tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17523500216768699002012-02-12T20:22:22.621-05:00Tales from the world of an immigration lawyerWebmasternoreply@blogger.comBlogger661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-90283212772272841652010-05-11T15:58:00.003-04:002010-05-11T16:05:24.249-04:00

BROKEN PROMISES, BROKEN HEARTS: "Outraged lawmakers promised to intervene when they heard the story of a young Japanese widow who was being forced to return to her native country, despite her American Marine-husband's wishes that she raise their son in Tennessee.But more than a half-year later, the young mother and her baby son have gone back to Japan, her Tennessee in-laws are heartbroken, and

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-23335813196720128232010-05-10T17:20:00.002-04:002010-05-10T17:26:22.442-04:00

Last week, I won the appeal in a case involving the foreign born husband of a woman who was set to deploy to Afghanistan over a year ago. She is now serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Until we were victorious on our appeal, her husband was subject to removal from the United States because he had been illegally here since childhood when his parents brought him over the border from Mexico. Last

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-59926445862249836282010-05-08T16:04:00.001-04:002010-05-08T16:07:13.789-04:00

The most recent piece of legislation being considered by our more foolish politicians is a bill which would allow the U.S. State Department to strip the citizenship of any American engaged in terrorism. Specifically, this law could be invoked if one serves in the Armed Forces of a foreign state engaged in warfare against the U.S., commits treason against the U.S., or provides material support to

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-8077619145855369652010-05-07T14:15:00.002-04:002010-05-07T16:28:18.764-04:00

Two news items ran across my desk at about the same time this past week, and both made an impression on me. One was a press release announcing that Governor Paterson of New York was convening a panel to determine whether certain lawful permanent residents with criminal convictions might deserve a pardon in order to avoid deportation from the United States. The second was in the local paper’s

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-52183910540993150052010-05-05T17:01:00.000-04:002010-05-05T17:03:07.132-04:00

There has been quite a bit of immigration law activity since I last posted over one month ago. At first, I was just trying to take it all in. Now, I’m ready to comment on it. The State of Arizona has decided to enforce immigration law by granting state and local police the authority to question someone whom they reasonably suspect is illegally in the United States. Advocates are justly concerned

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-60942632910937147102010-03-31T13:14:00.001-04:002010-03-31T13:16:15.570-04:00

Today, the United States Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision (Justices Scalia and Thomas dissenting), issued a ruling which will have profound effect on lawful permanent residents of this country who face criminal prosecution.The Court held that the 6th Amendment of the Constitution grants immigrant defendants who are considering a plea agreement the right to accurate advice from their defense

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-58016935296235499242010-03-31T10:17:00.003-04:002010-03-31T10:26:13.174-04:00

Nina Bernstein from The New York Times has been exposing the public to the darker side of immigration law and policy. A couple of years ago, she was one of the reporters who broke the story about the tragic deaths of immigrants held in detention. Now she covers this critical issue, about which I often blog, and which will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court today.It is a story profiling Jerry

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-10123745489253477892010-03-30T13:38:00.002-04:002010-03-30T13:42:01.295-04:00

I would like to see more editorials like this one from the press. It doesn't surprise me that the Spanish-language media may find this issue more compelling than the English-language media since one in every 36 Latinos in the U.S. is in jail. Nonetheless, it is an issue with which we should all be concerned. The right to be heard2010-03-30 El Diario NY This week, the Supreme Court is expected to

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-36175691294277959252010-03-28T16:41:00.002-04:002010-03-28T16:44:17.922-04:00

In February, I posted Support Our Troops: Your Tax Dollars At Work, in which I wrote about a young man-- a lawful permanent resident-- who is subject to deportation from the United States for a drug conviction despite the fact that he was honorably discharged from the military after serving in Iraq. Similarly, in another case I once handled, the client had immigrated to the U.S. in 1958 as a

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-57709685195636043752010-03-25T07:43:00.001-04:002010-03-25T07:45:38.702-04:00

Voices From The Community:A Discussion on Comprehensive Immigration ReformMarch 30th, 2010 at 7:00 pmUnitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo695 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo NYOpening Remarks By:John A. Curr IIIExecutive DirectorWestern Regional OfficeNew York Civil Liberties UnionFeaturing:Sophie Feal, Esq.Supervising Immigration AttorneyErie County Bar AssociationVolunteer Lawyers Project,

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-35010986742972589312010-03-24T07:10:00.003-04:002010-03-25T07:47:28.135-04:00

Last Friday, as I posted below, Attorney General Eric Holder praised the legal orientations that agencies such as mine perform in the nation's detention facilities. He emphasized the practicality of our programs and their great cost savings to the US Government.Yesterday, I received this incredibly touching email from a client, Ahmed from Sudan, whom I met after he participated in such a legal

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-22132986545092787292010-03-23T10:37:00.002-04:002010-03-23T10:40:46.305-04:00

On Friday, March 19th, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder gave a speech at the Pro Bono Institute in Washington, DC in which he emphasized the value of pro bono legal services for the poor in this country. During the speech, he praised the work that my office does, as well as other non-profit agencies nationwide, in providing legal orientations and other “self-help” services to immigrant men and

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-53527093166523875052010-03-22T15:12:00.002-04:002010-03-22T15:22:12.079-04:00

Perhaps it is finally time for immigration reform. It is estimated that 200,000 marchers gathered in Washington, DC this past Sunday to call for comprehensive immigration legislation. Last Friday, Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) wrote an op-ed piece in the Washington Post setting forth their vision of immigration reform as presented in a bill that they have jointly

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-30222270291057195162010-03-16T07:52:00.003-04:002010-03-16T07:58:06.986-04:00

This past weekend, I attended the "Tech Savvy" Conference that the American Association of University Women (AAUW) sponsors to promote the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to girls in middle and high school. It is the second time I have gone to this inspiring event with one of my daughters. The conference gives girls a wonderful opportunity to meet women who are employed

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-8787447009721231132010-03-12T10:18:00.003-05:002010-03-12T10:25:39.212-05:00

From the New York Times, this is a great update to my post below entitled, Once and Aggravated Felon, Always an Aggravated Felon. See, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/nyregion/11release.html Qing Hong Wu's sister was kind enough to comment on my post with information on how we could petition Governor Patterson to pardon her brother. Thanks to those who responded to the plea. This man is one of

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-52168997225651960242010-03-11T16:57:00.003-05:002010-03-11T17:08:59.850-05:00

I remember when I was on maternity leave some eleven years ago and living in Oakland, California. I would take my new baby and her older sister to the park almost every day, and sit on the edge of the sandbox while my toddler ran around and the baby played with the sand. I always found myself observing the half dozen or so Central American women that also came to the park each day along with the

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-4054444086233173362010-03-10T12:09:00.002-05:002010-03-10T12:15:27.258-05:00

Imprisonment in this country, whether it is called immigration detention or criminal incarceration, has clearly reached crisis proportions as I’ve pointed out in previous posts. The link below provides similarly troubling information on criminal incarceration pursuant to the “war on drugs,” which the U.S. has waged against its citizens since it was declared some twenty years ago by President

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-1622993729191878462010-03-08T17:07:00.003-05:002010-03-08T17:24:33.402-05:00

While visiting my family in Greenwich Village on a beautiful, sunny weekend, I walked over to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum for a peek at another era in this working-class neighborhood between the Williamsburg Bridge and the restaurants of Little Italy, and not far from the bustle of Chinatown. It was well worth the time. See, http://www.tenement.org/ (a virtual tour is available). During

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-51793909360968455232010-03-03T16:20:00.002-05:002010-03-03T16:23:52.404-05:00

In May 2008, the New York Times and the Washington Post disclosed the tragic, yet potentially avoidable, deaths from inadequate medical care of 83 immigrants held in civil detention by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Recent reports confirm that there have now been 107 deaths in detention. As I stated in an article I published on this issue two months after the stories broke, the deaths

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-51764689546169068942010-03-01T19:02:00.003-05:002010-03-01T19:09:51.244-05:00

As a follow-up to my post below, Support the '"Dignity not Detention" Campaign, I wanted to add some relevant information I came across in a report released in September 2009 by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI).The authors of the MPI report cite facts obtained from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by an Associated Press reporter through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-77635554416547376332010-02-26T07:15:00.003-05:002010-03-01T15:54:05.896-05:00

Imagine a legal system in which a person must spend more time incarcerated for civil charges than for criminal offenses. Such a system exists. It's called immigration detention. The Detention Watch Newtork (DWN) has launched a campaign to end this unjust practice, calling on the Government "to halt the expansion of the U.S. immigration detention system and demand that immigrants are treated with

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-2056548876263366672010-02-25T07:32:00.001-05:002010-02-25T07:34:53.375-05:00

In a landmark case decided on June 13, 1996, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the appellate tribunal which issues precedential opinions in immigration law, held that the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) could be the basis for an asylum claim by women who seek refuge in the United States. FGM is a extremely painful and incapacitating procedure, usually crudely administered, in which

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-83124292950832144712010-02-22T16:20:00.003-05:002010-02-22T16:26:01.203-05:00

As a follow-up to post below, "Lost in Translation," please take a look at this troubling report on translation in immigration courts across the nation from the National Language Access Advocates Network (February 2, 2010). The conclusion is that immigration courts fall far short of the requirement to provide competent interpretation to those with limited English proficiency by failing to provide

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-7027972411974450612010-02-21T16:11:00.001-05:002010-02-21T16:13:26.205-05:00

Translation is a frustrating topic for me, and given that many of my clients or their family members speak a language other than English, Spanish or French-- the three languages I am able to speak-- I must deal with translators quite often in my work.Obviously, a translator is essential to developing and preparing a case for someone with whom I cannot communicate. I have had the luck of finding

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-90370611636109732452010-02-20T11:22:00.002-05:002010-02-20T11:31:49.964-05:00

I have written numerous times about the the aggravated felony provision in U.S. immigration law on this blog (See My Message to Congress, below). The consequences of being deemed an "aggravated felon" are drastic, and have caused upheaval in too many lives. I am very pleased that the press has now addressed this issue in such a thoughtful way as the article posted here. Indeed, Nina Bernstein of

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-16856505228199666342010-02-17T21:31:00.003-05:002010-02-17T21:46:09.966-05:00

Cops are unpredictable. On a frigid winter day, I had the pleasure of having lunch with two very amiable police officers at an all-American diner to discuss the case of one my detained clients who faced deportation from the U.S. Both were very supportive of his plight.Normally defense attorneys do not have much positive interaction with law enforcement officers. In my twenty-year career I've

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-21351290171829871912010-02-16T08:10:00.005-05:002010-02-16T08:20:32.407-05:00

A crazed G.I. was arrested for waterboarding his 4-year-old daughter because she wouldn't say her ABCs.There are so many stories behind this one story. Here are just a few: It confirms the consequences of the offensive notion, which was propagated by the former Administration, that waterboarding is not torture. If it is not torture and it is simply an innocuous tool of interrogration, then isn't

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-64316262808619989952010-02-13T10:53:00.003-05:002010-02-13T11:01:23.957-05:00

I previously posted a piece about my cyberspace Arabic studies, as well as one on "flying-while-Arab", so when I came upon this article, I knew I had to share it. Thank goodness I never pulled out my "Arabic for Dummies" book at an aiport.http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10042/1035098-84.stm TSA sued for detention over Arabic flashcardsThursday, February 11, 2010By Spencer S. Hsu, The Washington

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-26456778067564740352010-02-10T21:02:00.003-05:002010-02-10T21:05:44.074-05:00

This piece was originally published in Bender's Immigration Bulletin (Vol. 13, No. 7) on April 1, 2008."I've never been apart from him," she said, trying to hold back the flood of tears gathering in the back of her throat and apologizing to me for the show of emotion. I was instantly struck by her statement since I'd rarely ever heard such vulnerability expressed by the detained men I counseled

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-57488845317250157462010-02-08T15:14:00.002-05:002010-02-08T15:20:24.141-05:00

As a follow-up to the post below on the prosecution of illegal entry, I am posting this critique, from a federal judge, on prosecuting immigration law violations. See, http://www.statesman.com/news/local/federal-judge-questions-immigration-prosecutions-216667.html. From The American-Statesman of Austin, TX:In an order filed Friday, a federal judge in Austin questioned U.S. prosecutors for seeking

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-1476238051002850812010-02-08T07:28:00.002-05:002010-02-08T07:33:05.167-05:00

The story of the three Americans who are currently incarcerated and facing prosecution in Iran for allegedly crossing illegally into the country raises an interesting issue. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the hikers' families have stated to the media that the two men and one woman were innocently hiking through the rough terrain that separates Iraq from Iran, and inadvertently crossed the

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-35921492329941579392010-02-06T20:04:00.004-05:002010-02-06T20:26:32.290-05:00

My colleagues and I always get a kick out of the fact that when a woman calls us seeking assistance on behalf of a boyfriend; she always refers to him as her fiancé, whether or not there has actually been a marriage proposal. When I meet the “fiancé” at the detention facility where I work, I inevitably learn that the couple has been together for several years but have never wed, and probably

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-35282516878487999782010-02-05T09:32:00.003-05:002010-02-05T09:37:59.500-05:00

Does discrimination have to play a part in keeping America safe?In a response to the December 25th bomb attempt on Northwest flight 253 to Detroit, the Transportation Security Administration announced a new screening policy that requires "enhanced screening" of passengers flying into the United States from 14 countries considered either “state sponsors of terror” or “countries of interest”. Many

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-55233391708078267172010-02-03T14:53:00.006-05:002010-02-05T09:38:53.606-05:00

An important Urban Institute study, released today, concludes that the children of deported parents "experienced severe challenges, including separations from parents and economic hardships that likely contributed to adverse behavioral changes..." and "[g]iven that any overall abatement in the need for enforcement is not likely and that in many cases arrested unauthorized immigrants will have

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-14056994217351904002010-02-03T11:52:00.002-05:002010-02-03T11:57:06.941-05:00

In a post below entitled My Message to Congress, I briefly introduced readers to a young man from Ghana, a permanent resident, now in removal proceedings and subject to mandatory deportation because he is an “aggravated felon.” The fact that one year after he obtained his “green card” he enlisted in the U.S. Army, served five years, two of which were in combat in Iraq, and was then honorably

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-41191276200593576662010-02-02T12:21:00.005-05:002010-02-02T13:33:17.496-05:00

Report urges overhaul of immigrant removal adjudication systemMarcia Coyle February 02, 2010The article below is from The National Law JournalSee, http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202441782897To see the Executive Summary of the ABA report: http://www.abajournal.com/files/Reforming_the_Immigration_System_Executive_Summary_advance_1_25_10.pdfNeither the Department of Homeland

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-18206543252644764732010-01-31T18:24:00.002-05:002010-01-31T18:28:48.670-05:00

I have just finished reading "A Dangerous Woman: The Graphic Biography of Emma Goldman" by Sharon Rudahl (2007) which I received as an unexpected, but very welcome gift. As one might imagine, Goldman's life fascinates me for several reasons, among them her idealism and unwavering activism on behalf of the working class and the poor; her struggle for the rights of women (although she did not

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-61621923902504218532010-01-29T10:54:00.001-05:002010-01-29T10:56:52.281-05:00

A friend who read the post below sent me this link: http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/29/syed.muslim.while.flying/index.html?hpt=C2. "It seems that now someone called "Barack Hussein Obama" can be pulled aside and patted down merely because of his name. But while our president has the benefit of Air Force One, millions of us with a "funny name" (Muslim and otherwise) do not. Like me."

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-73063915930578932662010-01-28T19:10:00.003-05:002010-01-28T19:16:41.490-05:00

Not long ago after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, a Palestinian-American attorney friend told me a story about her honeymoon. She's a wonderfully vivid story teller, and she recounted this tale with humor and lightness in her voice, even though it is really a reflection of these troubled times. It goes like this: When she left on an exotic honeymoon with her white,

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-66703801378337240222010-01-27T12:37:00.003-05:002010-01-27T12:43:55.510-05:00

At the end of 2005 I co-authored an article about biased judging entitled, “Overwhelmed Circuit Courts Lashing Out at the BIA and Selected Immigration Judges: Is Streamlining to Blame?” 82 Int. Rel. No. 48 (December 19, 2005). While the issue has not captured the attention of the media in the past several years the way it did in 2005, the latest article, posted below, makes evident that the

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-61955754922605821892010-01-25T10:38:00.010-05:002010-01-26T15:05:27.081-05:00

This is indeed an unusual case in immigration practice, although it is not the first time I've heard complaints of biased judges : http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202439420796"Despite having ruled three times in the last four years against the family's pleas not to be deported to their native Bahamas, the board on Jan. 11 agreed to reopen the case. The reason: an investigation by

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-28386312658160215002010-01-24T18:11:00.003-05:002010-01-24T18:17:04.591-05:00

After I posted my first couple of pieces on this blog in December, I realized that I had stirred some strong feelings in my fellow non-profit colleagues on the issue of burnout. One friend, a public defender, immediately commented to me that, " I almost cried when I read about feeling burnout. Sometimes I can't tell where my frustration comes from. You are so right that it comes from seeing

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-57095969173373537342010-01-22T15:13:00.004-05:002010-01-25T10:48:53.540-05:00

As a follow-up to my post, "The Islands:" http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_14241518?nclick_check=1"The Angel Island station was built after passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a race-based doctrine that limited immigration. While some were welcomed to America, others - typically Asians - found themselves stuck on Angel Island for months, or years in some cases."

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-63197854783855759392010-01-21T19:16:00.003-05:002010-01-26T15:05:39.444-05:00

According to U.S. Government figures, up to 200,000 Haitians present in the United States as of January 12th will apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). I do not know whether this number includes those who are in detention or not, but I think it remains to be seen exactly what will happen to those who are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Today I was asked by someone to

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-76140752532786059162010-01-20T14:40:00.004-05:002010-01-20T15:26:13.246-05:00

As the immigrant advocacy community nationwide gears up to help 100,000 to 200,000 Haitians in the United States to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a concern has arisen that unscrupulous individuals and organizations will crop up, as they often do in similar situations, to meet the unmet demand for help. It is very important, therefore, for Haitians to know who are the reputable

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-42671171176626057462010-01-19T12:13:00.003-05:002010-01-20T19:35:15.670-05:00

“When she was a top student in her Chicago high school French class last year, Reyna Wences tried every excuse to avoid a planned field trip to Quebec. She knew she'd be arrested if she tried.” This article reflects why we need to pass the DREAM Act, legislation which would allow high school graduates who seek to attend college, and who were brought to the U.S. illegally as small children, to

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-87321000010484575682010-01-17T16:27:00.006-05:002010-01-20T19:40:02.516-05:00

"The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you." Exodus 12:14 On this weekend when we commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the world's renowned civil rights activists who recognized human dignity and freedom above all else, I wish to send my own powerful message to Congress. As explained in my earlier posts, "The Myth of the Aggravated

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-31379120786087384022010-01-16T10:49:00.001-05:002010-01-16T10:52:29.440-05:00

- By Sami HannaTo see the smell of deathdashing through the gates of broken eyes.Where did the wave of the great tremor send the remains of my last sighsbefore it ripped the disk of the land astray?They rose carrying a glimpse of soft decaythey came knocking at the wall of the eternal dusk.With a few droplets of saltthey lifted the sea from beneath its bedto let it breathe the blast of sleep.The

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-43537893659042684612010-01-14T17:05:00.006-05:002010-01-15T10:22:09.262-05:00

US halts deportations to Haiti, illegal immigrants will remain in detention centers Upon learning the news yesterday that the U.S. would not execute deportation orders to Haiti in the aftermath of Tuesday's devastating earthquake and the ensuing chaos, I wondered what might happen to those Haitians who are detained by the U.S. immigration authorities and already have been ordered removed. I

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-44518271847703171542010-01-13T11:33:00.012-05:002010-01-13T14:17:44.567-05:00

The Haitian-American writer, Edwidge Danticat, whose work I recommend and cite in the post below, appeared on Democracy Now! this morning to speak about the disaster in her native country. See, Democracy Now here.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-54093542106151917892010-01-13T10:01:00.006-05:002010-01-13T10:49:10.592-05:00

By now the world has learned of the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti and its wicked toll on the lives of thousands. It is the strongest earthquake in more than 200 years according to the Associated Press, and Port-au-Prince is described as "total disaster and chaos." Haiti is a land of brave men and women who have endured extreme political violence and natural disasters throughout

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-49840644504723045462010-01-12T19:27:00.002-05:002010-01-13T07:11:56.054-05:00

The recent attack on African farmworkers in southern Italy simply breaks my heart. There's no other way to put it, especially when Reuters reported on January 10, 2010 that the incident is reminiscent of 1960's Ku Klux Klan attacks against black citizens in the United States, and the anti-Berlusconi press in Italy is running headlines declaring that the migrants' wholesale expulsion from Rosarno,

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-88498495241439465282010-01-10T21:30:00.002-05:002010-01-11T06:32:18.307-05:00

I've compiled this short list of books about migration which have impressed me because they quite pointedly address migration's very human dimensions. They are not new, but are very compelling and worth reading if you have an interest in this subject.Luis Alberto Urrea, The Devil's Highway (2004) is the painful yet enlightening story of 26 Mexican men who slowly died of heat while attempting to

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-39153781559218499282010-01-09T09:54:00.002-05:002010-01-09T09:57:55.824-05:00

Laying on my desk is a bold yellow and black copy of "Arabic for Dummies," a dependable book touted as a "fun and easy way to start speaking Arabic." I've marked up many of the first few pages with various comments designed to help me better understand the lesson of each chapter. After one month, I'm only on chapter three, but I'm in no hurry. I knew this wouldn't be an easy endeavor. I initially

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-77821656738261192242010-01-08T14:54:00.001-05:002010-01-08T14:55:53.163-05:00

"The U.S. government is imposing greater restrictions than are necessary on most aliens detained for immigration violations, according to a charge made by — surprisingly enough — the U.S. government." Read more: http://www.texastribune.org/stories/2010/jan/06/ices-self-examination/#ixzz0c3JrbzUW

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-33781183298164962752010-01-06T18:29:00.003-05:002010-01-09T22:37:28.556-05:00

When I look at the small photo on his visa face sheet, the document created by a U.S. consulate when it has granted someone a visa to enter the country as a permanent resident, I see only innocence and lots of hope. Even if the document is just an imperfect, black and white copy, I notice the broad grin, deep brown eyes, and the large, goofy ears of the six year old who is now a grown man sitting

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-78372468449264279992010-01-05T10:49:00.008-05:002010-01-05T10:57:25.912-05:00

These lovely images were taken several years ago in Buffalo, NY by a photographer who prefers to remain anonymous. We do not know where these women may be today.

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-20258039654759256722010-01-04T12:19:00.009-05:002010-01-04T15:15:50.118-05:00

My father and I have both put into words the simple story of our own small family's migration by ship from Cherbourg to New York at a time when the controversial U.S. war in Vietnam occupied the minds of millions around the world. I wrote, "A Migrant Life" (see post below), and he wrote the following story, "Ellis Island," in his native language. The piece reflects a visit that he, my daughter,

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-79210047455518228742010-01-03T14:44:00.003-05:002010-01-03T14:51:19.283-05:00

"If you don't have enough evidence to charge someone criminally but you think he's illegal, we can make him disappear. Those chilling words were spoken by James Pendergraph, then executive director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of State and Local Coordination, at a conference of police and sheriffs in August 2008." By Jacqueline Stevens in The Nation (December 16, 2009).

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-76200694601009750812010-01-02T21:10:00.002-05:002010-01-20T14:49:41.047-05:00

Between the stark, white slabs of concrete prison walls which they call the attorney visitation room, I meet with clients whom I will represent in their fight to stay in the U.S. There, I spend colorless hours while the men recount their woes and the troubled life that led them there. Inevitably, I tend to develop a soft spot for many of my clients, even if logic and experience tell me they

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-84120971463701560882010-01-01T08:57:00.005-05:002010-01-03T09:00:39.739-05:00

Among the frustrations of my work as an immigration lawyer is representing asylum seekers-- those who seek protection in the U.S. because they have a well-founded fear of persecution or have suffered past persecution in their native country on account of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social group. The first reason these cases are so challenging is because I work in a

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-57030247580490753462009-12-29T21:17:00.006-05:002010-01-02T21:24:47.685-05:00

A man who is detained for deportation by U.S. immigration authorities inevitably struggles to make sense of what is happening to him. Some of these men are justifiably angry and bitter because they know they have a great deal to lose in the end. Others are simply uncertain and frightened; and despite the seemingly invincible armor they wear when I am present, and the "let 'em deport me, I don't

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-60159219022287383382009-12-29T14:52:00.004-05:002010-01-02T21:29:10.880-05:00

The holidays always seem to bring something unexpected. This year, I have been very touched by a client who located me after many years of searching.In 1988, fresh out of law school, I began working with Farmworker Legal Services under what was then known as the VISTA program.It was the tail-end of the “amnesty" and I handled a number of cases involving migrant farm workers who were eligible for

Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01923709326885893537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-25936745129607133702009-12-22T15:37:00.011-05:002009-12-29T14:32:14.154-05:00

*This story first appeared in an edited form as "Perspective" in Bender's Immigration Bulletin (May 1, 2007, Vol. 12, No. 9) "You will be a traveler for ever and ever and will never be able to settle down." -Ibn Arabi, 12th-13th Century Spanish scholar When I first started out in this profession I would've never guessed that one day I'd go into private practice and handle cases involving mail

Webmasternoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-2739528130965349042009-12-22T15:34:00.009-05:002010-01-04T15:53:35.149-05:00

I’m beginning to conclude that justice, or at least access to justice, can be bought. I do not make this cynical statement lightly as I realize it is contrary to all that we, as American lawyers, hold true. And as an attorney who’s practiced almost exclusively for twenty plus years in the non-profit sector, representing the poor, it is an especially troubling idea to accept. Nonetheless, I have

Webmasternoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752350021676869900.post-66370708826108913432009-12-21T16:19:00.005-05:002010-01-03T09:10:19.775-05:00

Sophie Feal has been practicing immigration law for twenty years. She has been with the Immigration Project of the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP), Inc. since 1999 except for three years when she was in private practice. Currently at VLP, she is the Supervising Immigration Attorney and concentrates her practice in the areas of deportation defense and asylum cases,

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