Immigration Law

Government indicates it will appeal Maryland decision blocking revised travel ban

The Trump administration on Friday filed a notice that it will appeal a Maryland judge’s decision blocking the president’s revised travel ban. The notice was filed a day after U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang of Maryland enjoined a revised provision that temporarily barred entry into the United States by immigrants…

Mar 17, 2017 3:12 PM CDT

Another federal appeals judge blasts attacks on judiciary, in an apparent criticism of Trump

Another judge on the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals appears to be criticizing President Donald Trump’s complaints about judges who ruled against his travel ban. In a speech to attorneys general in Honolulu, Judge Richard Clifton said attacking judges for their decisions is “corrosive to the justice…

Mar 17, 2017 9:31 AM CDT

In apparent reference to Trump, 5 dissenting 9th Circuit judges criticize attacks on judiciary

Five federal appeals judges appeared to criticize President Donald Trump’s attacks on the judiciary in a dissent on Wednesday that, nonetheless, sided with the president on his power to enact a temporary travel ban. The five judges on the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals commented in a…

Mar 16, 2017 11:38 AM CDT

Maryland federal judge blocks part of Trump’s revised travel ban

A federal judge in Maryland is the second to issue an injunction preventing enforcement of President Trump’s revised travel ban. U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang on Thursday enjoined a revised provision that temporarily barred entry into the United States by immigrants from six majority-Muslim countries, report USA Today, the New…

Mar 16, 2017 8:46 AM CDT

Hawaii federal court blocks revised travel ban nationwide; Trump vows to appeal

A Honolulu federal district court has granted the state of Hawaii’s request for a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, the BBC and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Wednesday.

Mar 15, 2017 8:56 PM CDT

Twelve years after his arrest, accused murderer remains incompetent for trial because he can’t talk

A deaf man who can’t read, write or speak more than a few words is considered incompetent to stand trial on a 2005 murder charge. The man, 45-year-old Oswaldo Martinez, is charged with the rape and strangulation death of a 16-year-old girl who was walking alongside a country road in…

Mar 14, 2017 10:20 AM CDT

‘Dreamer’ immigrant released after arrest that followed speech at press conference

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has released a young woman who was arrested by ICE agents directly after speaking at a press conference about her fear of deportation, Mississippi Today reports. Daniela Vargas, 22, is a “dreamer”—a young person brought without authorization to the United States as a child. Her…

Mar 14, 2017 7:45 AM CDT

In response to Hawaii lawsuit, DOJ argues that revision of Trump travel ban removes legal problems

President Donald Trump’s new executive order limiting travel to the United States doesn’t have the legal problems courts have found with the first order, the Department of Justice argued today.

Mar 13, 2017 3:53 PM CDT

Virginia court’s no-jail policy for marijuana possession could have consequences for immigrants

When the Arlington General District Court in Virginia this month adopted a policy of no jail time for possession of small amounts of marijuana, it was a progressive step that streamlines the criminal justice system. But it also rubbed up against tough immigration laws enacted years ago: No threat of…

Mar 13, 2017 1:45 PM CDT

Wisconsin federal judge issues injunction against revised travel ban for family of Syrian refugee

A Wisconsin federal judge has dealt a setback to President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban. Reuters reported that U.S. District Judge William Conley of Madison, on Friday, issued a temporary restraining order that prevents the travel ban from being used to keep out the wife and child of a Syrian…

Mar 13, 2017 11:00 AM CDT

Class action status granted in lawsuit alleging detained immigrants forced to work for $1 a day

A Colorado federal judge has certified a class of about 62,000 people who claim they were forced to work for $1 a day while detained at a privately run immigrant detention center, the Denver Post has reported. The immigrants sued private prison contractor the GEO Group in 2014. An earlier…

Mar 9, 2017 5:40 PM CST

ABA endorses requirement to consider poverty, flight risk when immigration courts set bond

An ABA amicus brief filed March 8 argues that immigration courts should be required to consider ability to pay and flight risk before deciding on bond. The brief (PDF) was filed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Hernandez v. Sessions, a class action that argues that the…

Mar 9, 2017 4:50 PM CST

Washington AG asking federal judge to apply TRO to new travel ban order

A temporary restraining order obtained by the state of Washington, which halted the Trump administration’s January travel ban, should be applied to the recently revised executive order, says its attorney general. Ferguson is asking a federal judge to apply the restraining order that halted the first travel ban order to…

Mar 9, 2017 4:09 PM CST

Citing business and constitutional issues, Hawaii challenges revised travel ban

In a U.S. District Court motion filed Tuesday, the state of Hawaii asked for a temporary restraining order to block President Donald Trump’s recently revised travel ban for visitors from majority-Muslim countries. The lawsuit (PDF) was filed in February, and Hawaii is likely the first state to legally challenge the…

Mar 8, 2017 12:30 PM CST

Law students plan to spend spring break representing immigrant families pro bono

Law students at Southern Methodist University aren’t going far from the school’s Dallas campus this spring break. In fact, their destination is about five hours away: The Karnes City Family Detention Center, southeast of San Antonio. According to an SMU press release, a team of eight law students led by…

Mar 7, 2017 4:45 PM CST