2025 Annual Pre-AILA Conference Crimes & Immigration In-Person Seminar

2025 Annual Pre-AILA Conference Crimes & Immigration In-Person Seminar:

Strategies for Protecting the Rights of Noncitizen Clients in the Criminal System

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (MT), 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM (ET), 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM (PT), 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (CT)

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Denver International Airport

6900 Tower Rd, Denver, CO 80249

Register now as space is limited.

(330 Total Minutes -5.5 Total CLE Credits based on the 60-minute credit hour)

Program Description:

This CLE course will focus on key topics in the intersection of immigration law and crimes and will consist of five sessions. The intended audience is immigration lawyers. The first one and a half hour session will introduce the categorical approach, the primary approach immigration authorities use to determine when criminal convictions trigger immigration consequences. This will be followed by four, one-hour sessions covering specific topics in this area: (1) winning post-conviction relief that works in immigration court; (2) defending against crime of violence-based grounds; (3) strategies for protecting the rights of noncitizen clients in the criminal system; and (4) interior ICE raids and § 1325 prosecutions: what immigration attorneys need to know.

 – AGENDA –

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2025

9:00am - 9:05am MT: Welcome and Introductions (5 minutes)

9:05am - 10:35am MT: Crim-Imm Defense: Mastering the Categorical and Modified Categorical Approach

(90 minutes of instruction/1.50 CLE Credits)

Defending against almost all criminal grounds of removal requires a comprehensive understanding of the categorical (and modified) categorical approach. This session will cover the key features of the approach and its effective use in removal defense.

Faculty:

Khaled Alrabe, Senior Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project

Elizabeth Jordan, Visiting Professor, University of Denver Sturm College of Law’s Immigration Law & Policy Clinic
 

10:35am - 10:45am MT: Break

10:45am - 11:45pm MT: Winning Post-Conviction Relief that Works in Immigration Court

(60 minutes of instruction/1.00 CLE Credit)

This session will address the various legal, factual, and procedural issues involved in securing post-conviction relief (PCR) for noncitizens that is effective in immigration proceedings. It will cover the governing legal standards concerning PCR in immigration proceedings as well as recent developments. 

Faculty: 

Hans Meyer, Lead Attorney, Meyer Law Office 

Conor Gleason, Senior Attorney, Meyer Law Office

11:45am - 11:55am MT: Break

11:55am - 12:55pm MT: Defending Against Crime of Violence-Based Grounds 

(60 minutes of instruction/1.00 CLE Credit)

A crime of violence (COV) under 18 U.S.C. § 16(a) underpins two common deportability grounds: the aggravated felony crime of violence ground and the crime of domestic violence ground. This panel will focus on key considerations and strategies for challenging removability based on these COV-based grounds.

Faculty: 

Rebecca Scholtz, Senior Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project

Matt Vogel, Supervising Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project
 

12:55pm - 1:40pm MT: Lunch Break (Lunch Provided)

Seasoned Taco Beef, Chicken Fajitas, Black Beans, Spanish Rice, Tortillas, Chips, Salsa, Sour Cream, Shredded Cheese, Guacamole, Sopapillas & Churros

Iced Tea and Coffee Service

1:40pm - 2:40pm MT: Creative Defense Strategies in the Criminal System to Shield Clients from ICE

(60 minutes of instruction/1.00 CLE Credit)

This session will explore creative defense strategies to protect noncitizens in criminal proceedings from immigration enforcement, with a focus on identifying and mitigating risks during the criminal process and fostering collaboration between criminal and immigration attorneys.

Faculty: 

Marnie Adams, Colorado State Public Defender

Violeta Chapman, Clinical Professor of Law, University of Colorado Law School
 

2:40pm - 2:50pm MT: Break

Assorted Cheese and Seasonal Fruit Displays will be put out for a afternoon snack.

2:50pm - 3:50pm MT: Interior ICE Raids and § 1325 Prosecutions: What Immigration Attorneys Need to Know

(60 minutes of instruction/1.00 CLE Credit)

ICE raids in the interior of the country and § 1325 prosecutions have been on the rise. Presenters will discuss these recent enforcement trends and discuss how § 1325 sentencing guidelines operate as well as the typical sentences. 

Faculty:

David Kraut, Office of the Federal Public Defender – Districts of Colorado & Wyoming

Michelle Mendez, Director of Legal Resources and Training, National Immigration Project

3:50pm - 4:00pm MT: Closing and Announcements

CLE sponsored by

National Immigration Project

CLE Credits

We will be applying with the Washington State Bar, the State Bar of Texas, the State Bar of California, and the State Bar of Colorado for approval of this seminar for 5.50 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit hours.

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.

Tuition Assistance and Students: Tuition assistance is available based on financial hardship and for students. Attorneys should send an email to events@nipnlg.org with the reason they are requesting financial aid. This inbox is monitored daily.