Immigration Law

Trump ‘seriously’ thinking of pardon for convicted sheriff Arpaio

President Donald Trump may pardon Joe Arpaio, the high-profile former Arizona sheriff convicted of criminal contempt in July after he ignored a judge’s order to stop detaining people he suspected were undocumented immigrants.

Aug 14, 2017 4:57 PM CDT

Indigent people should be guaranteed counsel for deportation proceedings, ABA House resolution says

The ABA House of Delegates is urging that federal, state and local governments work to guarantee legal representation for indigent persons in deportation proceedings. On Monday, the delegates approved Resolution 115, which calls for counsel to be appointed for indigent persons in removal proceedings at the federal government’s expense. It…

Aug 14, 2017 3:48 PM CDT

Immigration status alone shouldn’t bar lawyers from practice, ABA House says in resolution

The ABA House of Delegates on Monday voted to urge Congress to allow state courts to permit immigrants who are seeking legal status to obtain licenses to practice law, and to support "the principle that bar admission should not be denied based solely on immigration status."

Aug 14, 2017 12:28 PM CDT

Sanctuary policies pit state and local governments against federal immigration officials

Sanctuary cities are in the news—and the courts—as federal, state and local governments find themselves in conflict over immigration enforcement. It is this quandary that prompted “Sanctuary Cities: The New Federalism and Role of the State & Local Govts in Addressing Undocumented Immigrants,” a CLE session sponsored by the Section…

Aug 11, 2017 5:34 PM CDT

Federal judge knocks down law requiring birth certificates of foreign-born marriage applicants

After a legislative fix in June for a law that had blocked foreign-born citizens from getting married if they don’t have a birth certificate, the federal judge in Louisiana who issued a temporary injunction on the first version in March permanently enjoined the newer one on Wednesday, The Associated Press…

Aug 10, 2017 2:20 PM CDT

Georgetown Law launches center to fight for constitutional rights

The Georgetown University Law Center has launched an institute bringing together expert prosecutors and students to litigate high-profile cases in efforts to defend constitutional rights in matters such as discrimination, immigration, national security, privacy and whistleblower protection, the school announced Wednesday.

The new Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection’s faculty director is Neal Katyal, who successfully argued Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, the 2006 Supreme Court decision that applied the Geneva Convention worldwide in the “War on Terror” and forced the Bush Administration to cease waterboarding.

Aug 10, 2017 11:32 AM CDT

Chicago sues Justice Department over sanctuary cities threat

Updated: The city of Chicago has sued the U.S. Justice Department over its threat to withhold federal grant money to sanctuary cities. The suit, filed Monday in Chicago federal court, claims new conditions placed on public safety grants are “unauthorized and unconstitutional.” The conditions also “fly in the face of…

Aug 7, 2017 11:00 AM CDT

Trump backs bill limiting legal immigration that favors skilled, well-educated English speakers

President Donald Trump has announced his support for a bill that would reduce legal immigration while favoring those who have job skills, higher education levels and the ability to speak English. Trump said the bill “ends chain migration,” the system that gives immigration preference to family members of those already…

Aug 2, 2017 1:13 PM CDT

Border Searches Could Expose Confidential Client Info

Concerns about protecting the attorney-client privilege and confidentiality of client information at the nation’s borders have prompted the ABA to urge the DHS to ensure proper policies and procedures are in place at the nation’s borders to prevent the erosion of these important legal principles.

Aug 1, 2017 12:35 AM CDT

Former Sheriff Arpaio found guilty of criminal contempt for defying court order on immigration

Joe Arpaio, the former sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, has been found guilty of contempt of court for violating a federal judge’s order to stop detaining citizens based only on a suspicion they were in the country illegally.

Jul 31, 2017 3:13 PM CDT

Judge halts deportations of Iraqi nationals; ICE says safety threat they pose is ignored

Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday blasted a Detroit federal judge’s decision to stop the deportations of more than 1,400 Iraqi nationals, including hundreds currently detained, the Detroit News reported. ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls criticized Judge Mark Goldsmith’s Monday ruling in a statement for “fail[ing] to acknowledge the generous procedures…

Jul 28, 2017 8:21 AM CDT

Law school group moves Texas meeting because of bathroom bill, immigration law

The Association of American Law Schools is moving a 2018 clinical legal education meeting from Austin, Texas, to Chicago because of legislative action on immigration enforcement and school bathrooms. The AALS explained the decision in a letter to Texas officials, Law.com (sub. req.) reports. Association president Paul Marcus wrote that…

Jul 25, 2017 11:09 AM CDT

Truck driver charged in deaths of 10 immigrants in Texas; could face death penalty or life in prison

A truck driver could face the death penalty in the deaths of 10 immigrants who died after riding in his sweltering tractor-trailer. James Matthew Bradley Jr., 60, was charged under a federal law banning the knowing transportation of people who are in the country illegally, the New York Times reports.…

Jul 24, 2017 12:23 PM CDT

Lawyer is accused of arranging sham marriage to gain immigration status for assistant

A Dallas lawyer has been indicted for allegedly arranging a sham marriage to allow his assistant to gain lawful permanent resident status. Lawyer Bilal Ahmed Khaleeq, 47, and his assistant, Amna Cheema, 37, were both charged with conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, report Dallas News and NBC DFW. Press releases…

Jul 20, 2017 12:50 PM CDT

Supreme Court allows more extended-family exemptions to travel ban

Updated: The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to disturb part of a federal judge's decision that exempted grandparents and grandchildren from President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban.

Jul 19, 2017 12:50 PM CDT