March 2008

 

2008 Immigration Law and Procedure: Removal

   

About RMIAN:

 

The Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) serves low-income men, women, and children in immigration proceedings. RMIAN promotes knowledge of legal rights; provides effective representation to ensure due process; works to improve detention conditions; and promotes a more humane immigration system, including alternatives to detention.

 

Unlike defendants in the criminal justice system, individuals in deportation proceedings do not have a right to free legal assistance despite the complexities of immigration law.  As a consequence, the vast majority of those in immigration detention go without legal representation.  Even children are often forced to represent themselves before an immigration judge and a prosecuting attorney.

 

Believing that all people deserve equal access to justice, RMIAN strives to end this inequity by providing free legal services to some of the most vulnerable immigrant populations in Colorado: men and women in immigration detention, and children who have been victims of abuse, violence, or persecution.

 

RMIAN's cases include United States citizens erroneously detained by immigration authorities; survivors of domestic violence whose abusers refused to file immigration papers for them but who are eligible to remain in the U.S.; refugees and asylum-seekers who are fleeing persecution; child crime victims eligible for special visas; and long-time lawful permanent residents who have committed minor crimes but are eligible for one-time waivers of their deportation if they can show certain equities.  Each year RMIAN serves men, women, and children from over 60 countries by providing direct representation, referring cases to trained volunteer attorneys, and conducting workshops and training for individuals forced to represent themselves.

 

 

Topics

 

Overview of Representing Individuals in Removal Proceedings

Presented by Laura Lichter

 

Grounds of Inadmissibility and Removability, and the Consequences of Criminal

Convictions

Presented by Jeff Joseph

 

Adjustment of Status

Presented by Emily Curray

 

Cancellation of Removal

Presented by Megan Hall and Bernadette Ginger McGuire

 

Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and Convention Against Torture

Presented by Philip Alterman    

 

U Visas for Victims of Crime

Presented by Patricia Medige

 

Bonds and Voluntary Departure

Presented by Jennifer Kain-Rios and Alyssa Reed

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network

Westminster, CO