VLOG – Immigration and Nationality Law – David H. Nachman, Esq., Mitchell Ignatoff, Esq. and Michael Phulwani, Esq.

Immigration and criminal law are two completely separate areas of law that are occasionally intertwined. Unfortunately for many immigrants, the potential immigration implications of a criminal conviction are often overlooked. A seemingly minor criminal offense can have devastating immigration implications. As a result, it is extremely important to be aware of any immigration implications when pleading to a criminal matter, or facing potential criminal penalties. In these segments, David Nachman, Esq. and Michael Phulwani, Esq. and Mitchell Ignatoff, Esq. discuss some of the immigration implications of a criminal convictions for nonimmigrants, green card holders and naturalization. In some cases, waivers may be available.

Immigration and Nationality Law Part 1 (David H. Nachman, Mitchell Ignatoff, and Michael Phulwani)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un0X3TjghBs

Immigration and Nationality Law Part 2 (David H. Nachman, Mitchell Ignatoff, and Michael Phulwani)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t8VXkfHx3o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM58a_JBN4chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM58a_JBN4c

Immigration and Nationality Law Part 4 (David H. Nachman, Mitchell Ignatoff, and Michael Phulwani)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfB6Z7bSLu4

Statement by Deputy Press Secretary Matt Chandler

Release Date: July 28, 2010

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

Contact: 202-282-8010

“The court’s decision to enjoin most of SB1070 correctly affirms the federal government’s responsibilities in enforcing our nation’s immigration laws. Over the past eighteen months, this Administration has dedicated unprecedented resources to secure the border, and we will continue to work to take decisive action to disrupt criminal organizations and the networks they exploit. DHS will enforce federal immigration laws in Arizona and around the country in smart, effective ways that focus our resources on criminal aliens who pose a public safety threat and employers who knowingly hire illegal labor, as well as continue to secure our border.

“ICE works everyday with local law enforcement across the country to assist them in making their communities safer and we will continue do so in Arizona. At the same time, we will continue to increase resources in Arizona by complementing the National Guard deployment set to begin on Aug. 1 with the deployment of hundreds of additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement personnel that will aid in our continuing efforts to conduct outbound inspections, patrol challenging terrain, and interdict illicit smugglers. We are focused on smart effective immigration and border enforcement while we work with Congress toward the type of bipartisan comprehensive reform that will provide true security and establish accountability and responsibility in our immigration system at the national level.”

###

This page was last reviewed/modified on July 28, 2010.

DHS Inspector General Report Exposes Abuses in State & Local Immigration Enforcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 1, 2010

DHS Inspector General Report Exposes Abuses in State & Local Immigration Enforcement. AILA Calls upon Secretary Napolitano and Congress to End the 287(g) Program

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General issued a comprehensive report confirming civil rights abuses in a federal program that “deputizes” state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce immigration law. The Inspector General tells of local officers arresting individuals who have committed no offense – including even victims – for the sole purpose of identifying whether they have lawful immigration status.

“Nothing is more debilitating to American values than abuses committed by local police who are the very essence of law enforcement and protection of our communities,” said Bernie Wolfsdorf, President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). In one case, a supervisor recounted how a state highway patrol officer transported an accident victim to a jail to determine the victim’s immigration status. The officer did not take him to a hospital. The victim was not even brought to the jail to be charged with a state crime. The sole -and improper–purpose of the officer’s actions was to determine whether the victim was deportable. “Abuses like this severely undermine communities’ faith in those charged with protecting us and keeping our streets, communities, and businesses safe.”

“Many think demagogues like Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona are the exception to the rule, but we now know that such abuses are happening elsewhere and with the permission of the federal government,” said Wolfsdorf. The Inspector General found that, under this deputizing program, some local police have launched operations with the aim of detaining individuals for minor offenses and violations of local ordinances so they could identify unauthorized immigrants. Police apprehended immigrants even when they had no prior arrests on state or local charges. The federal report confirms what community groups have known for years: that officers arrest individuals for minor offenses, such as fishing without a license or driving with broken taillight, as a pretext to initiate deportation proceedings.

Under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, state and local law enforcement agencies, acting under federal supervision, may assume federal immigration enforcement powers. This delegation of immigration enforcement power must be executed through formal written Memoranda of Agreement between the federal government and the local authority. The memoranda require state and local officers to abide by federal civil rights laws. The Inspector General found widespread lack of adequate training, guidance, monitoring or oversight. “The federal government has failed in its duty to train and supervise local officers. This program has turned local police into agents of fear within law-abiding communities,” said Wolfsdorf. “Immigration lawyers hear reports everyday that immigrants are afraid to talk to the police and to report crimes. Through this program the federal government is undermining the ability of local authorities to ensure all Americans’ safety and security.” The report also noted that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) failed to provide accurate information about the program to Congress and the public. AILA urges Secretary Napolitano to terminate immediately the entire 287(g) program and calls upon Congress to end its funding.

###

The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.

We applaud today’s Supreme Court decision on the right to counsel for noncitizens charged with committing a crime. The Court held that criminal defense lawyers must advise their noncitizen clients about the risk of deportation if they accept a guilty plea. The Court recognized that current immigration laws impose harsh and mandatory deportation consequences onto criminal convictions, and that Congress eliminated from these laws the Attorney General’s discretionary authority to cancel removal in meritorious cases. The Court said, “These changes to our immigration law have dramatically raised the stakes of a noncitizen’s criminal conviction. The importance of accurate legal advice for noncitizens accused of crimes has never been more important.” The case, Padilla v. Kentucky, involved a Vietnam War veteran who has resided lawfully in the U.S. for over 40 years. His criminal defense lawyer told him not to worry about the immigration consequences of pleading guilty to a crime, but that advice was wrong. In fact, the guilty plea made Mr. Padilla subject to mandatory deportation from the United States. The State of Kentucky said that Mr. Padilla had no right to withdraw his plea when he learned of the deportation consequence. Today’s decision reverses the Kentucky court. It also rejected the federal government’s position (which had been adopted by several courts) that a noncitizen is protected only from “affirmative misadvice” and not from a lawyer’s failure to provide any advice about the immigration consequences of a plea. “The right to counsel is at the very core of our criminal justice system. The Court affirms that immigrants should not be held accountable when they rely on incorrect advice from their lawyers or where counsel fails to provide any immigration advice at all. Today’s decision also reminds us that the increased criminalization of immigration law and lack of flexibility has resulted in harsh results.