On November 13 and 21, 2019, the New York State Assembly and Senate will hold joint hearings on the court simplification reforms proposed by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. The proposed amendment to the State Constitution would...more
The human trafficking industry preys on vulnerable young women throughout the world who seek to escape poverty, violence, and oppression. These women are often lured by sex traffickers through false promises of a better life,...more
Last week, Proskauer — along with co-counsel Democracy Forward, and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. — filed a complaint on behalf of seven asylum seekers, their minor children and the legal services organization...more
Every year around this time, my colleague Erin Meyer and I can be found going through and carefully selecting pro bono opportunities for Proskauer’s incoming first-year associates. Each of them will be assigned a pro bono...more
Earlier this month, a Law360 article explored a fundamental—yet often overlooked—question: whether the long-held standard practice of tallying pro bono hours remains “the best way to measure pro bono success.” Though...more
The families and children migrating from Central America have suffered terrible traumatic experiences, and a recent report by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), a non-profit advocacy group, addresses the serious, long-term...more
7/3/2019
/ Asylum ,
Best Practices ,
Client Services ,
Detention ,
Human Rights ,
Immigration Attorneys ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Medical Reports ,
Physicians ,
Pro Bono ,
Standard of Care ,
Undocumented Immigrants
The United States comprises about 4% of the world’s population – and houses about 22% of the world’s prison population. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that each year approximately 650,000 people are released from...more
In A Nation of Immigrants, President John F. Kennedy traced America’s mixed record of embracing new immigrants, and then emphasized the benefits of immigration as he argued in favor of reforming the system. “Nativism failed,”...more
Off a side street in a small town in central Mexico, the shelter entrance was hard to find until we noticed a young family sitting under a tree near a gate with a worn sign welcoming “migrant brothers and sisters.” We walked...more
Since my trip to the U.S./Mexico border last summer, the situation for families seeking asylum has only become more challenging, especially in light of the Administration’s new “Remain in Mexico” policy. This week, I am in...more
5/16/2019
/ Appeals ,
Asylum ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Deportation ,
Foreign Policy ,
Immigration and Nationality Act ,
Immigration Attorneys ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Motion To Stay ,
Path To Citizenship ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Pro Bono ,
Removal Proceedings ,
Trump Administration ,
Undocumented Immigrants ,
USCIS
In the United States, people of limited means suffer a tremendous unmet need for legal services in civil proceedings. Why does the United States fall so far behind in providing that service in comparison with other western...more
Chief Judge Janet DiFiore’s call during her recent state of the judiciary address to “modernize” New York’s court system by reforming its complicated structure, has energized a growing grassroots effort across the state....more
U.S. immigration policy has changed quickly and substantially in the past two years. While a handful of policies have received the majority of media attention—such as the separation of families at the border—the Department of...more
3/21/2019
/ Asylum ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Immigration Attorneys ,
Immigration Enforcement ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Notice to Appear ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Pro Bono ,
Removal Proceedings ,
Requests for Evidence ,
Risk Assessment ,
Undocumented Immigrants ,
USCIS
Following my experience assisting immigrant families at the border, I have shared the story, the urgent challenges, and the need for change with many audiences. I have presented the same PowerPoint of my experience enough...more
According to the most recent FBI statistics, reported incidents of hate crimes increased by 17 percent in 2017, rising for the third consecutive year. The FBI determined that the primary motivators of these crimes were race,...more
2/22/2019
/ Asylum ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Hate Crimes ,
Immigration Attorneys ,
LGBTQ ,
Path To Citizenship ,
Pro Bono ,
Race Discrimination ,
Religious Discrimination ,
Sexual Orientation Discrimination ,
U Visas
For many transgender people, undergoing gender-affirming surgery is a crucial step toward a healthy gender transition. While not all transgender people need or want gender-affirming surgeries to be part of their transitions,...more
Pro bono projects can provide some of the most meaningful and interesting moments in a lawyer’s career. It’s usually an easy decision to say “yes” when presented with a pro bono opportunity, because this type of work gives...more
With over two million Americans behind bars, this country has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Our society pays a big price for that distinction, not only in the staggering cost of incarceration itself but in the...more
Recent events have created an urgent need for an independent Immigration Court separate from the Department of Justice. On October 17, Proskauer hosted a panel discussion in its New York office co-sponsored by Sanctuary for...more
10/24/2018
/ American Bar Association (ABA) ,
Asylum ,
Attorney General ,
Board of Immigration Appeals ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Deportation ,
Domestic Violence ,
Due Process ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Immigration Attorneys ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Separation of Powers ,
Undocumented Immigrants
Public schools across the country too often rely on harsh disciplinary measures. These policies are marked by an in-school police presence, high rates of arrest and suspension, and ineffectiveness. Unduly punitive strategies...more
What I thought would be a simple bill signing ceremony for legislation intended to protect children from sex trafficking turned out to be something more. On August 15th in lower Manhattan, rock music blared in the community...more
A recent change in immigration policy is adversely impacting a vulnerable population, and is likely to have a chilling effect on immigrants reporting crime and cooperating with law enforcement. Undocumented immigrant victims...more
8/1/2018
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Deportation ,
Domestic Violence ,
Immigration Enforcement ,
New Guidance ,
Policy Memorandums ,
Public Safety ,
U Visas ,
Undocumented Immigrants ,
USCIS ,
VAWA
It was unlike any courtroom I had seen before. The Immigration Judge appeared on a video screen a little blurry but larger than life. My client, an eight-year-old girl, sat next to me at a long table. This proceeding in...more
The South Texas Family Residential Center here in Dilley, Texas is surrounded by metal fencing, video cameras, and tall light poles that you can see from miles away at night. The country’s largest immigration detention...more
As the Firm’s pro bono partner, I often have the privilege of looking beyond individual matters to see how we can make a difference on a wider scale. And at times I drop everything to immerse myself in a particularly...more