Month: July 2018
Attorney General’s Decision a Setback for Women Seeking Asylum Based on Domestic Violence, but Hope Remains
A recent administrative decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions marked a major step backwards for women who came to the United States fleeing domestic violence. Session’s decision overturned a 2014 landmark decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), which held some victims of domestic violence could qualify for asylum under United States. To seek asylum in the United States, a person must show that he or she has a well-founded fear of persecution in his or her country of nationality on account of his or her religion, political belief, race, nationality, or membership in a particular social group. In ... Read more
New Supreme Court Case Offers Hope for Immigrants in Removal Proceedings
As ICE continues to target the greater Austin area, and the Trump administration aggressively expands its crackdown on immigrants everywhere, one ray of hope has emerged for those seeking relief from deportation. On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Pereira v. Sessions, which has broad implications for persons in removal proceedings. The most immediate effect of the Supreme Court’s decision in Pereira is to expand eligibility for cancellation of removal. A non-permanent resident is eligible for cancellation of removal if he or she has been physically present for ten continuous years in the United States, ... Read more