GET THE LATEST SKINNY ON THE REGIME’S ANTI-IMMIGRANT AGENDA HERE: The Gibson Report — 11-25-19 — Compiled By Elizabeth Gibson Esquire, NY Legal Assistance Group

Elizabeth Gibson
Elizabeth Gibson
Attorney, NY Legal Assistance Group
Publisher of “The Gibson Report”

TOP UPDATES

1st Honduran returned to Guatemala under US asylum accord<https://apnews.com/50f77fd8b67f49db8744daa788914187>

AP: Under a July agreement between the U.S. and Guatemala, asylum seekers have to file claims in Guatemala rather than in the United States if they crossed through Guatemala on their way to the U.S. border. The agreement primarily affects immigrants from Honduras and El Salvador whose land routes to the U.S. border pass through Guatemala. See also leaked training materials.<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-guatemala-asylum/trump-administration-prepares-to-send-asylum-seekers-to-guatemala-idUSKBN1XU2SI>

The Trump Administration Was Ordered to Let These Migrants Seek Asylum. It Didn’t Tell the Judges Hearing Their Cases.<https://www.propublica.org/article/the-trump-administration-was-ordered-to-let-these-migrants-seek-asylum-it-didnt-tell-the-judges-hearing-their-cases>

ProPublica: A federal judge ruled Tuesday that migrants couldn’t be barred from asylum under a regulation that came out while they were waiting at the U.S.-Mexico border. The administration appears to be dragging its feet in complying.

Trump Plans Far-Reaching Set Of New Immigration Regulations<https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2019/11/21/trump-plans-far-reaching-set-of-new-immigration-regulations/#271a3870262a>

Forbes: Many items on the regulatory agenda aim to restrict asylum, which has already seen wholesale changes in procedures in the past three years.

NY’s Backlog of Immigration Cases Continues to Grow<https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2019/11/21/ny-state-s-backlog-of-immigration-cases-continues-to-grow>

NY1: The Trump administration’s budget proposal calls for spending $71 million more and hiring an additional 100 judges and support staff next year.

A Top US Immigration Official Threatened To Fire Employees For Leaking Information To The Media<https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hamedaleaziz/us-immigration-officials-threatened-media-leaks>

BuzzFeed: “I feel like there were no leaks before USCIS started doing super-sketchy things,” one official told BuzzFeed News in response to the memo.

USCIS Issues Guidance on Adjustments by Individuals Whose Conditional Permanent Residence Has Been Terminated<https://www.aila.org/infonet/guidance-on-adjustments-by-cpr-individuals>

USCIS issued policy guidance on the application of Matter of Stockwell, clarifying when USCIS may adjust the status of an individual whose Conditional Permanent Resident (CPR) status has been terminated. An immigration judge does not need to affirm the termination of CPR status before the individual can file a new adjustment of status application. This guidance applies to adjustment of status applications filed with USCIS on or after 11/21/19. Comments are due by 12/5/19. AILA Doc. No. 19112190

LITIGATION/CASELAW/RULES/MEMOS

Scott Warren Not Guilty in Trial for Border Humanitarian Work<https://theintercept.com/2019/11/23/scott-warren-verdict-immigration-border/>

Intercept: A jury found Scott Warren not guilty in the government’s second attempt to lock him up for providing humanitarian aid on the border in Arizona.

5 Journalists Are Suing the U.S. Government After Border Officials Questioned Them at Length<https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/21/attempt-criminalize-basic-human-kindness-fails-activist-scott-warren-found-not>

AP: The lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union recounts the experiences of the freelance photographers and seeks to test the limits of U.S. officials’ broad authority to question anyone, including journalists, entering the country.

<https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/21/attempt-criminalize-basic-human-kindness-fails-activist-scott-warren-found-not>

Supreme Court sets briefing in case reviewing immigration advocacy as violation of statute prohibiting enouragement of unlawful presence<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/supreme-court-reviewing-immigration-advocacy-as-free-speech-vs-encouragement.html>

ImmProf: The Supreme Court has agreed to take up United States v. Sineneng-Smith this term, a case that concerns a little-used provision of immigration law that forbids “encourag[ing] or induc[ing] an alien to … reside in the United States” when the encourager knows that person has no legal status.

Matter of REYES, 27 I&N Dec. 708 (A.G. 2019)<https://go.usa.gov/xpXSc>

Pursuant to 8 C.F.R. §1003.1(h)(1)(i), I direct the Board of Immigration Appeals (“Board”) to refer this case to me for review of its decision. The Board’s decision in this matter is automatically stayed pending my review.  See Matter of Haddam, A.G. Order No. 2380-2001 (Jan. 19, 2001). To assist me, I invite the parties and interested amici to submit briefs that address whether an alien who has been convicted of a criminal offense necessarily has been convicted of an aggravated felony for purposes of 8 U.S.C. §1227(a)(2)(A)(iii), where all of the elements of the underlying statute of conviction, and thus all of the means of committing the offense, correspond either to an aggravated felony theft offense, as defined in 8 U.S.C. §1101(a)(43)(G), or to an aggravated felony fraud offense, as defined in 8 U.S.C. §1101(a)(43)(M)(i).

DHS Notice of Agreement Between United States and Guatemala Regarding Protection Claims<https://www.aila.org/infonet/dhs-84-fr-64095-11-20-19>

Posted 11/20/2019

DHS published a copy in the Federal Register of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Guatemala on Cooperation Regarding the Examination of Protection Claims, which was signed on 7/26/19. (84 FR 64095, 11/20/19)

AILA Doc. No. 19112030

EOIR Releases Guidance on Implementation of Asylum Cooperative Agreements<https://www.aila.org/infonet/eoir-releases-guidance-on-implementation-of-asylum>

EOIR issued PM 20-04, with guidelines regarding new regulations providing for the implementation of the Asylum Cooperative Agreements. Guidance is effective as of 11/19/19 and applies to individuals who arrive at U.S. ports of entry, or enter, or attempt to enter on or after 11/19/19. AILA Doc. No. 19112036

EOIR Issues Guidance on Child Advocates Appointed by HHS for UACs<https://www.aila.org/infonet/eoir-issues-guidance-on-child-advocates-appointed>

EOIR issued PM 20-03 memorializing EOIR’s policy regarding child advocates appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the TVPRA of 2008, stating that this authority only exists for “child trafficking victims and other vulnerable unaccompanied alien children,” not for all UACs. AILA Doc. No. 19112035

USCIS Issues Policy Alert on USCIS Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification<https://www.aila.org/infonet/uscis-issues-policy-alert-uscis-special-immigrant>

USCIS updated the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the Special Immigrant Juvenile classification to incorporate recent clarifications made in three adopted AAO decisions. Clarifications are effective immediately and apply to cases pending on or filed on or after 11/19/19. Comments are due by 12/3/19. AILA Doc. No. 19111932

Executive Branch Fall 2019 Regulatory Plan<https://www.aila.org/infonet/executive-branch-fall-2019-regulatory-plan>

The Executive Branch released its Fall 2019 Regulatory Plan. AILA Doc. No. 19112132

EOIR Final Rule Exempting OCAHO Case Management System from Privacy Act<https://www.aila.org/infonet/eoir-84-fr-64198-11-21-19>

EOIR final rule exempting the “OCAHO Case Management System” system of records from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. The rule is effective 12/23/19. (84 FR 64198, 11/21/19) AILA Doc. No. 19112130

EVENTS

*   11/25/19 How to Fight the Harmful Proposed Changes to Immigration Filing Fees and Fee Waivers Webinar<https://www.ilrc.org/webinars/how-fight-harmful-proposed-changes-immigration-filing-fees-and-fee-waivers>

*   11/26/19 ONA Webinar – Court Ruling Upholds Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Protections<https://forms.gle/KxCvKv8EsXLNbcsVA>

*   12/4/-5/19 52nd Annual Immigration & Naturalization Institute<https://www.pli.edu/programs/immigration-and-naturalization-institute?t=live>

*   12/4/19 Public Charge Train the Trainer<https://tockify.com/thenyic/detail/72/1575468000000>

*   12/5/19 U Visas in Removal Proceedings<https://agora.aila.org/Conference/Detail/1629>

*   12/5/19 Trauma Informed Interviewing For Lawyers – NSC Pro Se Clinic<https://www.newsanctuarynyc.org/trauma_informed_interview_lawyer_training_20191205>

*   12/5/19 Foundations in Immigration Law<https://mailchi.mp/e0c658697ffb/save-the-dates-new-immigration-law-fundamentals-series?e=09f6a8c81a>

*   12/10/19 Working With Transgender, Gender Non-conforming, and Non-binary Immigrants: A Guide for Legal Practitioners!<https://avp.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fb8da3e27ad6713b5d8945fc2&id=70a5b33685&e=15233cf2a6>

*   12/12/19 Family-Based Immigration<https://mailchi.mp/e0c658697ffb/save-the-dates-new-immigration-law-fundamentals-series?e=09f6a8c81a>

*   12/12/19 Annual AILA New York Chapter Symposium<https://agora.aila.org/Conference/Detail/1637>

*   12/17/19 Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing<https://mailchi.mp/e0c658697ffb/save-the-dates-new-immigration-law-fundamentals-series?e=09f6a8c81a>

*   12/17/19 Incredibly Credible: Preparing Your Client to Testify<https://agora.aila.org/Conference/Detail/1632>

*   12/17/19 Keeping Our Communities Safe: The Impact of ICE Arrests at NYS Courts<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/keeping-our-communities-safe-the-impact-of-ice-arrests-at-nys-courts-registration-80735649501>

*   2/7/20 Asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Crime Victim, and Other Forms of Immigration Relief 2020<https://www.pli.edu/programs/asylum-juvenile-immigration-relief?t=live>

*   2/28/2020 5th Annual New York Asylum and Immigration Law Conference

ImmProf

Monday, November 25, 2019

*   60 Minutes: A widow recalls how her husband and daughter drowned in the Rio Grande<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/60-minutes-a-widow-recalls-how-her-husband-and-daughter-drowned-in-the-rio-grande.html>

*   Immigration Article of the Day: Supremacy, Inc. by David S. Rubenstein<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/immigrtaion-article-of-the-day-supremacy-inc-by-david-s-rubenstein.html>

Sunday, November 24, 2019

*   Deported & Disowned<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/deported-disowned.html>

*   Another Immigration Case for the Supreme Court? United States v. California<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/another-immigration-case-for-the-supreme-court-united-states-v-california.html>

*   Trump’s latest gambit: Send asylum seekers to ‘Safe Third Countries’ that are less than safe<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/trumps-latest-gambit-send-asylum-seekers-to-safe-third-countries-that-are-less-than-safe.html>

*   U.S.-Canada Border Community’s Culture Changes As Security Tightens<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/us-canada-border-communitys-culture-changes-as-security-tightens.html>

*   Immigration Article of the Day: The Trauma of Trump’s Family Separation and Child Detention Actions: A Children’s Rights Perspective by Jonathan Todres and Daniela Villamizar Fink<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/immigration-article-of-the-day-the-trauma-of-trumps-family-separation-and-child-detention-actions-a-.html>

Saturday, November 23, 2019

*   Your Playlist: The Beatles<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/your-playlist-the-beatles.html>

*   Immigration Article of the Day: Trump’s ‘Immployment’ Law Agenda: Intensifying Employment-Based Enforcement and Un-Authorizing the Authorized by Kati L. Griffith & Shannon Gleeson<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/immigration-article-of-the-day-trumps-immployment-law-agenda-intensifying-employment-based-enforceme.html>

Friday, November 22, 2019

*   Immigrant of the Day: Dr. Fiona Hill<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/immigrant-of-the-day-dr-fiona-hill.html>

*   Karen Musalo: Restore asylum for women fleeing abuse and death<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/karen-musalo-restore-asylum-for-women-fleeing-abuse-and-death-.html>

*   Immigration Article of the Day: Enter at Your Own Risk: Criminalizing Asylum-Seekers by Thomas M. McDonnell and Vanessa H. Merton<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/immigration-article-of-the-day-enter-at-your-own-risk-criminalizing-asylum-seekers-by-thomas-m-mcdon.html>

Thursday, November 21, 2019

*   New Homeland Security Asylum Rule Allows Removal to Central American Countries That Have Signed Agreements With the U.S.<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/new-homeland-security-asylum-rule-allows-removal-to-central-american-countries-that-have-signed-agreements-with-the-us.html>

*   Five Films about Immigration and Belonging, intro by Viet Thanh Nguyen<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/five-films-about-immigration-and-belonging-intro-by-viet-thanh-nguyen.html>

*   News from the US/Mexico Border: JURY ACQUITS NO MORE DEATHS VOLUNTEER OF FELONY HARBORING CHARGES<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/news-from-teh-usmexico-border-jury-acquits-no-more-deaths-volunteer-of-felony-harboring-charges.html>

*   Immigration Article of the Day: What Matter of Soram Got Wrong: ‘Child Abuse’ Crimes that May Trigger Deportation Are Constantly Evolving and Even Target Good Parents by Kari E. Hong & Philip Torrey<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/immigration-article-of-the-day-what-matter-of-soram-got-wrong-child-abuse-crimes-that-may-trigger-de.html>

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

*   Professor Tom Wong Announces Bid for 53rd Congressional District (San Diego, Californa)<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/professor-tom-wong-announces-bid-for-53rd-congressional-district-san-diego-californa.html>

*   Supreme Court sets briefing in case reviewing immigration advocacy as violation of statute prohibiting enouragement of unlawful presence<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/supreme-court-reviewing-immigration-advocacy-as-free-speech-vs-encouragement.html>

*   Inspector General sounds warning about lack of permanent senior leadership at DHS<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/inspector-general-sounds-warning-about-lack-of-permanent-senior-leadership-at-dhs.html>

*   From the Bookshelves: No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison by Behrouz Boochani<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/from-the-bookshelves-no-friend-but-the-mountains-writing-from-manus-prison-by-behrouz-boochani.html>

*   Immigration Article of the Day: 287(g) Agreements in the Trump Era by Huyen Pham<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/immigration-article-of-the-day-287g-agreements-in-the-trump-era-by-huyen-pham.html>

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

*   BREAKING: Federal Court Blocks Trump Asylum Ban from Being Applied to Thousands of Asylum Seekers<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/breaking-federal-court-blocks-trump-asylum-ban-from-being-applied-to-thousands-of-asylum-seekers.html>

*   President Trump’s Latest Efforts to Stop the Flow of Central American Asylum Seekers to the United States<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/president-trumps-latest-efforts-to-stop-the-flow-of-central-american-asylum-seekers-to-the-united-st.html>

*   From the Bookshelves: America for Americans:  A History of Xenophobia in the United States by Erika Lee<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/from-the-bookshelves-america-for-americans-a-history-of-xenophobia-in-the-united-states-by-erika-lee.html>

*   Immigration Article of the day: Rodrigo’s Rebuke: Originary Violence and U.S. Border Policy by Richard Delgado<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/immigration-article-of-the-day-rodrigos-rebuke-originary-violence-and-us-border-policy-by-richard-de.html>

*   Fox Sports: America’s best foreign imports in sports<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/fox-sports-americas-best-foreign-imports-in-sports.html>

Monday, November 18, 2019

*   Pete Wilson Continues to Defend Proposition 187<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/pete-wilson-continues-to-defend-proposition-187.html>

*   From the Booksheves: Immigration and Nationality Law:  Problems and Strategies by Lenni B. Benson, Stephen W. Yale-Loehr, Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, second edition<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/from-the-booksheves-immigration-and-nationality-law-problems-and-strategies-by-lenni-b-benson-stephe.html>

*   Guest Post: RELIANCE INTERESTS AND FUTURE DACA LITIGATION by Geoffrey A. Hoffman<https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/11/guest-post-reliance-interests-and-future-daca-litigation-by-geoffrey-a-hoffman.html>

******************************

So many ways to screw migrants out of their rights and lives. So many unethical government officials doing it. So many Article III Judges looking the other way.

PWS

11-25-19