Immigrant detainees deserve lawyers

The vast majority of detainees, including children and the mentally ill, are forced to represent themselves in immigration court. That could, and should, change soon.

• 
• 
• Comments

  97

• Share1107

U.S. immigration officers prepare to escort Illegal immigrants from a bus in Calexico, California, through a gate in the border fence. The Obama administration should ensure that indigent immigrants in detention have access to legal counsel. (Los Angeles Times)

Read More

News 2

New York City Announces Expansion Of Legal Services For Immigrants

First Posted: 11/22/11 10:36 AM ET Updated: 11/22/11 04:23 PM ET

React

AmazingInspiringFunnyScaryHotCrazyImportantWeird

Follow

  Michael Bloomberg ,   Video , Latino Politics , Bloomberg Immigration ,Comprehensive Immigration Reform , Immigrants , Immigration Reform ,Undocumented Immigrants , Latino Voices News

SHARE THIS STORY

78

24

9

Get Latino Voices Alerts

 Sign Up

Submit this story

Mayor Bloomberg, an outspoken advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, announced on Monday an expansion of legal services for immigrants in New York City.

According to a statement released by the mayor's website, Bloomberg will implement a staff of eleven new full-time immigration attorneys whose role it will be to "ensure that immigrants... have access to the counsel they need and do not suffer unnecessary immigration consequences as they navigate the legal system" in the courts and at the City's Family Justice Centers. The program is set to launch by the beginning of 2012.

The mayor justifies the expansion of such services on the premises that immigrants are often unaware of the complexities of the immigration system and what's in their best interests. Immigrants facing charges for minor offenses, for example, are "often unaware of the sometimes severe immigration consequences that can follow from certain dispositions", the mayor's website maintains.

Read More

News 1

Department Of Homeland Security Commences Review of 300,000 Deportation Cases

First Posted: 11/17/11 09:31 AM ET Updated: 11/17/11 11:06 AM ET

React

AmazingInspiringFunnyScaryHotCrazyImportantWeird

Follow

  Video , DREAM Act , Janet Napolitano Homeland Security , Latino Politics , Morton Memo , Obama Deportation Policy , Benita Veliz , Deportation Cases Review , Deportation Record , John Morton , Obama Deportation , Latino Voices News

SHARE THIS STORY

24

7

3

Get Latino Voices Alerts

 Sign Up

Submit this story

Today, the Department of Homeland Security will begin its review of the 300,000 pending deportation cases, distinguishing between "high priority" and "low priority" individuals, and also commence a training program for enforcement officials and attorneys in related cases, according to the New York Times.

The DHS's review of such cases, outlined in John Morton's June 17th memorandum, aims to categorize deportation cases based on certain criteria -- hastening the trials of those who have committed crimes, and halting the proceedings of college graduates, those who have resided in the country from a young age, and non-criminals.

The New York Times reported that today DHS will release its first guidelines for immigration officials to begin a training program and the review of those pending cases.

Read More