2026 Spring Virtual CLE Seminar: From Detention to Freedom

2026 Spring Virtual CLE Seminar

From Detention to Freedom:

Habeas Law, Strategy, and Practice for Immigrant Defenders

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 - 11:00 AM - 5:45 PM (ET)/ 8:00 AM - 2:45 PM (PT)

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - 11:oo AM - 5:35 PM (ET)/ 8:00 AM - 2:35 PM (PT)

Location: Zoom Webinar

(660 Total Minutes -11.00 Total CLE Credits Based on the 60-Minute Credit Hour)

Early bird pricing is available until Friday, February 27, 2026, so register now!

 

CLE Description: 

Today there are over 70,000 people in ICE custody. For most of them, habeas will be their only option for obtaining freedom. This two-day training provides immigration advocates with both the doctrinal foundation and hands-on skills needed to litigate habeas petitions in the fast-paced detention landscape. Day one grounds participants in the statutory framework of habeas and immigration detention, then explores litigation strategies across key contexts, including challenges to detention under 8 U.S.C. §§ 1225 and 1226, re-detention of noncitizens with and without final orders of removal, and cases involving indefinite detention. National Immigration Project attorneys and guest speakers from leading organizations will address the government’s shifting legal positions, emerging regional class actions, common counterarguments, practical procedural tips, and ideas on expanding the habeas toolbox to include discovery, evidentiary hearings, and systemic relief strategies. Day two transitions to a hands-on practicum, guiding participants step-by-step through an immigration detention case file—from issue spotting and outlining claims to client counseling, drafting, filing, and litigating a petition. Through mock client meetings and a simulated habeas hearing, attendees will gain practical experience and leave equipped to advocate for their detained clients.

11:00 AM - 11:10 AM ET: Welcome and Introduction 

11:10 AM - 12:10 PM ET: Session 1 -  Habeas Corpus: Foundations and Fundamentals (1 hour - 1.00 CLE Credits)

Description: This session will cover the foundations and fundamentals of habeas corpus in the context of immigration law. The faculty will begin with the habeas and immigration detention statutory framework. The faculty will then cover common habeas claims in the immigration context. The faculty will end the session with a discussion on remedies. This session lays the groundwork for the rest of the CLE.

Faculty: 

Kate Melloy Goettel, Associate Clinical Professor, University of Iowa College of Law

Gracie Willis, Rapid Response Coordinating Attorney, National Immigration Project Attorney  

12:10 PM - 12:15 PM ET: Break 

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM ET: Session 2 - Habeas Petitions for Noncitizens DHS Alleges to Be Detained Under 8 U.S.C. 1225/1226 (1 hour - 1.00 CLE Credits)

Description: Until 2025, people who entered without inspection were subject to 8 U.S.C. 1226 discretionary detention, not 8 U.S.C. 1225 mandatory detention. However, DHS’s position has shifted and the BIA’s 2025 Matter of Yajure Hurtado decision cemented that position into law. Although the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued an order in Maldonado Bautista v. Santacruz granting declaratory relief to the nationwide certified class and holding that the government is unlawfully subjecting them to 8 U.S.C. 1225 mandatory detention, EOIR is refusing to recognize its binding impact. While the vast majority of the U.S. district courts have disagreed with the BIA and DHS, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently sided with the BIA and DHS, and appeals are pending in various other circuits. This session will cover the current status of 8 U.S.C. 1225/1226 habeas petitions, the best claims in these cases, the government’s common counterarguments, and procedural tips. 

Faculty: 

Matt Adams, Legal Director, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

Suchi Mathur, Senior Litigation Attorney, American Immigration Council

1:15 PM - 1:30 PM ET: Break

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM ET: Session 3 - Habeas Petitions for Noncitizens Without a Final Order of Removal Who are Re-Detained (1 hour - 1.00 CLE Credits)

Description: Before the Trump administration, DHS detained and released noncitizens at the border and in the interior of the country. Under the Trump administration, DHS has re-detained thousands of people who lack a final order of removal without cause. The main reason for these detentions is the need to fill quotas. The goal of filling quotas is mass deportation. This session will focus on the best claims to include in habeas petitions for noncitizens who are in a re-detention posture and lack a final order of removal, the government’s common counterarguments, and procedural tips. The presenters will also highlight pending regional class challenges on re-detentions.

Faculty:

Tess Hellgren, Director of Legal Advocacy, Innovation Law Lab

Rebecca Scholtz, Senior Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project

2:30 - 2:45 PM ET: Break

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM ET: Session 4 - Habeas Petitions for Noncitizens With a Final Order of Removal Who Are Re-Detained (1 hour - 1.00 CLE Credits)

Description: Prior to the Trump administration, DHS sometimes released noncitizens with a final order of removal because their removal to their country of origin was impossible and to avoid keeping them detained indefinitely. These individuals dutifully checked-in with ICE, had access to work authorization, created families, and contributed to their communities for years. Under the Trump administration, DHS has re-detained noncitizens with a final order of removal and either forced their country of origin to accept them or removed them to a third country. This session will focus on the best claims to include in habeas petitions for noncitizens who are in a re-detention posture and have a final order of removal, the government’s common counterarguments, and procedural tips. 

Faculty: 

Amber Qureshi, Attorney and Founder, Law Office of Amber Qureshi, LLC

Bridget Pranzatelli, Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project

3:45 - 4:00 PM ET: Break

4:00 - 5:00 ET: Session 5 - Habeas Petitions for Noncitizens Facing Indefinite Detention (1 hour - 1.00 CLE Credits)

Description: Historically, indefinite detention has been perhaps the most common habeas claim in the immigration context serving as a reminder to DHS to not detain someone who is unlikely to be released or removed. However, the Trump administration’s DHS has detained noncitizens who face the prospect of indefinite detention. This session will focus on the best claims to include in habeas petitions for noncitizens who face indefinite detention, whether or not they have a final order of removal, including those with Deferred Action, the government’s common counterarguments, and procedural tips.

Faculty: 

My Khanh Ngo, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP)

Ellie Norton, Senior Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project 

5:00 - 5:30 ET: Session 6 - Expanding the Habeas Toolbox: Discovery, Hearings, and Strategic Motions (30 minutes - 0.50 CLE Credits)

Description: Advanced litigation tools are available in habeas cases, including discovery, evidentiary hearings, non-transfer motions, and strategies for expanding individual petitions to seek class-wide or systemic relief. Drawing from their experiences, the presenters will share insights on when they have used these techniques to defend their clients.

Faculty: 

Stephen Manning, Executive Director, Innovation Law Lab

Sirine Shebaya, Executive Director, National Immigration Project

5:30 - 5:35 PM ET: Closing & Announcements

 

11:00 AM - 11:10 AM ET: Welcome and Introductions 

11:10 AM - 11:55 AM ET: Session 1 - Nuts and Bolts of Habeas Practice (45 minutes - 0.75 CLE credits)

Description: This session will provide a substantive and procedural overview of habeas practice in immigration law that is essential to assessing a potential habeas petition in a given case. With the lessons learned during this session, participants will be able to tackle each step in a habeas case, from a review of the facts to the post-release release considerations following a successful habeas petition. 

Faculty: 

Gracie Willis, Rapid Response Coordinating Attorney, National Immigration Project Attorney  

Amber Qureshi, Attorney and Founder, Law Office of Amber Qureshi, LLC

11:55 AM - 12:30 PM ET: Session 2 - Review of Habeas Case File Facts (30 minutes - 0.50 CLE Credits)

Description: The facts in a case drive the potential legal claims. During this session we will review the facts in our case file with the goal of issue spotting and identifying outstanding facts that we need to gather from the client and their family.

Faculty: 

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

12:30 PM - 12:45 PM ET: Break 

12:45 PM - 1:30 PM ET: Session 3 - Creating the Habeas Petition Outline (45 minutes - 0.75 CLE Credits)

Description: With most of the facts in hand, the claims for the habeas petition start to crystalize. This session will focus on crafting the outline of our habeas petition which will confirm what relevant facts we still need to gather from the client and their family. 

Faculty:

Rebecca Scholtz, Senior Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM ET: Session 4 – Connecting with and Counseling the Client in Immigration Detention  (45 minutes - 0.75 CLE Credits)

Description: It is time to connect with the client in detention. During this session we will cover tips on how to connect with the client in ICE detention and counsel the client on the habeas petition. To reflect best counseling practices in this context, the faculty will conduct a mock client meeting. After the mock client meeting we will reflect on points discussed with the client and why those points are important. 

Faculty:

Lily Hartmann, Legal Program Manager, National Immigration Project

Stephanie M. Alvarez-Jones, Southeast Regional Attorney, National Immigration Project

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM ET: Break 

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM ET: Session 5 – Walking Through the Habeas Petition (1 hour - 1.0 CLE Credits)

Description: After completing our fact-gathering and client counseling, it is time to draft and edit the habeas petition. We will walk through the final habeas petition for this fact pattern taking our time discussing each section of the petition, especially the facts section, each legal claim, and the prayer for relief. 

Faculty:

Mark Stevens, Member, Clark Hill 

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

3:30 PM - 4:15 PM ET: Session 6 – The Habeas Petition Filing Checklist and Process (45 minutes - 0.75 CLE Credits)

Description: The habeas petition is ready for prime time, but it is not the only component of a habeas filing. This session will delve into the habeas filing checklist and note what aspects of the checklist are jurisdiction specific, especially as it pertains to Temporary Restraining Orders and Orders to Show Cause. The faculty will also show participants how to file online through the CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Files) system. Finally, the faculty will discuss serving the habeas petition on the government. 

Faculty:

Bridget Pranzatelli, Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project

Yulie Landan, Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project Attorney 

4:15 PM - 4:30 PM ET: Break 

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM ET: Session 7 – Mock Habeas Hearing (30 minutes - 0.50 CLE Credits)

Description: Habeas hearings are not required, but some U.S. district court judges do schedule these. During this session the faculty will conduct a mock hearing on the habeas petition. After the mock hearing the faculty will reflect on the questions the judge asked and petitioner’s counsel’s responses. 

Faculty:

Austin Rose, Managing Attorney, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights Immigration Impact Lab

Ellie Norton, Senior Staff Attorney, National Immigration Project 

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM ET: Session 8 –  Post-Release Considerations (30 minutes - 0.50 CLE Credits)

Description: We won! The judge ordered DHS to release our client within three hours of the order, but there is more to do to ensure our client is back home in their community with their family. The faculty will discuss post-release considerations like ensuring the client has the necessary documentation to board a plane and what to do if DHS tries to undermine the judge’s release order. 

Faculty:

Amelia Dagen, Senior Attorney, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights Immigration Impact Lab

Stephanie M. Alvarez-Jones, Southeast Regional Attorney, National Immigration Project

5:30 - 5:35 PM ET: Closing & Announcements

 

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CLE sponsored by:

The National Immigration Project

CLE Credits:

An application for 11.00 CLE credits will be filed with the State Bar of California, the State Bar of Texas, and the Washington State Bar Association. As a reminder, 11.00 CLE credits is for both days of the CLE, but we will grant partial credit where possible. 

Uniform certificates of attendance will be available to those licensed in other states.

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. (Please download the Google sheet to edit it.)

-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 & Student Pricing: Tuition assistance is available based on financial hardship or student status. Attorneys should send an email to events@nipnlg.org with the reason they are requesting financial aid. This inbox is monitored daily.