With the new Trump administration instilling more fear in immigrants, his policies have also severely affected the work of legal professionals. Namely, several crucial offices that are meant to properly assist immigrants have been closed down. These offices include the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), and the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIOD) offices. Claiming that these offices have interfered with immigration enforcement, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin cites as a reason that these offices “slow down operations” instead of “supporting law enforcement efforts”.
The difficulty that such closures bring about for legal professionals is compounded by the fact that The White House published a Presidential Memorandum last March alleging that numerous legal practitioners and organizations supposedly engaged in fraudulent practices and filed frivolous cases for the purposes of circumventing current immigration laws, and therefore “threatens” national security. As a result, the memorandum calls for law firms and legal practitioners to be held accountable and to sanction any party for misconduct during immigration litigations. Recognizing The White House’s statement as a threat to Immigration attorneys and an attempt at enforcing more rigid monitoring of legal advocates, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) released a statement rejecting the memorandum’s assertions that fraudulent practices are a common occurrence. The press release further explains how the Trump administration is known to attack judges who rule in opposition to Trump’s policies, and that demonizing attorneys is a “cynical attempt to discourage due process and silence those who work to protect the most vulnerable among us”. The statement also explains how the current administration’s rhetoric is “not only misleading but dangerous”, as it undermines the work of legal professionals working with immigrants who are fleeing persecution and are making a positive contribution to their communities. AILA further affirms that it has been dedicated for 75 years to guarding the oath to uphold the Constitution, and that “its members will not be intimidated” by such threats from the administration.
Contact Wilson Immigration today for help with your immigration application: 415-527-5886.