Since his inauguration, President Trump has issued nine executive orders that deal with immigration. One seeks to overturn a nearly century-and-a-half-old constitutional right and utilize the military to seal the border. Trump’s day one executive orders have primed immigrant rights lawyers for a second term just as, if not more, embattled as the first.
Trump’s executive orders have an array of goals, which legal aid organizations across the US have prepared to challenge. Especially controversial is the one seeking to overturn citizenship by birthright. By far the most problematic of the executive orders, attorneys and immigrant rights organizations are prepared for the anticipated battle ahead.
Across the country, judges and attorneys began to fight back against President Trump’s executive orders. A federal judge in Seattle blocked the order for 14 days on January 23rd, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and the Immigration and Nationality Act. Despite this resistance, the judges and attorneys defying the Trump administration still face both practical and political obstacles.
Philadelphia, a city home to about 47, 000 unauthorized immigrants, has some the highest levels of immigration enforcement in the northeast. The city only has a budget of $500,000 to allocate to immigration defense proceedings. Lilah Thompson, the supervising attorney of the Pennsylvania Immigrant Family Unity Project, said that the amount is insufficient to assist all individuals needing representation.
At her confirmation hearing in the Senate, Attorney General Pamela Jo Bondi stressed the need for cooperation between US officials in immigration enforcement. The attorney general emphasized that “American citizens are paying the price” for what she described as uncontrolled migration across the US’ southern border. Jo Bondi also warned that the DOJ will prosecute any city and state officials who try to oppose Trump’s immigration measures.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.
