News

Nancy Morawetz The tenth anniversary of the landmark Padilla v. Kentucky decision is an opportunity to reflect on the central role of the Supreme Court on day-to-day lawyering on behalf of immigrants.  Padilla is the keystone of representation for immigrants charged with crimes – the case that makes clear that immigration and criminal consequences cannot be disentangled.  Meanwhile, other cases … Read more »

By Alina Das Nearly two decades after a drug conviction threatened Vietnam veteran Jose Padilla– who also goes by Joe–with deportation, he was sworn into citizenship on March 19, 2019. As word spread, I happily relayed the news to my students at New York University School of Law. We had been studying Padilla v. Kentucky, Joe’s namesake, all semester. It … Read more »

Advising Non-U.S. Citizen Clients about Pleas to N.Y.C. Admin Code 10-179 in Summons Court New York City Summons Court cases often conclude with New Yorkers pleading to a non-criminal violation and paying a fine. Upon first impression, cases concluding with a non-criminal violation appear inconsequential. However, even pleas to non-criminal violations taken in Summons Court can lead to devastating consequences … Read more »

On August 28, 2019, the marijuana decriminalization and expungement bill that passed in New York State earlier this year went into effect. Despite the changes to the law, people can still be arrested, charged, and fined for possessing a small amount of marijuana and these incidents may still lead to devastating immigration consequences. To try to dispel misconceptions and clarify … Read more »

The Immigrant Defense Project and Make the Road New York have created a guide for criminal defense attorneys who represent clients who are or may be detained by ICE. This guide, last updated in June 2019, provides information to help criminal defense attorneys: Identify strategies and arguments for ensuring fair access to the court for your client in ICE custody; … Read more »

On April 1, 2019, the One Day to Protect New Yorkers Act became law in New York as part of the New York State budget. By passing this law, New York has taken a firm stand against the devastation caused by ICE’s cruel and inhumane detention and deportation system. Read the press release here. IDP has already released several materials … Read more »

IDP is joining forces with JusticeAid to work towards ending the vilification of immigrants and the deep harm that the violence of detention and deportation is causing to our communities. JusticeAid is throwing a benefit concert with Los Lobos in support of IDP, accompanied by a public forum the preceding evening. Join us in Washington D.C. on April 15 and 16! Music benefit … Read more »

Alisa Wellek, Executive Director Immigrant Defense Project In the midst of Trump’s government shutdown, he has doubled down on the hateful rhetoric he has used from the start of his presidential campaign, in which the inherent “criminality” of immigrants played a central role in justifying a broad anti-immigrant agenda. We are inspired by those who are calling Trump’s demands out … Read more »

Dates Thursday, October 29, 2020 – 12:00 PM – 4:45 PM (ET) Friday, October 30, 2020 – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (ET) Please note that this program will be presented over Zoom webinar. Please see below for this year’s Agenda, list of speakers, and an FAQ.  Registration Nonprofit/Legal Worker (1 day-October 29, 2020) – $100 Nonprofit/Legal Worker (1 day-October … Read more »

Alisa Wellek, Executive Director Immigrant Defense Project This month, IDP joined activists, elected officials, and its Immigrant Justice Network partners (Immigrant Legal Resource Center and National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild) in Washington DC for Immigrants Speak Out: Day of Resistance Against Criminalization and Anti-immigrant Bills. There is still much work to be done to educate Members of … Read more »

Farhane v. U.S., 77 F.4th 123 (2d Cir. 2023) — Padilla, denaturalization:Brief of IDP in Support of Petitioner Brief of IDP in Support of Petitioner-Appellant’s Petition for Rehearing En Banc B- v. Garland, 23-6142 (filed with 2d Cir. 2023) — Y-L-, withholding of removal: Brief of IDP and NILA in Support of Petitioner Challenging Matter of Laguerre and immigration impact … Read more »

Univision

On May 22nd, the Immigrant Defense Project, Fortune Society, and over 100 advocates and elected officials, are heading to Albany to hold a rally calling on the legislature to support the One Day To Protect New Yorkers Act – a bill that would reduce the maximum sentence for a Class A Misdemeanor by just one day, from 365 to 364. This small change … Read more »

Talking Points in Response to White House Statements on Loopholes in our Immigration Laws after the Dimaya v. Sessions Decision  One page talking points responding to White House attacks on recent Supreme Court victories as “loopholes” by Immigrant Justice Network, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Immigrant Defense Project, National Immigrant Justice Center, and National Immigration Project of the National Lawyer’s Guild Issue … Read more »

Amicus Brief in Support of Motions to Terminate ICE Out of Courts Homepage Immigrants in removal proceedings can move to terminate proceedings if ICE has engaged in conduct that is consciousness shocking or violates fundamental rights. ICE’s widespread practice of courthouse arrests meets this standard, and therefore IDP encourages respondents who were arrested in or around a courthouse to file … Read more »

Annotated ICE Directive on Civil Immigration Enforcement Actions at Courthouses ICE Out of Courts Homepage On January 10, 2018, ICE issued its first formal, public policy memo on immigration enforcement actions inside courthouses and subsequently updated its FAQ on Sensitive Locations and Courthouse Arrests. The Immigrant Defense Project and the NYU Immigrants Rights Clinic have published this annotated document to provide legal and factual … Read more »