National Immigration Project 2026 Removal Defense Course

National Immigration Project Removal Defense Course 

January 20 through February 26, 2026

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

Total CLE Credits: 18.00, Ethics Credits: 1.5 (1.5 out of 18.00)

Faculty: Michelle Méndez, Vickie Neilson, Rebecca Scholtz, Ann Garcia, and Dana Leigh Marks [retired Immigration Judge]

Join us for this 12-part webinar series on removal defense advocacy!

1. Anatomy of a Removal Proceeding

Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours

Description: The faculty will provide an overview of removal proceedings that explains how noncitizens end up in removal proceedings, how removal proceedings commence, and the process, players, and procedures in immigration court. The faculty will also discuss the rights of noncitizens in removal proceedings, the sources of authority for competent practice in immigration court, and what “discovery” entails in this executive branch tribunal. Finally, the faculty will guide participants on the administrative requirements for representing a noncitizen in immigration court.

2.  Pleading to the Notice to Appear

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours

Description: The faculty will review Notices to Appear (NTA) and discuss in detail pleading to the NTA in removal proceedings. Specifically, the faculty will discuss inadmissibility and deportability grounds, case flow processing, the burden of proof in different removal proceeding contexts, and considerations for contesting the charges in the NTA.

3.  Detention and Bond

Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours

Description: How can practitioners determine whether detained clients are eligible for  release on bond? The speakers will explain the statutory authority under which the government detains noncitizens and discuss bond and parole as options for noncitizens to obtain release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The faculty will also discuss strategies for working with detained clients.

4.    Immigration Relief in Removal Proceedings: Cancellation of Removal

Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours

Description: Cancellation of removal is an immigration court remedy that leads to a grant of lawful permanent resident (LPR) status or retention of LPR status. The faculty will review eligibility requirements for non-LPR cancellation of removal and LPR cancellation of removal and discuss evidentiary issues and strategic decisions.

5.  Immigration Relief in Removal Proceedings: Defensive Asylum/Withholding of Removal/Convention Against Torture (CAT) Protection

Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours 

Description:  The faculty will discuss asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) including the legal standards for each, recent changes in policy and practice, and bars to asylum and withholding of removal. The faculty will also discuss how asylum seekers are placed in removal proceedings.

6.  Immigration Relief in Removal Proceedings: Adjustment and Waivers

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026 

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours

Description: The faculty will cover adjustment of status (AOS) before the IJ including the legal elements, evidentiary issues, and court procedure. The faculty will delve into common grounds of inadmissibility and provide an overview of available waivers of inadmissibility. The faculty will end with a discussion on the pros and the cons of seeking adjustment before the IJ versus USCIS.

7.  Defending Against Current Due Process Attacks 

Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours

Description: The current EOIR has enacted policies and issued BIA decisions that erode the due process protections afforded by 240 proceedings or eliminate 240 proceedings altogether. The faculty will discuss pretermission of applications and DHS motions to dismiss as 240 proceeding elimination tactics. The faculty will also discuss postponement options for respondents pursuing relief before USCIS while in removal proceedings in order to avoid an order of removal. The faculty will also describe the historical prosecutorial discretion authority of ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA).

8.  Review of Webinars 1-7

Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026 

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours

Description: During this interactive webinar the faculty will review the lessons from webinar 1 through webinar 7 through the use of hypotheticals and a Q&A session.

9.   Nuts and Bolts Post-Filing and Pre-Merits Hearing Considerations

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours

Description: The faculty will discuss filing procedures and considerations for the brief, documentary evidence, and relevant motions. The faculty will then explain post-filing considerations including seeking the ICE OPLA attorney’s position on the case, paying the application fee, if any, obtaining a biometrics appointment, and seeking an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Finally, the faculty will provide tips on preparing for a known hostile IJ and client preparation.

10.  The Individual Hearing

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours

Description: The faculty will cover what to expect during the various aspects of the individual hearing and highlight best practices. The faculty will also discuss tips on how to prepare for an in-person hearing versus a WebEx hearing. 

11.  Overview of Post-Immigration Judge Decision Options

Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Hours

Description: The faculty will discuss how IJs issue decisions and the post-decision options. Specifically, the faculty will cover appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), including the legal standards that apply to BIA appeals and how to approach briefing. The faculty will also give an overview of motions to remand back to the IJ, petitions for review (PFRs) to the U.S. court of appeals, motions to reopen and reconsider, and stays of removal.

12.  What Would You Do If This Happened to You in Immigration Court?

Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM ET

CLE Hours: 1.5 Ethics Credit

Description: In this interactive skits session, the faculty and Dana Leigh Marks, retired Immigration Judge, will play the roles relevant to an individual hearing and showcase problems that can arise during the individual hearing. We will start from the beginning of an individual hearing and move through the hearing stopping the skit to allow for group discussion on how to solve the problem. This training will also consider ethical issues that may arise during the course of a hearing.

Student Discounts

For student discounts, please email us at events@nipnlg.org.

CLE Credits

We will seek 18.0 CLE credit hours, including 1.5 Ethics credits, for this course from the Washington State Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas.

The 18.0 credits count for all 12 sessions of the course. We will offer a Uniform Certificate of Attendance, which allows participants to seek CLE credit with the state where they are licensed to practice law. Please note, you will only receive CLE credit for the sessions you attend live. All sessions will be recorded so that participants can watch and rewatch the recordings at their leisure. However, CLE credit will be provided only for live webinar attendance. If you have questions, please reach out to the events team at events@nipnlg.org.

Registrants are responsible for any fees incurred in seeking CLE credit outside of Texas or Washington. 

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 (first name, last name, and email addresses) to events@nipnlg.org.

-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.

Questions: Please review our Frequently Asked Questions document for interested participants. If you still have questions, please reach out to us at events@nipnlg.org.