Immigration Law

Suit: Feds’ Raids Violate Constitution

Warrantless searches allegedly are being conducted by armed U.S. immigration authorities on Latino-occupied homes in the New York City area where they have no good reason to believe immigrant fugitives are living. A federal class action lawsuit filed in Manhattan yesterday by 15 plaintiffs contends the feds are conducting such…

Sep 21, 2007 11:26 PM CDT

Curt Immigration Judge Booted from Case

An immigration judge who chastised an asylum seeker for crying during his hearing has been removed from the case. A federal appeals court ruled that Judge Noel A. Ferris’ decision to deny asylum to Jian Zhong Sun was not supported by the evidence, the New York Times reports. Sun testified…

Sep 20, 2007 3:35 PM CDT

Reprieve for Star Florida Student in Deportation Case

A special bill is being pursued in the U.S. Senate to help a star Miami area student facing deportation with his family as illegal immigrants. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) filed a bill Monday to help Juan Gomez, a popular high school football player and star student who is now attending…

Sep 19, 2007 3:46 PM CDT

Big-Firm Alumni Have Van, Will Practice

Three former big-firm attorneys in Atlanta have made a name for themselves in a way that would have been hard to predict years ago. Jamie Hernan, Christopher Taylor and Jerome Lee have not only left King & Spalding and formed their own firm but bought a van in which they…

Sep 11, 2007 11:47 PM CDT

Ruling Could Slow Social Security Claims

The Social Security Administration is warning that a judge’s immigration ruling could cause a backlog of work for agency employees at the same time of a significant increase in their workload. Last Friday U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney of San Francisco temporarily barred the agency from sending letters to employers…

Sep 7, 2007 6:14 PM CDT

Spouse’s Death Ends US Residency Quest

Jacqueline Coats’ husband died a hero, and was posthumously awarded a Coast Guard medal for his attempts to save two boys from drowning in the Pacific Ocean. He also died without filing an application for her to become a legal resident of the United States, although the paperwork was completed…

Aug 31, 2007 3:40 PM CDT

Deal Improves Immigrant Center

The federal government has agreed to improve conditions at a Texas center for immigrant families awaiting deportation. Children at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, Texas, will get improved education, nutrition, recreation and medical care under the agreement, the New York Times reports. A federal magistrate will inspect…

Aug 28, 2007 3:20 PM CDT

Visa Squeeze Sparks Legal Creativity

A land rush on coveted visas permitting skilled foreigners to work in the U.S. legally is prompting alternative approaches by those who don’t win the lottery. Some denied the so-called H-1Bs—three-year visas for skilled workers with college degrees—are going back to school or applying for other types of visas. But…

Aug 27, 2007 8:28 PM CDT

Prosecutor Apology Ends Iraqi’s ‘Nightmare’

A federal prosecutor has apologized to an Iraqi refugee who was improperly arrested and jailed for failing to register under a special system. U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sullivan of the Western District of Washington said the arrest was because of a good-faith mistake by Border Patrol Agents, the New York Times…

Aug 24, 2007 2:43 PM CDT

New Legal Strategy for Star Student in Deportation Case

With a lot of help from his friends and well-wishers, a star Miami student facing deportation with his family for overstaying their visitor visa has developed a new legal strategy. Juan Gomez, 18, his 19-year-old brother and their parents may have a good chance of successfully reopening their asylum petition,…

Aug 23, 2007 5:12 PM CDT

Court Nominee Withdraws Over Illegal Alien Claim

A nominee for the Connecticut Appellate Court has withdrawn his name from consideration after a flap over his claim that the court system is closed to illegal aliens. John R. Downey, a judge on the state’s superior court, apologized in a letter announcing his decision, the New York Times reports.…

Aug 23, 2007 2:27 PM CDT

Immigration Worries for Florida Students

As a star student and popular football player, Juan Gomez got a lot of attention over his recent arrest as an illegal immigrant shortly after his high school graduation. But many other Miami students—exactly how many, no one knows—are facing the same problem, too. More than 20 percent of the…

Aug 20, 2007 9:49 PM CDT

Immigrant Activist Arrested, Deported

Updated: Immigration activist Elvira Arellano, a mother who sought refuge in a Chicago church for more than a year to keep from being separated from her U.S.-born son, was arrested Sunday in Los Angeles. Arellano left Chicago last week to take her immigrant rights demonstration on the road. Her 8-year-old…

Aug 19, 2007 11:13 PM CDT

Star FL Student Free, Still to be Deported

Thanks to legislative lobbying by fellow teens, a star Miami student has been released from jail and expects to start college later this month in a local honors program. However, this is only a temporary reprieve for Colombian-born Juan Gomez, 18, and his brother, Alex, 19, who still are scheduled…

Aug 10, 2007 7:39 PM CDT

Illegal Workers to Enforce Labor Laws?

As the government threatens a crackdown against employers who hire illegal immigrants, companies should also be wary of potential amped-up enforcement of labor law violations by another group—illegal immigrants themselves. If they are fired from their jobs because of federal enforcement of immigration laws, they will have less to lose…

Aug 10, 2007 4:59 PM CDT