Immigration and Firm News

Over the last few days, there have been reports about ICE raids or "enforcement actions" in several states, but pinning down fact from rumor has been somewhat difficult.  The American Immigration Lawyers Association reports the following: AILA has received information that ICE has once again commenced targeted enforcement actions by re-instituting "Operation Cross Check." The operation is focused on three populations: Fugitives - Anyone with an outstanding order of removal; … [Read more...]

On January 25, 2017, President Trump issued two Executive Orders on immigration, both of which are focused on enforcement at the border and the interior and address some issues concerning visas and refugees. More Executive Orders are expected to be forthcoming addressing legal immigration and other topics. It is important to note that much of this is political in nature and intended to appeal to his voter base. The orders clearly have their origin from the 79 Stroke of a Pen playbook from the … [Read more...]

On January 25, 2017, President Trump issued two Executive Orders on immigration, both of which are focused on enforcement at the border and the interior and address some issues concerning visas and refugees. More Executive Orders are expected to be forthcoming addressing legal immigration and other topics. It is important to note that much of this is political in nature and intended to appeal to his voter base. The orders clearly have their origin from the 79 Stroke of a Pen playbook from the … [Read more...]

In a disturbing new case from the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) this week, Matter of Fitzpatrick, 26 I&N Dec. 559 (BIA 2015), the BIA held that a foreign national was removable (deportable) for having voted in a federal election regardless of the foreign national's lack of knowledge that she was committing an unlawful act by voting when not a US citizen.  In this case, Ms. Fitzpatrick is a native and citizen of Peru who became a permanent resident in 2004.  In 2005, she applied for an … [Read more...]

Immigration lawyers from around the country, who have volunteered their time at the Artesia, New Mexico detention facility, are reporting back about their experiences volunteering there helping unaccompanied minors and children with their parents. The Artiesia facility has been referred to by some as akin to a US refugee camp. Stories from these lawyers are quite heart wrenching. For example, Eileen Sterlock from Oregon reports on the AILA Leadership Blog how she has changed after watching the … [Read more...]