia Volunteer Heroes
Artesia: A Day in the Tour of Duty Part 3
*Some details have been changed to ensure privacy of clients. The rest of my day went like this: 2:45 pm. I return to the attorney's trailer. I prep two more clients for credible fear interviews taking place the next day. I meet with a young mother who belongs to the Maya Mam indigenous group in
Artesia: A Day in the Tour of Duty, Part 2
*Some details have been changed to ensure privacy of clients. The day continues: 10:00 am. I get notified the Immigration Judge is ready for another client's bond hearing. I quickly ask for my client and request to be escorted to the trailer housing the Immigration Court. As we are walking to the
Artesia: A Day in the Tour of Duty, Part 1
Note: Some details have been changed to ensure privacy of clients. There was no way for me to explain my time at Artesia in one blog post. Instead, I offer a look at one of the days I spent there in posts today, continuing over the next three days as well. I hope readers get a […]
Championing the Vulnerable
As an immigration lawyer from Vermont, I was thrilled to see the recent letter that Senate Judiciary Chairman Leahy (D-VT), one of my Senators, led the charge on. What does that letter to the Department of Homeland Security condemn? The heartless and inhumane expansion of family detention. It is app
Welcoming Brilliance to Our Shores
Birds do it, bees do it, even educated PhDs do it… In this case, I'm not referring to falling in love as in the popular song from the 1930s, but migrating. There are many aspects to what drives people to leave their country of birth and make a new country home. When people rail against [R
Karnes is a Disgrace
Let me begin with this: We, as lawyers, have to be careful not to let our emotions cloud judgment. But I must say my trip to Karnes Detention Center this past weekend brought to the forefront of my consciousness a number of strong emotions which cannot be ignored. I saw there the faces of detained [
A Look Into Karnes
AILA member Ruby Powers volunteered at the Karnes detention facility recently; her experience inspired her to write an article which will be available in full soon on AILA's volunteer resource page. Excerpts from the piece are below: “I would like to echo the sentiments expressed by other attorneys
A Shameful Chapter in Our History
The family detention center known as the “T. Don Hutto Residential Center“ opened in May 2006. Most of the families previously housed at this residential center, like those currently housed at the Artesia and Karnes Detention Centers, were families awaiting adjudication of their asylum claim
Artesia Kaleidoscope
The three weeks are a kaleidoscope of shifting images: visual, auditory, sensory, and emotional. From 90 degree heat to heavy, cold, rain and flash flooding. It hadn't occurred to me to bring sweaters to the New Mexico desert. Apparently it hadn't occurred to the U.S. government either, as many of t
Offering Hope and Comfort to Detained Moms and Kids
Over the past year, the United States has seen a sharp increase in the number of women and young children fleeing violence in Central America. In response, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began opening new detention centers across the country to detain families, while their fates are deci
Artesia Betrays America: Part III
I have no way of adequately expressing the dismay, and loss and anger and hurt and woundedness that this week made me feel. Finally I figured out the word. It is betrayal. I felt betrayed. Deeply betrayed by something that I have dedicated my life to. Another lawyer who was there in the first w
Artesia Betrays America: Part II
People didn't seem to matter in Artesia, not their comfort, not their privacy, not the simple human dignity we all take for granted. There was deep and profound soul shattering heartbreak, watching these vulnerable women and children who have come to this country seeking asylum being systematically
Artesia Betrays America: Part I
In June and July, the humanitarian crisis on the border lit up the news and it was all I could think about. The headlines were full of unaccompanied minors, politicians and protesters; the front pages had pictures of children sleeping in warehouses that were too cold. My practice started seeing an
How We Got Here
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) - who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1987, became the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims in 1994. Mr. Smith's district includes most of the wealthier sections of San Antonio and Austin, as well as some of the Texas H
An Arduous Success in Artesia
Friends - I share the good news that Lisa Weinberg successfully has obtained parole for one of our clients, a mother with a very sick toddler who had stopped walking and eating solid food since arriving in Artesia. As far as I know, this is the first order allowing release on parole of a family [
Judge Us by our Treatment of Child Refugees
Over the Labor Day weekend, I read the personal memoir of a World War II child refugee. A Long Way Home, by Bob Golan was published in 2005, although it was written from the contemporaneous notes of a 12 year boy whose family was driven from their home in Poland at the outbreak of World […]