2022 Annual Spring CLE

2022 Annual Spring Virtual CLE Seminar: Hot Topics in Removal Defense and Asylum

Tuesday, March 22, 2022 - 12:00 PM - 5:15 PM (ET)

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 - 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM (ET)

Zoom Webinar 

(510 Total Minutes – 9.0 Total CLE Credits)

- AGENDA -

Tuesday, March 22, 2022 (DAY 1)

12:00 PM – 12:15 PM ET:   Welcome and Introductions

12:15  PM - 1:45 PM  ET:    Derivative Citizenship Claims in Removal Proceedings

                                                90 minutes of instruction (1.50 CLE Credits)

It is possible that your client derived citizenship, or believes that they should have, but is barred from deriving citizenship under prevailing interpretations of the law. When this possibility arises, practitioners should be ready to offer any and all arguments supporting the derivative citizenship claim. This session will cover hot topics and emerging strategies in derivative citizenship claims in removal proceedings.

Faculty:         

Michelle N. Mendez, Director of Legal Resources and Training, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)

Cristina Velez, Supervising Attorney, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)

1:45 PM - 2:00 PM ET:        Break     

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET:       Ineffective Assistance of Counsel: Complying with Lozada

                                                  90 minutes of instruction (1.50 CLE Credits)

During this session we will discuss what to do when you discover that your client was the victim of ineffective assistance of counsel by prior counsel, how to present an ineffective assistance of counsel counsel claim that complies with Matter of Lozada, and motions to reopen and motions to remand as vehicles for presenting ineffective assistance of counsel claims.

Faculty:         

Khaled Alrabe, Senior Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)

Katy Lewis, Attorney

Michelle N. Mendez, Director of Legal Resources and Training, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM ET:       Break

3:45 PM - 5:15 PM ET:       Prosecutorial Discretion Requests: Negotiating with ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor and DOJ Office of Immigration

                                                90 minutes of instruction (1.50 CLE Credits)

This interactive session will cover trends and strategies on seeking prosecutorial discretion from ICE OPLA and negotiating prosecutorial discretion with DOJ OIL.

Faculty:   

Caitlin Bellis, Policy and Community Advocacy Attorney, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)      

Himedes Chicas, Jezic & Moyse, LLC

Philip L. Torrey, Director of Harvard's Crimmigration Clinic

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 (DAY 2)

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM ET:   Understanding the Particularly Serious Crime Bar in Asylum and Withholding of Removal Cases

                                               90 minutes of instruction (1.50 CLE Credits)

Asylum seekers with criminal convictions may encounter the particularly serious crime bar. The faculty will discuss the impact of receiving a particularly serious crime determination, elements of a particularly serious crime, what crimes are categorical particularly serious crimes and how adjudicators determine if a crime is “particularly serious” under the circumstances, and creative strategies for arguing that the bar does not apply.

Faculty:         

Rebecca Scholtz, Senior Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)

Matthew Vogel, Supervising Attorney, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)

1:30 PM - 1:45 PM ET:     Break

1:45 PM - 3:15 PM ET:     Asylum Hot Topics

                                            90 minutes of instruction (1.50 CLE Credits)

During this session we will cover the latest in asylum law and procedure, including: formulating particular social groups following Matter of A-B-III and Matter of L-E-A-III; the effects of ongoing litigation on asylum claims, including the Mendez-Rojas Settlement Agreement (one-year filing deadline), J.O.P. v. DHS (USCIS jurisdiction for asylum-seeking unaccompanied children), and litigation addressing restrictions on EADs for asylum seekers. The speakers will also discuss anticipated asylum regulations and the dramatic effect they would have on asylum adjudications.

Faculty:         

Vickie Neilson, Supervising Attorney, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)

Rebecca Scholtz, Senior Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM ET:     Break

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM ET:    Navigating Complex Procedural Issues in Asylum Cases

                                               90 minutes of instruction (1.50 CLE Credits)

Asylum seekers often have family members who are also seeking asylum in the United States. Families with overlapping and/or separate asylum claims present complex procedural issues. This session will discuss pursuing cases as a primary and derivative asylum seeker, both affirmatively and in immigraiton court, as well as consolidating and severing cases. The panelists will also discuss prosecutorial discretion and its effect on pending and future asylum applications. Finally the panelists will discuss challenges and tips on presenting asylum claims over Webex and other COVID-related issues.

Faculty:       

Michelle Martinez, Supervising Staff Attorney, Central American Legal Assistance (CALA)

Vickie Neilson, Supervising Attorney, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET:    Happy Hour Group Discussion on Asylum Adjudication Trends

Grab your favorite beverage and snack and get ready to share the asylum adjudication trends at your local Immigration Court(s)! 

Facilitator:         

Vickie Neilson, Supervising Attorney, National Immigration Project (NIPNLG)

CLE Credits

An application for nine credits is pending in Washington, Texas, and California. Uniform Certificates of Attendance will be available for attorneys to request CLE credits in other states. NIPNLG is also prepared to provide proof of registration/attendance upon request.

Group Registration Discounts:  We offer a 10% discount for groups of 5 to 10 and 15% discount for groups of 11 or more. To take advantage of the group registration discount organizations must:

• Submit a complete list* of registrants (Group Registration Form) to events@nipnlg.org. Link to Group Registration Form - HERE.
• Pay a singular invoice for registration fees

Payment can be made via ACH, Credit Card, or Check. *Please note that group registration list adjustments are not possible after an invoice has been issued.