Immigration Law

Then-AG Sessions and DOJ were ‘driving force’ behind policy leading to family separations, report says

The U.S. attorney general’s office was a “driving force” behind a prosecution policy that led to the separation of more than 3,000 immigrant children from their families, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Justice’s inspector general.

Jan 15, 2021 9:50 AM CST

5 ways to do more pro bono in 2021

For attorneys who want to do more pro bono in 2021, here are five ways to get involved.

Dec 21, 2020 1:52 PM CST

Supreme Court dismisses reapportionment case, says it’s too soon to rule

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a case challenging President Donald Trump’s plan to exclude immigrants in the country illegally from numbers used to determine the number of congressional representatives for each state.

Dec 21, 2020 9:41 AM CST

Persecuted and marginalized: Black LGBTQ immigrants face unique challenges

About eight weeks after the first COVID-19 diagnosis in the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security shut down all immigration ports of entry to nonessential travel, including immigrants arriving to the southern border seeking asylum. But even as the border closure put a halt to the flow of people trying to enter the country, it created new challenges for immigration lawyer Tsion Gurmu.

Dec 9, 2020 9:15 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Student loan reprieve extended; did Giuliani infect state lawmakers?

One more month of student loan forbearance announced by Education Department Student loan forbearance has been extended through Jan. 31, the U.S. Department of Education announced Friday. The offering started in March as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. In August, President Donald Trump directed the…

Dec 7, 2020 4:37 PM CST

Trump administration officials appear to defy court orders, setting a bad precedent, prof says

Judges seem unprepared from the defiance of Trump administration officials who appear to have repeatedly defied court orders, according to a political science professor who researches judicial decision-making.

Dec 4, 2020 3:31 PM CST

Should immigrants here illegally be excluded from census? SCOTUS justices consider delaying decision

During telephone oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, the justices appeared skeptical of President Donald Trump’s plan to exclude immigrants in the country illegally from the census count.

Dec 1, 2020 10:57 AM CST

Supreme Court considers Trump’s plan to adjust census based on immigration status

In Trump v. New York, the central question is whether President Donald Trump has the authority to exclude unauthorized immigrants from the base population number of the 2020 census that’s used for the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives.

Nov 25, 2020 1:23 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Trump campaign eschews conspiracy-minded lawyer; New Jersey law protects judges’ privacy

Trump campaign distances from lawyer Sidney Powell The Trump campaign has distanced itself from lawyer Sidney Powell after she made unsupported claims that voting machines had been rigged and Republican officials in Georgia were part of the scam. “Sidney Powell is practicing law on her own,” the campaign said in…

Nov 23, 2020 4:30 PM CST

Federal judge criticizes DOJ’s fee agreement with BigLaw firm, says the amount is unreasonable

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has questioned the U.S. Department of Justice’s agreement to pay more than $212,000 in fees and expenses to Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer to settle a case over the exclusion of New York residents from trusted traveler programs.

Nov 23, 2020 3:50 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: COVID-19 cited in halt to execution; ‘not qualified’ Jones Day associate confirmed to bench

Judge delays execution after lawyers contract COVID-19 U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss has delayed the federal execution of Lisa Montgomery because her lawyers contracted COVID-19 after visiting her in prison. The lawyers, Amy Harwell and Kelley Henry, “remain very ill today,” and they are unable to prepare a clemency petition,…

Nov 19, 2020 4:15 PM CST

Immigration lawyer who asserted a right to text in courtroom loses appeal of conviction

Updated: An immigration lawyer who refused to stop texting in the courtroom lost her appeal Wednesday before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Richmond, Virginia.

Nov 19, 2020 11:10 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Bankruptcy judge OKs opioid deal; judge bans immigration arrests at some courts

Bankruptcy judge approves opioid deal U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain in New York has approved a settlement between the government and Purdue Pharma, a maker of OxyContin, to resolve federal criminal and civil investigations. The company is accused of defrauding federal health agencies and violating anti-kickback laws. The deal calls…

Nov 18, 2020 4:17 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Several states pause jury trials; suit accuses Texas AG of whistleblower retaliation

Several states stop jury trials A surge in COVID-19 cases has led several states to suspend jury trials. They include New York, Maryland, Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming. (The Daily Docket) Suit accuses Texas AG of abusing his office A Nov. 12 lawsuit accuses Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of…

Nov 16, 2020 4:38 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Law students pledge not to work for Trump firms; women deported after OB-GYN complaints

Law students pledge not to work for Trump election firms A group of law students and new lawyers is circulating a pledge not to work or interview with law firms that represent the Trump campaign and GOP allies. Targeted law firms are Jones Day, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, King…

Nov 13, 2020 3:55 PM CST